Countryside Organics

Countryside Organics is pleased to announce our newest reseller, VICTORY GREEN FARM, of PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA, in the FT. MYERS area. VICTORY GREEN FARM is at 12584 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, FL 22955.

Give Lya Vlk and Victory Green Farm a call at 855-890-3400.

Check out all of our quality feed resellers, here. [...]

Battle over Farmers’ Rights Against Monsanto Continues to Brew NEW YORK – March 28, 2012

Today, in Federal District Court in Manhattan, family farmers filed their Notice of Appeal to Judge Naomi Buchwald’s February 24th ruling dismissing *Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et al v. Monsanto*. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will hear the [...]

Countryside Organics is pleased to announce our newest reseller, EASTHAMPTON FEED & SUPPLIES, of EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Easthampton Feed & Supplies is at 18 Mechanic Street, Easthampton, MA 01027.

Give Easthampton Feed & Supplies a call at (413)-527-0778.

Welcome Easthampton Feed & Supplies!!

Check out all of our quality feed resellers, here. Check out [...]

Here are some basic rules of thumb for layer and broiler feeds, grit and starting up the little peepers. Have fun!

Layers

Layers – per bird

1st Month – Approximately 4 lbs. Starter Feed 2-4 Months – Approximately 1/4 lb. per day Grower Feed 4 Months and on – Approximately 1/4 lb. per day Layer Feed

12 Layers will require:

(1) 50 lb. Bag Soy-Free Poultry Starter Feed
(5) 50 lb. Bags Soy-Free Poultry Broiler/Grower Feed
(2) 50 lb. Bags per month Soy-Free Layer Feed (after 4 months)

Broilers

Broilers – per bird

1st Three Weeks – Approximately 3 lbs. Starter Feed
Weeks 4-10 – Approximately 12 lbs. Broiler/Grower Feed
A finished broiler will consume approximately 15 lbs. of feed total.

30 Broilers will require:

(2) 50 lb. Bags Soy-Free Poultry Starter Feed
(7) 50 lb. Bags Soy-Free Poultry Broiler/Grower Feed

What Do I Need to Know About Grit?

Why Should I Use Grit?
Birds rush feed through their digestive tracts, keeping it only from 1/2 to 12 minutes in the gizzard. The proper sizes of GRAN-I-GRIT in the gizzard grinds feed particles so small that the bird’s digestive juices can quickly act on every bit of the valuable proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins locked within the feed particles, converting them into a form for absorption into the blood stream where they aid growth and egg production.

Preventive
Continous feeding of Gran-I-Grit also hslps prevent digestive disturbances, diarrhea, cannibalism, crop bound conditions, and certain forms of paralysis. After passing through the digestive tract, Gran-I-Grit exercises and strengthens the organs, removing mucus and lessening the chance of disease germs being established.

CAUTION:
Baby chicks and poults can mistake grit for feed with damaging results. Help them establish correct feeding habits by sprinkling grit over their mash or grain for the first two days. Then feed Gran-I-Grit in separate hoppers.

Small Flock Startup

Whether a micro-flock or a larger endeavor, starting chickens is easy. You need heat, shelter with clean bedding, water, food, and, of course, chicks.

Heat. 90-95º F to start. No drafts. Use a heat lamp for a heat source and elevate it above the floor or ground of your shelter. For day-old chicks start at 90-95º F and reduce the heat approximately 1 degree per day for 30 days. Use a thermometer to be certain the area under the heat lamp (far enough away from the birds to be safe) is the appropriate temperature.

Shelter. A stall in a barn, a portion of an enclosed porch, a corner of a garage, part of a shed, a large box, all of these would work fine for your chicks. It is important that the chicks are contained and safe from predators and in close proximity to their food and water. Bedding of shavings or sawdust or shredded newspaper that can be swept or replaced.

Water. Clean water in a gravity feeder all the time. When your chicks arrive take the chick gently in your hand and dip its beak into the water a couple times until it takes a drink. S/he will be thirsty. Make sure s/he knows where the waterer is. Then feed her the same way, by dipping her beak into the feed.

Food: Countryside Organics Starter for one month. Grower/Broiler until 4 months for layers and till finish for broilers. Layer Feed from 4 months on. Mix some pulverized, hard boiled organic eggs into the starter feed for the first couple of days (it’s what they have been dining on so far!). Add small-sized starter grit, free choice, after 1o days or so. Be sure to not add grit too early as the young chicks may mistake it for feed.

Chicks. Order your chicks mail-order from McMurray Hatchery. You can order a mix and it is fun to go in on an order with friends. Order well in advance of your start date to be guaranteed the type of bird(s) you desire. McMurray will give you a day that you should expect your chickens. Be sure to be available to pick them up from the Post Office.

More info? See this page for more information on raising small flocks of chickens by Harvey Ussery. Harvey also has a great new book on chickens called The Small-Scale Poultry Flock, available on our webstore. For more information on micro-flocks, urban and backyard chickens be sure to see Patricia Forman’s book, City Chicks, also available on our website. See our own FAQ about how much feed for chickens here.

Have fun and as Patricia Foreman says, “May the flock be with you!”

Countryside Organics is pleased to announce that Kevin Fletcher, President of Countryside Organics, will continue as a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Biological Farmers (VABF). This year Kevin will be taking on the role of Treasurer.

The VABF plays a vital role in biological farming education, lobbying and [...]