Hens add extra dimension to stock farming

Chickens can form the ideal diversification for those looking for another enterprise to add to a livestock unit.

Spreading your workload and having a regular cashflow are just two of the benefits of adding free-range hens to a mixed farm, says a producer.

When Neville Ward went into free-range eggs three years ago he admits he saw a bright outlook for the sector. But he had other reasons for wanting to diversify his 170-acre mixed Nottinghamshire farm.

"It wasn't a decision we took lightly," says Mr Ward, who farms in partnership with his wife Pat and son Nev. "As well as the initial investment, we needed to be certain it would fit into our mixed farming system."

Bull beef, sheep and arable have been the mix at Woodside Farm, Hockerton, Southwell, for the past 10 years. In 2006 their first flock of 16,000 hens were added to the mix.

One big advantage of free-range was the even workload and regular cash flow. "The 600 bull beef reared each year give a fairly even workload, but the peak at lambing was getting harder to manage we'd already scaled down to just a small flock of pedigree Bluefaced Leicester," says Mr Ward.

"We also wanted to provide an additional business for our son, who liked poultry and the time was right for him to take more responsibility."

It took a year from getting plans approved to getting hens in. Newcomers to poultry, the Wards had a lot of technical help and advice from Noble's John Holt on planning, building choice and management systems.

So far the hens have taken over 16ha (40 acres) of grassland at Woodside Farm, but with more free-range on the agenda, this will increase, all being well.