Preparations for a new business, rearing game birds for sale to country estates, have helped launch a second venture for a couple living near York.

 

Chris Massey and his wife, Kelly, run Wolds Game Farm, buying day-old pheasant and partridge chicks and taking care of them until they are ready to sell on at around seven weeks old. The couple, who live in Kirbyunderdale, near York, are both experienced in game management and moved to Yorkshire from their home in Devon four years ago.

 

“Kelly ran her parents’ game farm, where I also worked, and having our own rearing business was something we always wanted to do,” explained Chris. “When we moved up here, I got a job as beat-keeper on the Garrowby Estate with Lord Halifax and Kelly became a stud farm manager in Pocklington until we were ready to set up on our own.”  He added: “Looking after the chicks is very labour-intensive for the first few weeks, which is why estates would rather buy them once they are ready to live in the woodland. It’s almost a 24/7 job, making sure they know where to go to keep warm, introducing them to the outside and so on – and we’ve got 30,000 chicks to keep an eye on!”

 

The couple were helped to realise their ambition by Growing Routes. Run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the initiative helps the rural sector in Yorkshire and the Humber to diversify and set up new businesses. The support ranges from offering advice and mentoring to providing practical and financial assistance. To date some 198 businesses have been helped, and £900,000 given in grant support.

 

It has been the mentoring side of the initiative which has proved really useful, said Chris. He and Kelly worked with Raymond Twiddle, the founder of Twydale Turkeys Ltd who was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to the poultry industry.

 

“I thought a mentor would be there to keep an eye on the office side of things, such as the  book-keeping, but to have somebody like Raymond, who has so much experience and expertise in our area of work, has been invaluable,” said Chris.  “If we’re unsure of anything we can run it by him. He’s not there to run the business, just to keep an eye on us and make sure we stay on track – and that sort of support is really appreciated.”

 

Mr Twiddle, whose home is near Driffield, said: “Chris and Kelly are two such enthusiastic people, and very importantly they are a real team and work together. They have responded 100 per cent to all the advice I’ve given them and it’s been very rewarding to watch.

 

“Mentoring is about using your experience to help others and making sure they stay on track. It’s helping people to use common sense, and taking an objective view.”

 

The development of Wolds Game Farm has helped Chris launch a second venture – his own timber-building business. “Carpentry was really something I did in my spare time,” he explained. “I started off building a chicken house for our own chickens, and people passing by would comment on it and ask if they could have one too.

 

“It’s really grown from there – I’ve made houses for small poultry keepers and recently got a big order for a commercial chicken house. I built the houses for the pheasant and partridge chicks we are rearing, and now I’m building all kinds of animal housing – kennels, field shelters, hutches and so on.”

 

He added: “I really enjoy it and it’s a side of my work that I’d like to develop further. There seems to be a demand for good, well-built timber animal housing, so I’m looking forward to taking on more contracts.”

 

Enquiries about Wolds Game Farm or the timber building business can be made by contacting Chris and Kelly Massey on 01759 369754 or 07816 255 895.