Brooding is the most important phase in the success of raising chickens. No amount of good genetics, premium brand of feeds etc can spell the result....you need proper brooding:
1) space requirements
2) proper heat
3) fresh air, right ventilation
4) adlibitum feeding
5) fresh water
6) clean beddings
7) all of the above...all the time...always. We can never stress this enough.
Hard to do huh?
Well, there are farmers/growers who have been selling the "Ready To Range Sunshines".
One grower in Sinait, Ilocos Sur had been featured many times by Manila Bulletin, Bannawag and Agriculture Magazines.
Showing posts with label ready to range. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ready to range. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Take Time
Yesterday was week2 of the 5000 heads in a brooder of an entrepreneur. At week1, Doc Rey already suggested moving some to ease up space. They were using pig pens and Doc Rey was instructing to open up the walls to let fresh air in.
At week2, the farm manager was alarmed that the pens were crowded as the Sunshines were growing fast. He said the ranging pens were ready. Doc Rey said he will check that day.
When we got to the farm, the chicks were ranging, happily! We caught the farm manager nervous as it was starting to rain and the skies were gloomy.
His nervousness was right and with basis!!!! If he took time and waited, he will have had several options:
1) Doc Rey may have suggested to open up the brooding area more
2) Just release in the ranging area the number o Sunshines that will ease up the space in the brooders
3) Have rice hull (ipa) as beddings in the shelters
4) Elevate or install bamboo floorings for the shelters
Why?
1) They are just 2weeks old, they would be better off inside brooders for protections from predators.
2) They need the heat from their beddings
3) When ranged, even with adlib feeds, they will still prefer grass. They will prefer to play, instead of ensuring that they be able to get first their nutrition for the 21days
4) Rain water will make the ground wet, so elevation will be a good idea
Everything said and done, the farm helps had to work double time last night. So far, no calls. No news is good news :)
Moral of the lesson....don't be too excited and in a hurry. Assess situations. There are no rules to follow in natural farming...but let common sense guide you. AND, when asked by your veterinarian to wait...surely he knows that it isn't a life or death situation yet.
At week2, the farm manager was alarmed that the pens were crowded as the Sunshines were growing fast. He said the ranging pens were ready. Doc Rey said he will check that day.
When we got to the farm, the chicks were ranging, happily! We caught the farm manager nervous as it was starting to rain and the skies were gloomy.
His nervousness was right and with basis!!!! If he took time and waited, he will have had several options:
1) Doc Rey may have suggested to open up the brooding area more
2) Just release in the ranging area the number o Sunshines that will ease up the space in the brooders
3) Have rice hull (ipa) as beddings in the shelters
4) Elevate or install bamboo floorings for the shelters
Why?
1) They are just 2weeks old, they would be better off inside brooders for protections from predators.
2) They need the heat from their beddings
3) When ranged, even with adlib feeds, they will still prefer grass. They will prefer to play, instead of ensuring that they be able to get first their nutrition for the 21days
4) Rain water will make the ground wet, so elevation will be a good idea
Everything said and done, the farm helps had to work double time last night. So far, no calls. No news is good news :)
Moral of the lesson....don't be too excited and in a hurry. Assess situations. There are no rules to follow in natural farming...but let common sense guide you. AND, when asked by your veterinarian to wait...surely he knows that it isn't a life or death situation yet.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Postbrood
One of our Sunshine growers in Gen Santos, is the hubby of the former executive assistant of a very good friend of mine. That was eons ago....the years that we were still golfing, gulping, jetting and all other INGS.
I have not seen Patty in maybe 20yrs. Agrilink 2007....we were both like "huh...I know you..." Ayun, she used to be the executive assistant of Vic at PLDT. You know her job...she was the ONE we all bugged for the small needs we had. She retired, I guess her hubby decided that she assisted him instead of getting bombarded by Vic's friends anyway. Now, as pastime, she and Rene are into farming in Gen Santos.
You think they raised Sunshines in 2007? Nope! Agrilink 2008...now it was just Rene who comes up to me an introduced himself as Patty's hubby.
Point is....he took time to think and prepare. He started with 100. Now, we are at 200 every 2weeks.
Am not sure if it was because he read about my business idea post on "ready to range" chicks, or did he read Zac Sarian's article on a good endeavor? Or must be both! Rene was asking about meeting him to discuss the "ready to range" prospects.
Time and schedules haven't allowed us to meet..that was about 2weeks ago.
Today, before lunch, I got a text asking about 1week old Sunshines for Gen Santos. I gave the texter Rene's number. Late this afternoon, Rene texts that he sold 100 "postbrood" Sunshines, for PHP90 each.
See....very me. Why discuss feasibilities and pencil pushings. Easier to get to practice pronto!
Nice new term..."postbrood".
Looking forward to visit Patty's Farm.
I have not seen Patty in maybe 20yrs. Agrilink 2007....we were both like "huh...I know you..." Ayun, she used to be the executive assistant of Vic at PLDT. You know her job...she was the ONE we all bugged for the small needs we had. She retired, I guess her hubby decided that she assisted him instead of getting bombarded by Vic's friends anyway. Now, as pastime, she and Rene are into farming in Gen Santos.
You think they raised Sunshines in 2007? Nope! Agrilink 2008...now it was just Rene who comes up to me an introduced himself as Patty's hubby.
Point is....he took time to think and prepare. He started with 100. Now, we are at 200 every 2weeks.
Am not sure if it was because he read about my business idea post on "ready to range" chicks, or did he read Zac Sarian's article on a good endeavor? Or must be both! Rene was asking about meeting him to discuss the "ready to range" prospects.
Time and schedules haven't allowed us to meet..that was about 2weeks ago.
Today, before lunch, I got a text asking about 1week old Sunshines for Gen Santos. I gave the texter Rene's number. Late this afternoon, Rene texts that he sold 100 "postbrood" Sunshines, for PHP90 each.
See....very me. Why discuss feasibilities and pencil pushings. Easier to get to practice pronto!
Nice new term..."postbrood".
Looking forward to visit Patty's Farm.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ilocos Sur Weekly
We have to thank the coverage that Agriculture Magazine gives us, and their trust in our products. They feature our growers, announce our seminars to reach out to people who wants to learn for livelihood, and report on the different aspects of successful money making ideas.
One province that had supported the Sunshine endeavor is Ilocos Sur. By now, there are several independent growers (who no longer rely on government's dispersal) lechon manok vendors, doing the ready-to-range and food processing.
Why did the ready-to-range prosper? Because the people have compared the quality of those privately raised in comparison to those brooded under make-do-to comply scenario. Watch out for more features by Manila Bulletin on these growing industry :)
And yes, we are able to visit the growers often, because we have an outlet of Solraya there, for Sunshine day old chicks. To make it affordable and readily available.
So, when our friends asked if we wanted to meet up...it was an easy YES! Perfect time to document while doing farm visits. Great meals with friends...
See how uniform the harvest of Corn? The farmer used organic fertilizers. Durabloom in particular.
Side note: This is the image of Our Lady that is pasted in my mind now. When I talk to Her, this is how I see Her. Last Monday, while sitting outside Gov. DV Savellano's office, I saw this statue. Now I know why this is the image in my mind. I see her all the time :) She stands guard outside the Gov's office!
One province that had supported the Sunshine endeavor is Ilocos Sur. By now, there are several independent growers (who no longer rely on government's dispersal) lechon manok vendors, doing the ready-to-range and food processing.
Why did the ready-to-range prosper? Because the people have compared the quality of those privately raised in comparison to those brooded under make-do-to comply scenario. Watch out for more features by Manila Bulletin on these growing industry :)
And yes, we are able to visit the growers often, because we have an outlet of Solraya there, for Sunshine day old chicks. To make it affordable and readily available.
So, when our friends asked if we wanted to meet up...it was an easy YES! Perfect time to document while doing farm visits. Great meals with friends...
See how uniform the harvest of Corn? The farmer used organic fertilizers. Durabloom in particular.
Side note: This is the image of Our Lady that is pasted in my mind now. When I talk to Her, this is how I see Her. Last Monday, while sitting outside Gov. DV Savellano's office, I saw this statue. Now I know why this is the image in my mind. I see her all the time :) She stands guard outside the Gov's office!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Where Can I Get Ready To Range?
Am not sure if its because that Zac Sarian had featured several times, Kagawad Henry Anunciacion of Sinait, Ilocos Sur finding a business in raising "ready to range" Sunshine Chicks...or that I made a post in this blog as one of the business ideas, to raise Sunshine Chicks till about 21days then sell them. Brooding is no joke :)We had been getting calls about purchasing ready to range chicks. Sorry but we always book our day old chicks and we have none to grow til 21days.
Another grower in Gen Santos, Rene, wants to discuss this possibility of doing it in his part of Mindanao.
Pol Rubia of Agri Aqua Network International (AANI) may go into this too, as he will start to brood for our demo farm and my needs for dressed chickens for marketing purposes. We discussed about selling ranging chicks since visitors to the demo farm will find him convenient as he is in Metro Manila.
Looks like the business ideas we had been posting are starting to rub in on others and opening eyes.
As the assessment goes...it is only the Agriculture sector that will make the Philippines float.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Don't Leave Her Alone
Do the chicks still need light in the evenings? My chicks are ready to range at 21days now and the ranging area where they are to be transferred tomorrow have no electricity. I tried them without lights last night and they were noisy.They don't need the light anymore, if you are asking if they still need the heat. They have complete feathers by now and will be able to regulate themselves under normal conditions. About the crying when there was no light...did you turn off the light after you had it on last night? The sudden change would have scared them. Same with humans. Or were they able to go from dusk to night time? They have to get used to it and they will. If we had a brownout, we panic. If we went from late afternoon till night without light, we would be ok :)
For the ranging area without light, make sure that they are grouped to go back to their shelter the first days. Educate where they are. I suggest when you transfer them, unload their box/cage inside their shelter, so they know where they belong and will want to make that their base.
In the evenings, make sure they go back together there. A Sunshine left out on her own will cry and be sad...they are very sociable and will want to be with their group.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Ready To Range Capons
Another great business idea is to do ready to range capons. It is an old art and not many people know how to do this.One grower of ours have specialized on the Sunshine Capons, timing his harvests during the festival season of Christmas, town fiestas etc. Actually, the capons are served in special occassions and should know no particular season as it will always be demanded.
The gourmets know the distinct difference in meat quality of capons. Priced higher at PHP300/kilo dressed, it is sought after by the market that knows.
We have had inquiries about getting capon cockerels, or the ready to range ones.
Look into this business. It is a good niche for a select market.
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