CAPESTONE has launched a competition to give one farmer the opportunity to get started in poultry farming.

The firm will give away a pre-owned timber poultry shed with a capacity for 7,000 birds, cover the cost of erecting the shed and securing planning.

See also: LDC Group acquires Capestone Organic Poultry

Capestone supplies 7% of the UK’s free-range and organic poultry market and in 2020 achieved sales of about £28m.

It is present in both the year-round and seasonal retail markets and also supplies baby food manufacturers.

The prize package is a pre-owned timber shed with 660m2 floor space complete with feed bin, heater, ventilation, concrete base and a five-year sales contract with the opportunity to renew after the end of the period.

Shortlist

Entrants will need to have one hectare of land – which can be the farm’s least productive – and good access for articulated lorries.

The would-be winner will have to fund groundworks, electricity and water services, and the upfront production cost of shavings for bedding as the chickens and feed are supplied on credit.

A shortlist of five will be drawn from the entries that a team of judges will then visit to decide the winner.

More information and the entry form can be found on Capestone’s website.