Any residual food left in the crops can possibly contaminate the bird during the processing. These contaminated birds could potentially be condemned by the inspector. It is important that there is feed withdrawal of at least 12 hours before processing begins. The plant operator may refuse processing if feed is found in the crops.
Unfortunately our processing line cannot accommodate ducks or geese because they are both very greasy.
Lowbank Farms cannot accommodate either because of the residual eggs that are still inside the birds.
Unfortunately Lowbank Farms is not equipped to do this at this time. It is something we hope to do in the future.
At this time Lowbank Farms has the protocol available to collect the liver and the hearts.
Roosters can be processed if the birds are less than 10 weeks old.
Congratulations on making the decision to raise a small flock of chickens! Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you raise your chickens.
After receiving your chicks, place them in a pen with clean bedding that keeps them insulated from the ground. If they are on concrete they most likely will get chilled, I recommend covering the concrete with cardboard then a layer of wood shavings.
The chicks should have access to clean water, preferably water that they cannot climb into. Wet chicks get chilled easily. They should have access to food right away as well. Put some cardboard under the feeder and spill some feed onto the cardboard to help the chicks figure out where to look for feed. The feeder should be as low as possible at the beginning and raised up as the chickens grow.
The day old chicks require a source of heat to keep warm. A heat lamp is the most commonly used. The heat lamp should be low enough to keep the chicks warm but not too low. If the chicks are around the heat lamp but not directly under it, the heat lamp may be too low. Warm chicks will be walking around and exploring, cold chicks will be huddled together under the heat lamp. If they are huddled together lower the heat lamp until the chickens start to move about. Day old chicks are comfortable at 32 degrees Celsius. The temperature can be slowly lowered by a degree every few days after the first week (see chart below). If the chicks start to huddle, they are too cold.
I wish you success with your small flock!
Trevor Fennema
Lowbank Farms Ltd.
Plant Operator/Owner