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News

How an NFFN farm in Shropshire is researching a more sustainable future for chicken farming

England
Poultry
Defra

Planton Farm is leading a pioneering project to explore the potential of pasture-based dual-purpose chicken enterprises for UK farms. Dual-purpose chickens are birds where females are raised for eggs and males for meat. This approach could offer a more nature-friendly and profitable way of rearing chickens in the UK.

At Planton Farm in Shropshire, a new approach to poultry farming is taking shape.  Co-founded by farmer Clare Hill and researcher Dr Annie Rayner, the farm is set to explore the benefits of raising dual-purpose chickens - hens for eggs and roosters for meat. 

The project will explore the practicalities of integrating dual-purpose chickens into mixed or livestock farming systems using nature-friendly principles. By doing so, the team hopes to address key environmental and welfare issues associated with chicken farming.

“Our goal is to create a practical, scalable model for regenerative dual-purpose chicken farming that integrates seamlessly into existing UK farm systems,” Dr Rayner said.

“By addressing both environmental and ethical issues in poultry production, we hope to offer a more sustainable solution that benefits farmers, consumers and the planet.”

One key advantage of dual-purpose chickens is that they give greater value to male chicks, which are typically culled in conventional egg-laying systems.

At Planton Farm, near Ludlow, Dr Rayner and Clare currently raise egg-laying hens alongside summer pasture broiler chickens, which are pasture-fed. 

They aim to explore whether pasture-fed, dual-purpose birds could help tackle sustainability challenges in large-scale chicken and egg production. These include reliance on inputs such as soy-based feeds and pollution from manure. Additionally, these chickens could offer a welfare-friendly alternative to the highly-productive breeds used in intensive systems.

As part of the project, trials will test more sustainable alternatives to bought-in feeds, housing and brooding systems - looking for solutions that work for as many farms as possible. The research will also identify suitable breeds for producing both meat and eggs on UK farms.

By addressing both environmental and ethical issues in poultry production, we hope to offer a more sustainable solution that benefits farmers, consumers and the planet

Dr Annie Rayner

Chicks will be placed in the trial systems in the spring, with males processed in the summer -  around the time the hens begin laying eggs. The project will closely monitor productivity, production costs, and yields, while also assessing the impact on pasture health and biodiversity.

The research is initially funded by Defra through its Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. 

Planton Farm is also establishing a consortium of food-related businesses to provide additional funding and expertise to drive the project forward. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can contact the team through the Impeckable Poultry website.