I'm reloading the podcast, and more information will come out about that. For now, take advantage of these training opportunities: Raising Pastured Poultry for Food and Profit Workshop in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, California, Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. September 12 - 23, 2016. Large Scale Pastured Poultry Workshop in Asheville, NC. November 10-11, 2016. Sustainable Poultry Network National Conference in Asheville, NC. November 12-13, 2016.

A quick hitting technical episode on the nutritional qualities of using black soldier fly larvae as poultry feed. In this show, we talk about the differences between dry matter and as-fed nutritional values. With respect to poultry, we cover the soldier fly values of protein, lysine, ash, phosphorus, and calcium. Resources Ask APPPA Q&A on the third Tuesday of each month at 8pm Eastern. Dial (712) 432-1212 and enter Access Code 709-102-625 to join. Show Sponsors [caption id="attachment_293" align="alignleft" width="174"] Featuring poultry processing equipment and charcoal chicken grills.[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="220"] Makers of high-quality feed supplements for poultry, cattle, goats, sheep, swine and horses.[/caption]

We continue the mini-series with poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks of The Fertrell Company. This will be part 2 of our 3 part technical road series that we recorded on our way to Arkansas. That explains the road hum that I couldn't get out, but everything is clear. In this episode, we talk about molting;

• The natural purpose of molting.
• How pastured poultry producers use molting to achieve a productive second and third lay cycle.
• The right time and the humane way to molt a hen.
• Why force a molt instead of doing it naturally.
• Bringing the hens out of molt with proper lighting techniques.
• Reasons for unexpected molt.

Resources Ask APPPA Q&A on the third Tuesday of each month at 8pm Eastern. Dial (712) 432-1212 and enter Access Code 709-102-625 to join. Show Sponsors [caption id="attachment_293" align="alignleft" width="174"] Featuring poultry processing equipment and charcoal chicken grills.[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="220"] Makers of high-quality feed supplements for poultry, cattle, goats, sheep, swine and horses.[/caption]

Think all chicken feather picking and "cannibalism" is attributed to poor feed? Think again.

Poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks of The Fertrell Company walks us through four main reasons that poultry peck their flock mates. And feed is only one of the issues.

So jump in the truck and join us we talk about feather pecking while driving down the road.

I'm joined by Jeff Mattocks and several APPPA Producer Plus members for a Q&A session on mixing feed on-farm as an alternative to purchasing feed from a mill. It's a common desire to mix feed on-farm, but it's a process that prompts many questions. Jeff is a poultry nutritionist with The Fertrell Company and author of the must have book Feeding Pasture-Raised Poultry">Pastured Poultry Feeding and Management. He has a deep understanding of poultry nutritional requirements, the characteristics of feedstuffs, and pastured poultry. Jeff is a unique poultry nutritionist in that he not only understands the nutrition, he understands the nuances of pastured production. This is the area where theory meets reality, and Jeff is a valuable community resource when it comes to navigating the collision of the classroom and the grass. In this episode, we cover a lot of ground:

• Typical bushel weights.
• Appropriate feed particle size.
• Correct mixing times.
• Is fresh feed better?
• How does pasture mix affect nutrition?
• Buying and storing grains. How do you find a reliable supply?
• Buying transitional and organic buffer strips.
• Beware of the weed seed.
• Common PTO requirements to running a grinder/mixer.
• Are all fishmeals created equal?
• A brief discussion about the interplay of amino acids.

Enjoy. Talk about this episode at our new Facebook Group. Need scalders, pluckers, and other poultry processing equipment? Check out PPT sponsor, Badger's Millside Farm.

[caption id="attachment_295" align="alignright" width="300"] Inside of hoop house at Whitehurst Farms.[/caption] Talk about this episode on Facebook. Mike Marchand of Whitehurst Farms joins the show to talk about his rapidly growing career as a pastured poultry farmer in the Houston, Texas area. He sold his successful non-farming business and starting raising poultry in 2014. Today, he manages a laying flock of 1700 pastured hens in addition to broilers, turkeys, and pigs. Mike shares two important takeaways from his first business that he applies to his farm. And he also candidly suggests that "you better get some friends." Mike details the growth of his laying operation, including housing, breeds, challenges of ready to lay pullets, and disease management. He outlines how he suffered a large drop-off in egg production and how he leveraged his relationships to make it through the production drops. To learn more about Whitehurst Farms, visit their Facebook page or visit them online. Show Sponsor This episode of Pastured Poultry Talk is brought to you by Badger's Millside Farm. When you need quality, American made, affordable poultry processing equipment for your on-farm slaughter, consult with Pastured Poultry Talk host Mike Badger. He's a Poultry Man and Featherman dealer.

Spence dawns his meat cape of awesomeness for another episode. This time I talk to him about bootstrapping. Some highlights:

• What are some of the challenges in Bootstrapping a Pastured poultry farm?
• What would do if you were smart?
• Are you playing with house money?
• Don't be afraid to work for a porkchop.
• What's the biggest obstacle to overcome when starting your own pastured poultry business?
• Should you have too much chicken or not enough?
• Plan to be adaptive.
• Should both spouses work on the farm?
• Spence shares the number of birds that he can comfortably take care of himself.
• You need to have realistic expectations. Don't try to create a multi-generational farm overnight.
• Are you a romantic farmer?
• Both Mike and Spence provide a perspective size and new markets.
• Should you listen to what people want?

Send your questions to [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you. Buy American made poultry processing supplies at my farm business, millsidefarm.com

It's never too early or late to think about turkeys. In this episode, Mike starts off talking to Spence about current farm events, which steers the conversation to turkey breeding. Mike has been setting up his Beltsvile Small White breeding program. And no discussion about turkeys is complete without a chat about blackhead. Spence authored a great paper with NCAT on blackhead. About mid-way through, Spence ducks out and Mike finishes the episodes by sharing a couple of slides from his Year Round Turkey Production presentation at the 2016 PASA Farming for the Future Conference where he talks about grinding and cutting up turkey for the year round markets. Reminder: Now is the time to be planning your processing equipment purchases. I am a dealer specializing in small scale poultry processing equipment. Visit millsidefarm.com for more information.

It's never too early or late to think about turkeys. In this episode, Mike starts off talking to Spence about current farm events, which steers the conversation to turkey breeding. Mike has been setting up his Beltsvile Small White breeding program. And no discussion about turkeys is complete without a chat about blackhead. Spence authored a great paper with NCAT on blackhead. About mid-way through, Spence ducks out and Mike finishes the episodes by sharing a couple of slides from his Year Round Turkey Production presentation at the 2016 PASA Farming for the Future Conference where he talks about grinding and cutting up turkey for the year round markets. Reminder: Now is the time to be planning your processing equipment purchases. I am a dealer specializing in small scale poultry processing equipment. Visit millsidefarm.com for more information.

It's never too early or late to think about turkeys. In this episode, Mike starts off talking to Spence about current farm events, which steers the conversation to turkey breeding. Mike has been setting up his Beltsvile Small White breeding program. And no discussion about turkeys is complete without a chat about blackhead. Spence authored a great paper with NCAT on blackhead. About mid-way through, Spence ducks out and Mike finishes the episodes by sharing a couple of slides from his Year Round Turkey Production presentation at the 2016 PASA Farming for the Future Conference where he talks about grinding and cutting up turkey for the year round markets. Reminder: Now is the time to be planning your processing equipment purchases. I am a dealer specializing in small scale poultry processing equipment. Visit millsidefarm.com for more information.