Where things stand…
Small-flock system design and development is being led and funded by Urban Coop Company (UCCO) for TNEP. Alpha testing was done in 2016. The systems have been under local Beta Testing during 2016 & 2017. The first 5 Beta Test systems were funded by Urban Coop Company and a group of generous donors placed those systems at a school / orphanage in Canaan. As of mid 2018 these pilots are 100% successful. The focus for 2019 & 2020 will be to establish a 1000 bird flock and incubation capability so as to be able to supply and launch at other schools.
- 2016 Alpha Testing US 100%
- 2017 Beta Testing US / Establish Hen Flocks 100%
- Early 2018 Establish Phase I Beta Testing Haiti (School / Orphanage) 100%
- Mid 2018 Phase II Beta Testing Haiti (School / Orphanage) 100%
- Mid 2018 | Lease Land, Build Protective Wall & Secure Area for 1000 Hen Source Flock 100%
- 2019 | Establish Commercial Style Incubation Capability 55%
- 2020 Source Flock | +500 Hens & Local Built Coops | Add More Schools 0%
- Mid 2021 | Build Suitable Coops for first 500 Bird Flock 0%
- 2022 | Build Remaining Coops for 1000+ Bird Flock 0%
The People Behind The Native Egg Project
Through a not-for-profit partnering agreement, Urban Coop Company (UCCO) has at its expense been designing, prototyping and testing the components to TNEP’s small-flock farming system. UCCO believes that the knowledge and experience it gains will have commercial value for it one day in the future. Core volunteers of TNEP are largely made up of staff, vendors, family and friends of UCCO. But we need your help. UCCO is a small company big on knowledge, experience and ambition but with very limited resources.
The Twining family founded Urban Coop Company in 2013. Montie has a history of entrepreneurial ventures from Super Yachts, to Commercial Construction, to Public Companies, to various social causes. He has also been the recipient of several US Patents. Montie began work on TNEP in 2016. His family has delivered food relief all over the world and has deep ties to Haiti.
The Native Egg Project is a mission of family and friends to sow the seeds of change on how food mission work is done. During the initial work in Canaan Haiti, they also formed a consolidating non-profit called K12 Canaan as a way to support other groups that wanted to do work for schools in Canaan Haiti.
Cassandra has a heart for charity work and is a chicken expert in her own right. As an accomplished speaker, organizer and proven leader, it is the hopes of the adult leadership in TNEP to mentor Cassandra into a long term role as the leader of TNEP.
It's Pretty Much Magic...
Turning garbage into eggs.
Watch this video and read more…
Black Soldier Flies
Black Soldier Fly’s (BSF) exist world-wide in temperate climates. They are not considered a nuisance fly and therefore are not a controlled insect. Adult BSF’s live for about 10 days and in this time they must find a mate and lay eggs. The eggs take about 4 days to hatch, and then the larvae will take roughly 4 weeks before they are ready to pupate (become adults). BSF’s are technically a wasp.
Grub Cones™
Specially designed patent pending garbage composting bins called Grub Cones™ are filled with organic garbage to attract BSF’s to lay their eggs. The eggs mature into larvae and are self harvested into collection jars so that they can be fed directly to the chickens.
Larvae Feed
The Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) are an ultra high protein all inclusive feed. They are widely grown and harvested in China, Indonesia and other parts of the world. BSFL are nothing new. While they are certainly edible by humans, they are not at a high risk of being consumed by people.
Leg Horns
The US poultry industry has line bred a very specific strain of Leg Horn Hens that are very feed efficient, require little water, and have very high lay rates… 300+ eggs per year not being uncommon. These birds are very small bodied for the size of egg they lay.
Sustain Coop™
UCCO has specially designed its Round-Top Sustain Chicken Coop™ with Haiti and Leghorns in mind. The coops are sized to hold the target flock of 20 birds, but can seasonally swell to more if needed. Rain and wind protection is provided as well as appropriate amounts of shade. Built-in watering systems make daily watering less time consuming.
Incubation & Brooding
Broodiness (sitting on eggs) has been bred out of the commercial strains of Leg Horn Hens. So that flocks can be regenerated and so that hens can be provided to other system recipients, incubation and brooding accommodations are built into the package. This allows the fertile eggs to be incubated, hatched, grown out and juvenile birds introduced into the flock.
Eggs
Eggs, over meat, have been chosen because of their proven role as a food source which can uniquely provide the nutrient and protein elements that allow individuals to reach their full mental and physical potential. No other renewable food source is more powerful, more portable or more proven than eggs. The eggs from these hens are in fact the white eggs we as Americans buy in the store. There’s nothing better.
