Stop Thinking About Raising Chickens

[This editorial first appeared in the July/August 2011 issue of the APPPA Grit, the newsletter for the American Pastured Poultry Association. I edit the APPPA Grit.]

Christie and I are fresh off a trip to Polyface for Joel Salatin’s field day. I talked a lot of chicken and met many great people, including farmers, soon-to-be farmers, chefs, teachers, and other curious people. It’s hard not to come back from a day at Polyface or any other great conference and not feel empowered, excited, and ready to take on the world.

At Polyface, I was struck by the diversity of the people in attendance. There were experienced farmers, new farmers, chefs, teachers, and other interested
people. But it’s the people thinking about farming, or more specifically, about raising poultry that I want to focus on.

One of my questions to everyone who stopped by the APPPA booth was, “Do you raise any poultry?” Too, often, the response was, “I’m thinking about it.”

But I want to encourage people to stop thinking and just start doing. There will be plenty of time to think as you move your pens, round-up your birds for processing, collect eggs, or do one of the many other tasks required to bring poultry products to market, including troubleshoot problems.

Sometimes, it takes a leap of faith for people to stop thinking and start doing. So, the next time you encounter someone who is thinking about pastured poultry tell that person to stop thinking. And provide the support to help the person get started.

Whether you’re finishing your first batch of 50 broilers or you are in your tenth year of egg production, you have valuable experience and knowledge to share. If nothing else, share your mistakes or give an APPPA membership.

Collaboration among producers has got to be one the best remedies to uncertainty a producer can find. I know it has been for me.