PLANS for a giant free range poultry shed housing 16,000 hens near Newbridge-on-Wye have been submitted to Powys County Council.
The free range egg production unit is farmers’ BI Price and Sons response to loss of income because of the phased reform of the European single farm payment scheme.
They have submitted a planning application to Powys County Council for permission to build the shed, and silos and associated works, at their Afallenchwerw farm at Llanfihangel Brynpabuan, four miles from Newbridge-on-Wye.
The 89 metre long and 15.5 metre wide shed will be close to existing farm buildings and around 240 metres away from two residential properties owned and occupied by the Price family, who will carry out most of the work at the unit.
The planning application states the building will be low lying which will help minimise its visual impact and proposed dark green colouring will help it blend in with the surroundings.
It is estimate there will be 2,000 birds to every hectare of land surrounding the shed. Birds will be kept indoors at night while electric fences will deter predators such as foxes during the day.
Strict RSPCA Freedom Food standards will be followed and the welfare charity carries out frequent spot inspections.
The application also states: "Please note this proposal is not an intensive livestock unit, given that the birds will be allowed to range all day."
The shed will have its own private access and will be situated at the edge of the farmyard.
Bird feed will be delivered by standard six or eight wheeler HGV lorries two or three times a month while eggs will be collected every three days. New birds will arrive once every 13 months with the older flock removed.
Manure will be spread onto the farm land in accordance with regulations and a manure management plan and at times of the year when spreading isn’t appropriate the farm has hard standing areas and existing buildings to store it.