ARMENA, Alta. — Ron and Sheila Hamilton are trying to simplify their life.
They’re selling one of their two quarters of land to pay off debt.
On the remaining quarter they want to raise organic pasture poultry, laying hens, geese and turkey, sheep, goats, pigs and cattle and organic hay.
With their range of livestock and a plan to sell food directly to customers either at the door or at farmers’ markets, the Hamiltons believe they’ll make as much money on one quarter as their neighbor does with more land.
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“Let the neighbor do the 5,000 acres, we’ll do our quarter section and we’ll probably make the same living,” said Ron as he walked through an organic pasture that will be used to graze all their animals.
“It’s an alternative method of producing income on farms or acreages,” he said. “There’s a quick return on your investment and you don’t have to wait an entire year for a grain or cattle cheque.”
The relaxed lifestyle appeals to the couple. Their two daughters help feed the birds, collect eggs and move chicken cages in the pasture with a furniture dolly. It takes about two hours a day to do all the chores.
“It’s a great way to talk to your family over the chicken pens,” he said.
Expert advice
Starting with less than 100 chickens four years ago, the Hamiltons began raising chickens on pasture by following the format outlined in pasture poultry guru Joel Salatin’s book, Pasture Poultry Profits.
Last year, the couple raised 9,000 birds on pasture, one of the largest pasture poultry flocks in North America. Many of the birds are sold to high-end restaurants. They plan to raise the same number this year and they’ve already got orders for most of the finished birds.
One customer requested to be put on the mailing list forever.
Sheila recommended that new producers start small and have buyers for most of the birds early in the year.
“Unless you really like to eat a lot of chicken, make sure you have a market for the poultry you’re growing,” Sheila told a group of producers at a pasture poultry conference.
- MacArthur
