A POULTRY farmer is taking a break in an attempt to stave off financial ruin.

Charles Bourns, of Southend Poultry Farm in Charfield, said he had taken the decision not to raise any more chickens because he believed that current industry prices meant poultry farming was not financially viable.

Mr Bourns, who is also the National Farmers' Union's national poultry board chairman, has reared chickens at his farm for 17 years.

The farm can hold in the region of 57,000 meat birds but at the moment, and for the foreseeable future, all his sheds are empty.

Mr Bourns said: "Despite the rumours, I haven't quit farming for good. Farmers are losing a lot of money and until profit comes back into the industry I'm staying out.

"Grain costs and energy costs have gone up so much, too much for us. Grain has gone up £110 a tonne."

Mr Bourns said with feed and chicken costs as they are at the moment, if he were to raise a flock of chickens he could lose in the region of £12,000.

Mr Bourns estimates it costs him £2.50 to raise one chicken plus processing and transport costs.

"I have had several farmers calling me up in a similar position. With costs as they are, they are bleeding farmers dry. We need to get the message across that if people want to buy British chicken they need to pay more.

"Supermarkets offering two chickens for £5 just isn't sustainable for us farmers. It needs to be more like two for £6.50.

"Chicken prices aren't enough to reflect everyone's costs down the chain," he said.

However, Mr Bourns said he is trying to remain optimistic that within a few months his farm will be back to full working order.

He added: "I've been farming 17 years so a two or three-month break won't do the farm any harm. I think I'll make the most of the break and do a bit of refurbishment."