2010 Chickens:   Hello everyone.  Well, unfortunately, it looks like I will probably not be providing chickens this year.  I was unable to contract a workable rate with my processor in Scio ($4.25/bird...but I do understand their reasoning).   However, a processor in Boring is still charging a workable rate ($3.00/bird, but they provide no vacuum packaging or freezing, only hog-tied bags).  Unfortunately the state of Oregon still has no USDA approved processing facilities, and working with ODA in 2009 for my restaurant sales was a bit tedious, so I will not be selling to restaurants and grocery stores in 2010...and without these commercial volume customers I probably can't justify the cost/time/benefit of producing birds again in 2010.

     HOWEVER...I do not want to let my customers down, who have been such loyal customers over the last two summers.  If I can get committed orders of 1500 or more birds I could conceivable make 3 to 4 large trips, having scheduled "pickup" days for all customers to get their birds - similar to how we did it in 2008.  To make this work we have a long way to go.  So far I have internet orders of only 80 birds.  2010 price:  still $2.99/lb - and target average bird weight of 5lbs.

• Chicken Order Requirement:    1500
• 2010 Chick Orders:                      80

Past Posts:

QUESTION TO THE CUSTOMER:  I have recently found a way to bulk-order organic soy and organic corn from the Grange Co-op in Central Point Oregon (and then have it mixed).  This organic feed will still drive my feed prices up, but only a reasonable amount (my current feed supplier's organic prices are slightly more than double regular feed prices).  I am intent on keeping my chicken at $2.99/lb, which I believe is a good price point for creating a volume market with a quality product.  I could justify this feed change if my sales volume went up considerably...which is why I am posting this question to my customers:  How important is it to you to have an organic product (still won't be certified, but everything will be up to standards)?  Would this change your ordering volumes?  Would this entice other customers you know about?  Please send your answers and discussions to pestanajp@hotmail.com.

Chicken Update:  Well, our summer chicken season is over...now it's back to the drawing board for me to see how I'm going to do this thing again next year.  Until then, I have nearly 150 30  zero frozen birds sitting in freezers at the Langlois Market.  All of these birds were processed at the Scio facility so they are in nice vacuum sealed bags which freeze very well and hold for a long time.  Price is still $2.99/lb for the frozen birds.  On my last batch I kept 30 birds up to 11-weeks of age (the rest are 7 or 8 week birds).  These MONSTERS are as big as 9.5 lbs. 

- Note - All the vacuum sealed bags were frozen on the day of processing to catch them at the peak of freshness.

 Next Year

Next Year's Chicken production is mostly contingent on a USDA processing plant being built somewhere/anywhere in the State of Oregon.  Otherwise I may have to build my own state approved processing facility prior to resuming chicken production.

Joe’s Contact Information
Joe Pestana
P.O. Box 1011
Langlois, OR 97450
Email Joe
541-260-8969

Birds and Availability:  

• Frozen Birds Only - Available at the Langlois Market

Chicken’s Diet information (know what you’re eating ate):

• Brooder time:  Chicks were given small grit for their gullets and oyster shells for calcium.  Organic Kelp, Diatomaceous Earth, and Sea 90 Sea Salt were also given as free choice supplements.  The chicks were started on the same Fryer Ration they were fed in the fields. 
• Brooder and Pasture time: Fryer Ration – Un-medicated/No Antibiotics
• Chickens are also free to eat any grass/legume/ or bug they come across.
• Lots of Fresh water
• Lots of Sunshine
• Lots of Fresh Air
• Lots of pasture on the Sixes River which have NO chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.
• Low Stress with lots of space for each bird
• No De-Beaking