Pastured Laying Hens

Ben A. Bergmann

Fickle Creek Farm

Efland NC

Egg-laying Breeds

Black Australorp

Araucana

Egg-laying Breeds

Buff Orpington

Red Sex-linked

Egg-laying Breeds

Rhode Island Red

Barred Plymouth Rock

PredatorsFoxRaccoonPossumHawkSnakeOwl

DogWeaselCoyote

Predators: FencingPermanent perimeter

Semi-permanent internal

Predators: FencingTemporary netted

Temporary netted gates

Predators: Guard dogs

One per fenced area, starting at about 1 year old

Housing: Chicken tractors

Used after brooder

until hens are

relatively hawk-proof

Housing: Eggmobiles

Wire mesh ramp, sloped

corrugated metal roof

Hens concentrate around feeders and waterers

Housing: Eggmobiles

More siding toward nest box end

Old trailer bed easy to move

with small tractor or utility

vehicle

Housing: Eggmobiles

Hand-made

wooden nest boxes

Wire mesh floor

cleans feet and litter falls through

Housing: Eggmobiles

Roosts of small diameter cedar trees or ripped

rough hewn boards

Housing: Eggmobiles

Old hay wagon trailer, second-hand nest boxes

Feeders and Waterers

Range feeders

Water troughs

Oyster shell pans

Eggs: Collecting

Nests with hay

Eggs transported

in buckets

Eggs: Packing

Selling

 

Farmers’ Markets

Local Grocery

Farm Direct

More than just eggs

Eggs/Hen/Day by Month

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Month

EM I EM II EM III EM IV

Records: Hen performance

Eggs/Hen/Day by Month

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

Month

Mean

Records: Hen performance

Records: Hen performanceEggs/Hen/Day by Month

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0EM I Linear (EM I)

Records: Financial performance

2004 Laying Hen Expenses (%)

Feed 68 

Chicks/Hens 2

Supplies 16 

Egg Cartons 1

Electricity 6 

Process Hens 1

Equip Deprec 3 

Oyster Shell 0

Dog Food 2 

Labels 0         

     

Records: Financial performance

2004 Laying Hen Income (%)

  FMs WSM FD  

Hens: 5 0 1 5

Eggs: 56 35 4 95

All: 61 35 4  

       

2004 Laying Hen Production

Average Number Layers 423

Feed Used (lbs) 60,350

Hens Sold 103

Eggs Produced 74,127

Gross Income $17,188

Total Expenses $12,359

Net Income $4,829

Records: Financial performance

2004 Laying Hen Production Records: Time keeping

Frequency Task % TEa day a.m. water, clean nests 17  p.m. water, collect eggs 22  pack, label eggs 30Ea week buy feed 2  move EMs, feed out 6  fill hay bags 3  deliveries, FMs 14Ea month records 1Occasional e.g. fencing, EM clean,

building, repairs  4

      

2004 Financial Summary (ave 423 hens)

Net Income/Year $4,829

Net Income/Week $93

Hours Worked/Week 31.5

Pay/Hour $2.95

Records: Financial performance

Expenses not include “other

overhead” nor brooding

CaveatsIncome not include value of hens to overall farmsystem or home consumption of products

Records: Lessons learned Three egg-producing years is

probably limit

Feed such large component of expenses difficult to improve profitability without reduce this cost

(bulk feed, annual forages?)

Collecting and packing eggs approx half time in process (ways to increase efficiency?)

Key Features of Raising Laying Hens on Pasture

Eggmobiles Portable net fence

Guard dogs

Range feeders

Decision-making

Economics

Size of operation

Overall farm system- stage- components

Ethics/values

Personal preferences