Azuluna Premium Egg producers process and deliver their products directly to a retail outlet nearby—and will be paid directly by that retail outlet.  Azuluna Brands supports producers by opening accounts with major retail chains and providing producers with the training and equipment they need to market their eggs at a premium price.

Materials Needed
1. Ameraucana (Araucana cross) hens laying blue-green eggs that grade as “large.”
2. Fenced well-drained pasture, predator proof, with water source.
3. Balanced layer pellets.
4. Oyster shell.
5. Grit.
6. Constant availability of clean drinking water.
7. Chicken coop with nest boxes.
8. Egg processing equipment, including a candler, official scale, refrigerator, clean room, Azuluna labels and Azuluna packing cartons.  Labels and packaging must be purchased from Azuluna Brands, LLC.

Procedure

Birds and Housing
Either raise or purchase Ameraucana pullets and house them in a coop with feeding and watering stations as well as nest boxes appropriate for the number of hens kept.  For example, you should have one or more nest boxes per 5 hens.  Coop should be constructed so that predators cannot gain access, including a method for closing it at night.  Alternatively, a mobile coop may be used on pasture.  Coop and nest boxes should be kept well bedded.  Araucana eggs are a premium food product and the cleaner they are the better for marketing.

Fencing
We recommend you fence your pasture to keep out predators.  If hawks are a problem in your area, you might want to consider one of the mobile coop models.  Information on keeping pastured poultry can be obtained from a number of sources, such as The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association or National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

Feed and Water
The Azuluna model of livestock production is based on the concept of feeding a balanced diet to animals with continual access to outdoors.  Although a dirt paddock is acceptable, it is preferable to provide grassy areas when available during the warmer months.  Moving fences periodically to prevent overgrazing is recommended.  Naturally, a source of clean water should always be available to the chickens.  Grit of appropriate size for age of birds should also be available at all times.  High quality grain appropriate for age (starter, grower, or layer) should be available free-choice.  Azuluna does not allow the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics or other growth or production stimulants.  Medicated layer grains are not acceptable.  When laying, you should provide free-choice oyster shell.

Bird Health
While Azuluna is not an organic program, some of our retail outlets may restrict the use of traditional therapeutic medications.  If you have a serious health problem requiring treatment, please contact us to discuss your options.

Egg Collection and Delivery
Collect eggs from your nest boxes at least once a day.  Keep the eggs in a cool place, but not refrigerated, until you process them.  You will process the eggs at least 3 times per week, including cleaning, weighing, grading, candling, packing, and dating with a freshness date.  You will deliver the eggs to the designated supermarket on a schedule agreed to between you and the buyer.  You will maintain production and delivery records and be responsible for invoicing the retailer who will pay you directly.