Eric and Andrea Miehlisch (continued)
"When we open the barns at 8:00 in the morning, they like to go out for a big romp and run around like they're on a playground. When they get that out of their systems, they want to go back inside." The barns are carefully groomed with six inches of wood shavings at all times. "They like to feel comfortable and safe just as we do. They will go outside if it gets uncomfortable inside, but you know your barn management is good when they prefer to be inside." At 8:00 in the evening the stragglers are herded inside and the barn is closed up for the night. "The lights go out at 8:30, but we keep on blue nightlights that have a sort of moon glow look to them, because the turkeys get frightened at night in the total dark."
The Miehlisches have always raised breeder turkey hens, birds that produce eggs to be hatched for the backyard hobby industry. "In terms of humane treatment guidelines, we were pretty much organic anyway," Andrea says. "To raise organic turkeys to market size was a no brainer." And so the Miehlischs' turkeys have graced the tables of Organic Prairie customers for the past two years.
They only raise one flock a year, bringing in poults in May which are ready for market by September. Typically producers will raise two flocks a year, but the Miehlisches prefer the single flock regimen so they don't have to heat the barns through the winter. "That's another reason why organic fits us so well," Andrea says. "The barns will stand empty for 9 months over the winter, and that is one of your best sanitation methods. So far we haven't had any problem with diseases. We really put a lot of effort into caring for our birds and making sure they have the optimal conditions. We would not consider raising meat birds except organically."
Both the Miehlisch children have helped in the barns since they were little. "But we really encourage them to follow their own path and to get educated, because we would never have considered farming as a viable lifestyle for them. Now with Organic Prairie, we feel this is a viable lifestyle, but we wouldn't push them into it. I always knew I wanted to do something with turkeys, but I realize that not everybody is that way!"
