Pastured Poultry Talk

We're All interested in Producing Better MeatIn this episode a tired Grady and Mike debrief their weeks. Mike traveled to Wilmot, OH to the Sustainable Poultry Network's conference where he presented a variety of poultry topics. In this episode, Mike chats about the heritage chicken challenge in terms of carcass yields.

Is it worth it to raise the chickens to 18 weeks versus 16? Grady does a great job connecting chickens to cows and tires. Grady wrapped up a first week of processing at Cobb Creek and discovered one of the coolest parts of working with other producers and their birds; the opportunity to teach and learn. We chat about feather growth problems, feet problems, and diagnosing problems from the gutting table. And Grady reminds us, "When you're making the best profit, you also have the best husbandry and animal welfare."Send us questions to [email protected] and if you like us share us with your friends and networks.

We're All interested in Producing Better Meat

In this episode a tired Grady and Mike debrief their weeks. Mike traveled to Wilmot, OH to the Sustainable Poultry Network's conference where he presented a variety of poultry topics. In this episode, Mike chats about the heritage chicken challenge in terms of carcass yields.

Is it worth it to raise the chickens to 18 weeks versus 16? Grady does a great job connecting chickens to cows and tires.  

Grady wrapped up a first week of processing at Cobb Creek and discovered one of the coolest parts of working with other producers and their birds; the opportunity to teach and learn. We chat about feather growth problems, feet problems, and diagnosing problems from the gutting table. And Grady reminds us, "When you're making the best profit, you also have the best husbandry and animal welfare."

Send us questions to [email protected] and if you like us share us with your friends and networks.

Cobb Creek's Texas inspected poultry processing facility is now open and processing birds. In this episode, Grady talks us through some of the things he learned and let's us know how he's setup. We talk about flow, bacteria, HAACP, food safety and much more.

Check them out at www.cobbcreekfarm.com.

Send us your feedback and questions at [email protected]. And don't forget to share this podcast with your friends.

Cobb Creek's Texas inspected poultry processing facility is now open and processing birds. In this episode, Grady talks us through some of the things he learned and let's us know how he's setup. We talk about flow, bacteria, HAACP, food safety and much more.

Check them out at www.cobbcreekfarm.com.

Send us your feedback and questions at [email protected]. And don't forget to share this podcast with your friends.

Grady and Mike discuss the USDA's Fall 2015 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan. The plan mandates a 24 hour depopulation requirement from the time the flock tests positive, and it authorizes ventilation shutdown as a way to suffocate and kill the surviving birds in the barn.

We then spend some time talking about Avian Influenza and its risks, which leads us to the ultimate questions. Is AI exposing the vulnerability of industrial chicken production? Forget sustainable. Is mass produced poultry production even stable enough to feed us?

At the end of the episode, Grady announces that his Texas state inspected facility (www.cobbcreekfarm.com) is ready for business, and he shares some great advice about pouring concrete to handle his waste water, which he collects for reuse. We'll take up the rest of the conversation in episode 23.

If you like this show, please pass it on to your friends. Help them install a podcast app on their phones or computers. We'll take your questions at [email protected].

Visit Grady at gradyphelan.com and Mike at millsidefarm.com.

Grady and Mike discuss the USDA's Fall 2015 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan. The plan mandates a 24 hour depopulation requirement from the time the flock tests positive, and it authorizes ventilation shutdown as a way to suffocate and kill the surviving birds in the barn.

We then spend some time talking about Avian Influenza and its risks, which leads us to the ultimate questions. Is AI exposing the vulnerability of industrial chicken production? Forget sustainable. Is mass produced poultry production even stable enough to feed us?

At the end of the episode, Grady announces that his Texas state inspected facility (www.cobbcreekfarm.com) is ready for business, and he shares some great advice about pouring concrete to handle his waste water, which he collects for reuse. We'll take up the rest of the conversation in episode 23.

If you like this show, please pass it on to your friends. Help them install a podcast app on their phones or computers. We'll take your questions at [email protected].

Visit Grady at gradyphelan.com and Mike at millsidefarm.com.

For the first time in public, Mike (millsidefarm.com) announces that he is retiring the mobile processing service. That sparks a conversation between Grady and Mike on enterprise analysis in general.

Grady draws on his Ranching For Profits education while Mike draws on a transformational concept of "quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers," Seth Godin.

We kick around the idea of quitting, which Godin argues is not only ok, but it's important to know when to quit. You can read all about quitting in The Dip, a book by Godin.

Grady is still looking for an intern for Cobb Creek Farm. If you're interested in becoming a part of a growing pastured poultry farm, contact Grady (gradyphelan.com).

Got a question or feedback? Send it to [email protected] and don't forget to share this podcast with all your friends.

For the first time in public, Mike (millsidefarm.com) announces that he is retiring the mobile processing service. That sparks a conversation between Grady and Mike on enterprise analysis in general.

Grady draws on his Ranching For Profits education while Mike draws on a transformational concept of "quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers," Seth Godin.

We kick around the idea of quitting, which Godin argues is not only ok, but it's important to know when to quit. You can read all about quitting in The Dip, a book by Godin.

Grady is still looking for an intern for Cobb Creek Farm. If you're interested in becoming a part of a growing pastured poultry farm, contact Grady (gradyphelan.com).

Got a question or feedback? Send it to [email protected] and don't forget to share this podcast with all your friends.

A listener asks about the regulations of selling eggs at market. It's different by state of course, but we cover the hightlights of what's required in the context of Oklahoma, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Important questions arise from this discussion, such as "will your market support your expected volume of egg sales and exactly how clear are those regulations anyway?"

In the second half of the show, we talk about planting cover crops for poultry. This is a wildly popular question. Is there a good answer?

Send your comments and questions to [email protected].

Don't forget to visit Grady (gradyphelan.com) and Mike (millsidefarm.com) on the web.

A listener asks about the regulations of selling eggs at market. It's different by state of course, but we cover the hightlights of what's required in the context of Oklahoma, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Important questions arise from this discussion, such as "will your market support your expected volume of egg sales and exactly how clear are those regulations anyway?"

In the second half of the show, we talk about planting cover crops for poultry. This is a wildly popular question. Is there a good answer?

Send your comments and questions to [email protected].

Don't forget to visit Grady (gradyphelan.com) and Mike (millsidefarm.com) on the web.