Experience with family poultry
1983 -1986
Mozambique		 In Mozambique I had my first experience with family poultry. I learned that hybrid hens lay well on free range, even when you give them a small amount of feed (50-80 grams layers mash per day). Look at: Link
1987 - 1991
Zambia		 During this period I experimented a lot with Nera in the back yard, on free range. Here I discovered that egg production with maize only was the most economical. This was published in an article in the World Animal Review. Link . Nera pullets were raised with kerosene lamps or with the heath of coal from firewood.
1991
The Netherlands		 I raised 26.000 Leghorn pullets in the Netherlands. In cages.
1992 -1996
Nicaragua		 During this period a lot of data was collected from local hens in the back yard. These were published in ILEIA. Link . Look also at Link and Link . Rhode Island Red chicks were raised and sold to the public.
1997 -1998
Bhután		 A chapter for a pullet distribution programme was written, as part of the project proposal for SEZAP (Second Eastern Zone Agricultural Project) that had to be executed in Eastern Bhután.
2000 Montreal On the congress of the WPSA (World Poultry Science Association) in Montreal I presented a poster with the subject of the wrong mindset, used in programmes of pullet distribution. To view click on Link
2000 - 2008
The Netherlands 		I produced organic eggs on my farm. I gained experience with a type of pastured poultry, and with cafeteria feeding.
2002 Buthán
2002 Bremen 		During a visit to Bhutan I had the possibility to evaluate a layer distribution programme. The above mentioned wrong mindset was encountered. Look at Link The document was distributed on the congress of the WPSA in Bremen. At the same congress a presentation was held about the perspectives of family poultry Link .
2002 Cuba On the XVII Congreso Centroamericano y del Caribe de la Avicultura, the same presentation on the perspectives of family poultry, this time in Spanish, was held.
2003 Bolivia On the XVIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Avicultura a deliberation was held how the feeding of layers kept in the back yard, and on free range, could be optimised. See Link
2010 Rome I contributed in a course for 6 scientists, who were going to work with family poultry. The discussion hampered, because of a lack of practical background.
2011 Serbia I shared knowledge with two producers on free range egg production. Apart of that I recommended to experiment with pastured poultry
2012 Tanzania I shared ideas with an entrepreneur on organic egg production, and advised to produce local bush poultry meat and how to incorporate the family sector.
2012 Kenia I shared experience with an ONG on the marketing and the branding of local eggs and poultry meat.