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We started growing chickens for Sanderson Farms, Inc on September 7, 1997. Sanderson Farms had recently moved into this area of Texas and we were number 19 to come on line. We grow broilers. As of 2006, the target weight for the birds is roughly 6 lbs at 50 days. We started out in 1997 with a 4 lb bird at 38 days.
Dirt work was begun on July 7, 1997 by Browning Custom Dozing (and land movers). They worked all day moving the sand and clay needed for the foundation. Pierce Builders out of Stamps AR built our barns. They did a quality job during the heat of a Texas summer and had the 6 44'x500' houses up in no time. The fact that we had no rain that summer helped in the process.
The barns are equipped with Chore Time equipment from Chore-Time, Texas located in Franklin, Texas. Each house has 3 feed lines with chickmate drops in the center brood section of the house. Rotem model 600 controls for the feed, temperature and curtains. Electronic proximity switches for the control of the feed and fill lines; 10 Shenandoah brooders, 11 48" slant wall fans with cone shutters for tunnel ventilation; 13 36" direct drive fans for stir and exhaust fans; 4 LB White 230,000 BTU space heaters; Dosamatic medicator; three line fogging system running through barn; 4 water lines with Chore-Time nipples with pressure regulators; 2 15.4 ton feed bins and 1000' 7' double hem black on white polylite curtain. For back ups we have a 100KW Deutz Diesel powered Generator with auto-start and auto-transfer of power; 2 500'+ water wells; and a pager alarm system for all controls. We have a gas fired Shenandoah incinerator for disposing of dead birds, which was approved through TNRCC. In June 2003, we upgraded the barns to larger 120' Kool Cell capacity, new curtains, 16 I 40 L.B. White brooders with spark ignition and Choretronic controllers. This upgraded enabled the barns to be more efficient in cooling during the summer and keeping the heating temperatures more constant in the winter. In 2007 we added a new National Incinerator and scrapped the Shenandoah. I will add that the LB White brooders are a nightmare and not worth the investment. Since 2004, all have had to be repaired more than once and the company would not back them at all. The first winter was warm and they seemed to be fine, but by the second winter and after the warranty period (12 months) they constantly needed repair. Every flock of chicks usually requires 2 to 5 (or more) in each house to be fixed by replacing cones, gaskets or igniters. The cost of repair and parts have added up to more than the cost of the brooders. I cover them after use to protect them but am wondering why all the work anymore.
Holly tends to the chickens daily while the kids are at school. Craig does maintenance in the evening and weekends as needed. It is nice to find a farm enterprise that is profitable and allows her to still be 'mom'. We also hire part-time help to help on the weekends. We have found that the broiler industry is very flexible and that Sanderson Farms is a very easy company to work with. We feel blessed that they decided to locate in the Brazos Valley of Texas, where no other broiler operation has previously been. They brought a great opportunity to this rural part of Texas.
Contract Poultry growing is not the easiest of industries to join. The integrator owns the feed and the chicks. They tell you how they want the chickens grown; they are your boss, yet you are not an employee. You are paid on a competition pay scale where most of the variables are out of your control. This is the 'unfair' part of growing chickens. Getting into the chicken business should not be taken lightly because once you are in; you will find it harder to leave because of ever increasing costs and upgrading. Sanderson is by far one of the best companies to grow for, but still, growing chickens is really something that needs to be thought long and hard about. It is something you will really have to like doing or you will be come disenfranchised very quickly. Holly owns an Internet discussion list on contract broiler growing with over 600 members worldwide. In this group you can learn about the downside of being a contract broiler grower. If you are looking into becoming a grower, then please join and learn the disadvantages as well as the advantages. I would do it again, but I know a lot of other folks would not. And I wouldn't do it for another company.
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