Dear Supporters:
We trust this newsletter finds you anticipating the change of seasons and the astonishing work of our Creator. This is our first customer bulletin. We hope it will be a yearly production to encourage communication.
Because of the fabulous response to the almost 300 broilers we raised in 2012, we are looking at raising them this year 2013. To be honest we had some incidences; in spite of this, it was a great learning curve. Since then, we have gained skills and knowledge to enhance and serve a better quality, superior bird. To resolve some issues we had last year, we will require pick-up on butchering day, this way we will have the chickens ready in a cool container, but they will be able to get into a freezer right away, to ensure freshness.
Poultry is extremely perishable. The best way to get the chickens, is in a cooler. You will need about 2 quarts of cooler space per bird. If it is a warm day, we suggest you bring some ice. If you are getting more than a fair amount of chickens, storage totes with ice work just as well. We butcher in the early mornings, so pick up time is from 1pm to 5pm unless otherwise arranged. We are looking into drop- off, co-op locations for next season 2014, so that it would be convenient for our customers to meet closer to their homes.
Another problem we ran into was our processing. With over 60 man-hours of processing time, we are examining other ways of processing options to reduce time, otherwise we can not justify the time. Also, because we are now raising chickens as a business, we will be needing to charge state sales tax, as well as bagging fees. Our chickens will be $15.00 this year, whole. This will cover shrink wrap bags, to ensure freshness and prevent freezer burn, state sales tax, state required labeling and the feeding and raising of the chicken itself. This price reflects the cost of the bird itself, labor, material expenses to raise the bird, and a profit.
The broilers of course, are 8 weeks old, range raised in floorless pens which we move daily to fresh vegetation. They are fed Non-GMO grain. We use no antibiotics, hormones or germicides and they are not vaccinated. Our chickens range from 3 to 6 pounds, with a 4 pound average. Because they are fed Non-GMO food and are not confined to such a small space, as opposed to the convention way of raising chickens, they are smaller birds, but are delicious nonetheless.
Please remember, you must order your chickens before slaughter. It is illegal for us to sell poultry after butchering, therefore when you order one, we are raising one pre-contracted for you in our field. Unfortunately, this does mean, that you can not come later in the year and purchase one from our freezer, due to what the law confines us to. Processing or butchering the chickens is a gift, an amenity, that we do not charge extra for. So please mark on the order form if you would like that done, or if you would like to take the chickens home to butcher yourselves.
You can order online at www.ByrumFamilyFarm.com starting April 1st, 2014. You can also stop by our booth at the Kootenai County Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, from 9am-1pm on Prairie Avenue in Hayden, ID starting on May 11th - October 26th .
Please accept our deep appreciation for your encouragement and support. Call or email us today with your questions, criticisms and advice. Thank you for your patronage.
Joyfully at your service,
The Byrum Family
208.664.9793
www.ByrumFamilyFarm.com
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