Poultry Your Way - Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems ...

MANAGEMENT
ALTERNATIVES
86
Poultry Your Way
MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
ORGANIC
old. This means that you can purchase conventionally bred day-old chicks from the local hatchery but must
begin feeding certified organic feed ration (either mixed on your own farm or purchased as a complete feed) the
day they arrive. If you choose to mix your own feed, be sure to consult the NOP National List of Allowed and
Prohibited Substances and carefully research inputs. Fishmeal supplements, for example, a traditional source of
concentrated protein among organic producers, are an allowed substance. However, fishmeal supplements are
almost always preserved with ethoxyquin and fishmeal supplements preserved with ethoxyquin are prohibited
(Mattocks, 2002). A new fishmeal supplement preserved with “Naturox”, an all-natural preservative comprised
of vitamin E, rosemary extract, and citric acid, is available (Mattocks, Fertrell Company, personal communication,
2004) (see Resources under Feed and Diet).
Farmers seeking organic certification are often scared off by stories they hear about organic feed shortages and
prices. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service surveyed feed suppliers in 2002-2003 and found out that:
• There does not appear to be a shortage of organic feed in the Midwest market; and
• Organic feed prices (for a 2:1 corn/soybean ratio) are 1.5 to 2 times higher than conventional prices in
Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (USDA, Agricultural Marketing Services, 2003).
In the Midwest, several feed suppliers offer organic poultry products. See Resources under Feed and Diet and
Suppliers for lists of organic feed suppliers.
Equipment and Supplies. If you plan to raise birds organically, you’ll need the same equipment used by other
poultry growers (see Figure 34). The National Organic Standards govern many supplies such as cleaning agents.
Figure 34: Equipment Checklist – Organic Management
✔ Feeders
✔ Waterers
✔ Litter/bedding
✔ Nesting boxes
✔ Artificial lights (if certifier allows)
✔ Electric fencing (if on pasture)
✔ NOP-approved cleansers
✔ Organically certified seed (if on pasture)
One source of supplier information comes from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). OMRI maintains
an ongoing “Brand Name Products List” for organic livestock production, processing, and handling. Although the
list is not comprehensive (suppliers must pay to have their products reviewed and listed), it continues to grow
and is well respected in the organic industry. Although all products listed are screened by OMRI for compliance
with the national organic standards, it is crucial that you check with your certifier to determine whether its use
is allowed. The list is available on the Internet at www.omri.org or by contacting OMRI directly (see Resources
under Agencies and Organizations).
The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) also publishes an annual directory of organic
feed, seed, and equipment suppliers (see Resources under Agencies and Organizations).