New free-range poultry farm approved for Mackay
The 21-hectare site will house up to 1000 birds in ‘mobile chicken caravans’ and sell produce fresh at the gate
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A seal of approval has been given for a free-range poultry farm to be built on former sugarcane land north of Mackay.
Graham John Mayer and Machelle Gay Peach, of Mayers Well Pastured Produce, own the 21-hectare Mt Ossa property which will house up to 1000 birds in "mobile chicken caravans".
The 4m long by 2.5m wide caravans can accommodate up to 100 chickens each with perches, laying boxes and a portable mesh-bottom enclosure measuring 625sq m.
"Our plan is to buy day old chickens and raise them to point of lay age and sell them to the public as laying hens and sell their eggs," the development proposal submitted to Mackay Regional Council stated.
"The housing will move regularly to ensure manure is distributed evenly throughout the paddocks and that the chickens have ample supply of fresh grass.
"Our plan is to farm sustainably and ecologically as (much as) we can with minimum disturbance to the surrounding nature."
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The proposal also detailed broken eggs and dead birds would be composted on site inside drums made from recycled rubber conveyor belts.
"Once composed enough a new barrel will be made as an ongoing process," the planning documents stated.
"This compost will then be used back on the farm."
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The farm will sell chickens and eggs straight from the farm gate between the maximum hours of 7am to 5pm, as well as deliver to Mackay twice per week.
The Mt Ossa farm will become the fifth poultry production site in the region alongside Just Got Laid Poultry, Harvey's Hatchery, Freckle Farm and Golden Yolk Whitsundays.
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