Grab the opportunity to set up a farm. Demand is expected to stay hot

 

The growing need for more free range egg farms was brought home again today when a 5 tonne delivery truck arrived at the farm this morning and the driver said he had been sent to fill up the truck with eggs.

He could hardly believe it when Anne said we had no eggs available. “But my computer says this an egg farm” he wailed. “Yes” she replied “But all our eggs are laid to order and we are always sold out by this time.”

There is a huge opportunity for more genuine free range farms to be set up, and we have been doing our best to encourage it locally and in every State. There needs to be far more free range farms close to every township in the country.

We have an eBook available for anyone interested. It will be sent as a pdf after payment of $240 is made to our Bendigo Bank account P&A Westwood 633000 53356233

Destruction of bushland at Grantville

 It’s strange how some people can’t see the wood for the trees when it comes environmental issues. In Bass Coast Shire, a  handful of noisy people shrieked about demolishing a few dying trees to allow a road widening scheme for a sand extraction site which had already been granted a permit – yet they have not raised a squeak about cutting down and setting fire to native vegetation and habitat trees in Stanley Road. It is part of the bushland corridor and far more significant than the few trees on the north side of Stanley Road, adjoining cleared farmland which have been the subject of ravings by supporters of Save Westernport Woodlands. That vegetation has little habitat value compared with the senseless destruction of healthy trees and wildlife just undertaken. The State Government's Forest Fire Management has just completed the first burn, but a total of 22 hectares of the bushland is being targetted. It would have been better for activists to concentrate on maintaining the continuity and integrity of the woodland. Even the Shire has been hoodwinked into supporting this nonsense.It’s  hard coming to terms with the senseless destruction of bushland at Stanley Road, Grantville by firelighters from Forest Fire Management, assisted by Neil Rankine, guru of Save Westernport Woodlands. This example of their handiwork demonstrates that they have no respect for or understanding of native vegetation and wildlife. It also shows the absurdity of Mr Rankine’s objection to the removal of a handful of dying trees to make Stanley Road safer for residents. He clearly has a secret agenda which he refuses to share.

Accoustic force-field to protect poultry from infection

 A South Australian company has been using artificial intelligence to develop a system to protect hens on poultry farms from any infection threat posed by wild birds. It can be deployed on a Poultry site to create an acoustic barrier to exclude wild birds.

It is said to create an acoustic force-field barrier to prevent unwanted wild birds from impacting on the poultry within the farm complex.

Extending the lifespan of laying hens

 Work at Sydney University’s Poultry Research Foundation has shown the benefits of maintaining healthy flocks of hens. It says that extending the lifespan of egg laying hens would contribute to decreasing the size of the national flock and the use of limited resources, thereby increasing the sustainability of the Australian egg industry. For extension of flock life to be economically viable, aspects of hen management including hen feed efficiency, eggshell quality, and hen health need consideration. Some recent Australian studies of brown egg producing hens in longer laying cycles have been undertaken. With ongoing genetic selection for improved persistency of lay and feed efficiency in laying hens, the egg industry is pursuing the opportunity to extend layer hen lifespan until they are 100 weeks of age, with an aim for each hen to produce up to 500 eggs. Most intensive producers force their hens into unnatural laying cycles by installing lights in sheds to keep them eating and laying eggs, rather than going into a moult which is normal after about 70 weeks of laying an egg every day.

Continuous egg production places high demand on the organs and tissues involved in producing eggs. This includes the liver, which generates yolk lipid and, the oviduct which produces the egg white, shell membranes and eggshell. Further, the continuous demand for Ca for eggshell formation may impact bone integrity, especially the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis  Eggshell quality is central to the production of first grade eggs and is a key determinant for the flock to continue through a longer laying cycle. Optimal liver and skeletal health are also critical for the successful extension of flock life. The research backs up our method of low density production with small flock numbers, quality feed and good husbandry practices.

Research shows benefits of brown strains of free range hens

  Recent research at North Carolina State University in the United States has shown that brown strains of laying hens are slightly heavier than white hens, no matter the housing type,whether free range or in cages. They have a better feed conversion ratio and brown birds housed cage free have a lower mortality rate compared to brown birds in cages. Selecting the right birds is the first step in setting up a successful free range farm. Check out our website and, if you are serious, read our eBook on running your own farm.

Eggs help beat 'cost of living' crisis

 In these  times of supposed‘cost of living challenges’ there are many choices to be made, including effective ways to eat well. Canadian dietician Abbey Sharp says eggs are an easy, inexpensive protein to lean on during times of economic uncertainty. She confirms that a single egg has about 6 grams of protein. It is also a complete source of protein,  containing all nine essential amino acids our bodies can’t make on their own. Eggs are also a healthy source of Vitamin A and D, iron, choline and other nutrients. Often the choice is simple: meet your living costs or support lifestyle choices, such as holidays or bigger and better gadgets!

Top Egg Blogs

 Here's the link to the listing of the top 15 egg blogs in the World.   Freeranger Eggs is ranked number 8 - not bad for a tiny free range farm.

https://bloggers.feedspot.com/egg_blogs/

Start your own free range farm

 Australia needs many more free range farms to meet the demand for good food. Here is an urgent need for more genuine free range eggs. Check out our website freeranger.com.au and then read our eBook on setting up your own farm.

Daylight saving time ends April 6

 The madness of daylight saving time ends on Sunday April 6. In Victoria clocks will be turned back by one hour at 3am — they'll go to 2am. It’s all a political game because State politicians are too gutless to end stop fiddling around with our clocks. Particularly since the advent of flexible working hours,there is no need for daylight saving time which has been shown to be detrimental to the health of some – especially children.International studies have linked circadian disruption to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even suicide.  heart attacks spike by as much as 24 per cent. A study in 2020 found that moving clocks forward one hour carries an alarming 6% increased risk of fatal traffic accidents, due to circadian scrambling and sleep deprivation. One particulr disruption for free range farms is that the hens’ egg laying body clock is set by regular daylight – so any change affects the lay rate – or the timing of laying. That, of course is not an issue for intensive producers with hen locked in sheds under controlled lighting conditions and is of no interest to selfish city dwellers.

Plans for AI to boost egg production

 Academics and big egg producers are investigating the use of high tech to increase egg production. They are using smart technology like sensors and artificial intelligence , which they say will help farmers produce more eggs while keeping their chickens healthier and happier. They use words like "developing a sensor-embedded flock management system which detects health, welfare and productivity indicators using artificial intelligence to provide community-based learning to farmers and the supply chain."The project, called Flockwise, is supported by Innovate UK, a government organization that helps UK companies develop new products and services. A much simpler system would boost production by encouraging more small-scale farm businesses which maintain bird health by keeping the flocks in natural conditions rather than in overcrowded sheds.

Let avian influenza run

 Robert F Kennedy junior is regarded by many as a nutcase. But sometimes he makes sense. The US Secretary of Health stated on Fox News that farmers "should consider the possibility of letting avian influenza run through their flocks so that the birds which are immune can be identified. He suggested that 'natural immunity' was better than contaminating birds with vaccines.

We are again one of the top egg farm blogs in the world

 

Once again, this blog has been recognised as one of the top 15 poultry blogs in the world.

New pullets have arrived

 Our latest point of lay Isa Brown pullets were delivered yesterday. They are looking great, as always. Our supplier, Yellingo Free Range hens does a terrific job raising the chooks. Thanks Kevin. As usual, we ordered a few more than we need as our replacements, which allows some pullets to be sold to locals who want hens in their backyards. All are fully beaked and have been innoculated against the main  poultry ailments Mareks disease Newcastle disease, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), Infectious Bronchitis (IB)Infectious Laryo Tracheitis (ILT Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS) Fowl Pox (FP) contact us if you would like to order some.

Time for truth about the egg shortage

 What is the truth about a shortage of eggs in supermarkets? Producers say there are plenty of eggs  despite minor disruptions in the supply chain. Australian Eggs managing director Rowan McMonnies said there is no imbalance between supply and demand.However major supermarkets have blamed a shortage of supply as the reason behind their bare shelves.  They can’t both be right!

Avian Influenza spread by workers at intensive facilities

 Even Americans are beginning to recognise that it is the huge numbers of chickens housed for egg production that causes health problems and results in a decline in egg production, The New York Times pushed that point recently, along with the revelation that the diseases are usually a result of contamination by workers. That certainly seems to be the case with the latest outbreaks of Avian Influenza at Euroa.

Isa Brown pullets available

 Until more free range farms are established, the best way for lovers of good food is to have their own chickens to lay eggs.

Point of lay Isa Browns are available from us in Stanley Road Grantville  at $35 each. A few older hens are $20 each. 0356788483

Demand for eggs has gone through the roof and consequently there is a shortage – which in turn has led to a massive clamour from people wanting chickens for their backyards. We have been unable to meet that demand until now. From late February we will have  Isa Brown chickens available at the farm.  Email or call to place orders.

Setting up your own farm can be easier than you think

 

Setting up your own free range farm could be easier than you think. Our eBook on how to set up a sustainable freerange farm is even more valuable now the clear consumer demand for free range eggs is outstripping supply. The current shortage of eggs provides huge opportunities.The shortage demonstrates the importance of local production and provides a great opportunity for new small scale egg operations to supply needs in each area. Low density systems are far less susceptible to disease than the major industrial-scale producers and an additional benefit is that the supply chain is far shorter.

Small, ethical and sustainable farm businesses can be established to service local communities.

A good starting point is checking out our website then reading our(pdf) eBook on starting a free range farm. Order via email and the pdf will be sent once payment appears in the Bendigo Bank bank account send $245 to A & P Westwood BSB 633000 acc 153356233.

Egg shortage expected to continue in 2025

 

The poultry industry expects the shortage of eggs will continue throughout 2025 because of the numbers of chickens culled following outbreaks of avian influenza. Last year more than 2 million laying hens were euthanised in Australia. The shortage demonstrates the importance of local production and provides a great opportunity for new small scale egg operations to supply needs in each area. Low density systems are far less susceptible to disease than the major industrial-scale producers.  An additional benefit is that the supply chain is far shorter. Most outbreaks of avian influenza originated on major production facilities spread by workers travelling between businesses.

Contact us if you would like to set up your own free range egg business.

Victoria's public service out of control

 

The Victorian Government has revealed why the State is in so much trouble. Spending on Victoria’s public servants has jumped by $2.7 billion.The latest figure revealed by the State Government is up from the forecast $34.77bn for Victoria’s public sector wages bill, set out in the 2022-23 budget.

Victoria’s public sector workforce has increased by 59% in the 15 years to 2022-23, double the 29% growth in the state’s population.. Is it any wonder that the State is broke!

Sunlight maintains bird health

 Free range egg laying hens enjoy the benefits of an outdoor life with sunlight to keep them healthy. When deprived of natural sunlight, a vitamin D deficiency often results in bone density problems .

The average broiler chicken lives 6–8 weeks and spends all of that time indoors. It has been found that optimum weight gain in broiler hens occurs with 16 hours of lighting and 8 hours of darkness. This forced growth often creates health issues. Among other things, weight-gain can exceed skeletal development. Researchers at Auburn University in Alabama are investigating the use of natural light in broiler houses and its effects on bird performance and welfare. A team of agricultural engineers, animal scientists and Extension specialists at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station was awarded $300,000 by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study the impact natural light will have on commercial broiler flocks’ growth and welfare. The team says it will also develop a method for measuring the environmental impact of using more natural light compared with artificial light in sheds.