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Getting Back to Basics By Trish Hollenbeck
ClemTuck Farms utilizes a natural approach
Photo by Trish Hollenback
Coweta, OK 918-486-5322
Stilwell, OK 918-696-3191
www.farmerscoop.biz
Tahlequah, OK 918-456-0557
The voice of the
Ozarks www.radiospringfield.com
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Gary Tucker and Sue Clemons like to do things the natural way while also running an efficient poultry farm. “We’re a small-batch pasture-based organic practice meat and egg direct-to-consumer farm,” Gary said. ClemTuck Farms located west of West Fork, Ark., went from growing 50 broilers when they began in 2017 to 1,250 birds expected this year. They keep 50 egg layers and have even ventured into raising grass-fed beef. They are members of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association and use only organic feeds. They also use USDA-inspected and animal welfare-approved processors. The chicken brooding operation involves feeding and caring for the 250 birds inside for a few weeks before moving them outside. “They don’t free range,” Gary Tucker holds one of his layers in front Gary said. “Each batch has of the “eggmobile.” He has 40 layers that a 10-by-12-foot shelter and wander his land near West Fork and use that is moved daily.” the mobile shelter. They eat grass and bugs, as well as any other critters they might find, but the bulk of their diet is organic feed. ese guard dogs to bond with chickens The 40 egg layers live inside the “egg- so they will protect them. They sleep mobile.” Their quarters and and eat by the chickens. the mobile guard doghouse Another issue with chickmove weekly. Dealing with West Fork, Ark. ens is dealing with coccidpredators is one of the issues iosis, an intestinal bug. As that has plagued the layers, he prepares the broilers for which range more freely moving outside, Gary tries to than the broilers, but Gary strengthen their guts with active and Sue raise Great Pyrenyogurt cultures.
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
APRIL 13, 2020
