Whiting Farms: An interview with Dr. Thomas Whiting

An interview with Dr. Thomas Whiting

Dr. Thomas Whiting: Not Your Average Chicken Farmer

When we think chickens, we think eggs, meat and compost (if not compost, please do read on!). But there is another aspect that we may not have considered, and that is the value of chicken feathers. Has become a world leader in the production of chicken feathers used in fly tying. These feathers are renowned for their uniform feather lines and deep, rich colors.

You can see a selection of Whiting feathers online here.

We reached out to Dr. Whiting of Whiting Farms for some insight into one of the most elite chicken rearing facilities in the world. While the information that follows is specialized, Dr. Whiting picks up on a thread common at all levels of raising chickens:

General, good poultry husbandry is the best insurance against health problems good feed, clean fresh water, a dry environment, good air quality, and freedom from internal and external parasite.

Whiting Chicken Farms: Regiment for Roosters

Q.   What is similar or dissimilar between an elite operation like Whiting Hackle and the average urban chicken farmer?

A.    What is done at Whiting Farms is at the extreme end of the spectrum in comparison to the average urban chicken raiser. First, the scale of operations is usually shocking to anyone. We produce almost 100,000 chickens per year, distributed into 22 chicken sheds on two ranches, using a state-of-the-art hatchery and environmentally controlled buildings. Further to this is the nutritional and lighting programs that have been developed that allow the feather lines to realize their genetic potential.

The roosters raised for feathers have to have specific nutrients and have to be under particular lighting regimens regular store bought chicken feed and natural day length wouldn't do it. Also the roosters have to be housed in individual cages, otherwise the roosters will fight and destroy the very reason they are being raised, and these cages have to be spacious in order to not rough up the feathers. Knowing all the regular poultry industry as I do, I know the chickens at Whiting Farms are the most pampered commercial chickens in the world.

They have to be in order to generate the finest feathers.

How does Whiting Farms Prevent Diseases in their Chickens?

Q.    In your operation, what steps do you take to prevent or recognize disease in your birds? How is this similar or dissimilar to the average farmer?

A.    We don't have any disease problems at Whiting Farms. This I attribute to our isolation from other poultry operations, the low stress environment for the chickens (i.e., not high density) which tends to exacerbate any disease problems, the elimination of several pathogens early in the history of the company, and our basic prophylactic vaccination program that covers the chickens for some common poultry diseases in case any pathogens make their way into the stock. All the birds are handled by me at the hatchery and then at harvest. Mortalities are monitored on a daily basis. Medications are kept on hand, but have never had to be used.

We've got everything you need to keep your flock healthy online here.

Q.    What aspects of your operation can be adapted on a smaller scale to increase health of chickens?

A.    Very little of what we do at Whiting Farms would be appropriate or practical for small scale poultry enterprises. But general, good poultry husbandry is the best insurance against health problems good feed, clean fresh water, a dry environment, good air quality, and freedom from internal and external parasite.

Whiting Proprietary Raising + Feather Rating

Q.    Is there any information your company has on chicken health or rearing that could help our customers get more value out of their flocks?

A.    Whiting Farms doesn't provide specific information, other than what I have written above, as it is only appropriate for the production of feathers. Also this information is considered to be proprietary as it has been developed over many years and with considerable effort.

Q.    How are feathers assigned "rating" for fly tying?

A.    We grade the pelts as to their relative value for their intended use in tying fishing flies. These methods and standards have been developed internally by several highly knowledgeable fly tiers over the history of the company. One aspect is these grading standards are gradually raised every year to incorporate the genetic progress that is occurring in other words the pelts of today are better than last year's incrementally. I would estimate over every 5 years the standards creep up one grade worth-i.e., the Silver grade of 5 years ago would be comparable to the Bronze grade of today. And these grading standards are for Whiting Farms products only, and have no real relevance to any of the competitor hackle products.

 Chicken feed, brooder kits and more are all available for delivery.