Whiting Farms is a fly tying business. If you don't have a healthy business, the cash flow crunch would crush you. He is lean and hunched in the shoulders, walks fast, and is prone to rambling tangents on science and business. American Pastured Poultry Producers Association. The whole breeding program is focused on the feather. I hope I never find it, Whiting says. The office looks as though it has been tossed in a police raid. However, they can come in a wide spectrum of feather patterns including solid blue, black, black breasted red, and many other variants. However you are welcome to look at all the breeds and interactions, it is a site to see. Please read how our orders are processed here. The first five years of the company was something close to a screaming nightmare.". Since humans started catching fish on hooks, feathers have been part of the formula, but the practice of raising chickens specifically for hackle didnt take off in the U.S. until the 1920s. Jul 24, 2022, By Chris Meehan | This chicken supposedly grew feathers that produced seamless, natural movements underwater and made for a fly no salmon could resist. http://www.whitingfarms.com/about_01.html, https://m.www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/whiting_true_blue.html. They're arguably some of the most valuable. Searching for a better breed of turkey. flock plans, Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. All our birds are Non-GMO raised and vaccinated for Mareks Disease. Some of them go back 80, 90 years now. After nearly three decades, the abuse no longer fazes him. May 20, 2022, By Chris Meehan | "I'd worked in the poultry industry and had three degrees in poultry science, so I was well-equipped educationally and had some experience to take it on," Whiting says. For example: The longer the feather, the more dry flies it will tie. Over the years, he has responded to fly-tiers whims by creating bespoke chickens with unusual feathers. Most geneticists work with spreadsheets and software to track lines and traits, but Whiting holds most of it in his head, filling out the edges with scribbles on the legal pads that overflow his office. "I thought things were going to level off. So most people are pretty optimistic about the fly-fishing world. And therefore are not shipping chicks out of state. Since that time he has been the leading producer of fly tying feathers, developing the best quality feathers available on the market. From the outside, it looks like a get-rich-quick scheme, but nothing could be further from the truth. "I'm not a fly-tier or a fly-fisherman. Piles on the desk and filing cabinets have spilled to the floor, and packets of hackle are everywhere. Would love to see photos of your flock. This is a beautiful dun color, says Whiting, who owns 5,000-acre Whiting Farms, just outside Delta. For birds, they serve many uses, from flight to camouflage to temperature regulation. Open all year! whiting chickens delta They are not friendly, flaring up their neck hackles and striking through the wire cages. If you are looking for a rooster, please choose the male option. The longest stretch of feathers on the Hoffman is maybe 6 inches. The normal taper of a featherthat elegant arc of, say, Shakespeares quillcan be altered to a pencil-like thinness or to as wide as an ax blade. Copyright 2022 Farlex, Inc. |
Also, the higher the barb density along the quill, the stiffer the barb, the tighter the collar, and the better that fly will stand on the waters surface. On the hoof, were probably somewhere around 100,000 birds at any one time. The industrial incubators take up a room the size of a tennis court and can hold 112,000 eggs. "It was just serendipity, damn good luck that I stumbled across a community that had a small, little bastion of mink production and some guys who were knowledgeable and knew what it meant to work seven days a week," notes Whiting. Some have puffy cheeks, some dont. The white is a harder hackle.. If we had seen a Whiting cape in those days, he says, wed have thought we were seeing something from outer space. Feed Recommendations: we recommend starting baby chicks out with Sugar Feather Farm chick starter for the first 3 weeks, then switch to our Chicken Grower. Whiting got into the feather business after earning a Ph.D. in poultry science from the University of Arkansas. This section doesnt currently include any content. Well check out the Whiting True Blue. Ours love to roost as high as possible in their chicken house, all the way up in the rafters. Its simply an occupational hazard in a field hes dominated for years: Whiting Farms controls the majority of the $5 million world market in fly-tying hackle. Copyright 2000 Gale, Cengage Learning. Whiting concludes with a few words of wisdom that apply to any industry. "There's an incredible opportunity here. "That gap is becoming larger. Thank you for contacting Whiting Farms about chicks. Silkies have a mutation where thats lacking. In other words, their feathers look and feel like fur.
Theyre grizzliesa black-and-white striped pattern thats his top seller. From all the manpower, the infrastructure, our location, the feed, the cages, the lighting, the temperatureits all geared to the individual feather. Glossy feathers, some long enough to graze the roosters feet, drape in graceful arcs as Thomas Whiting holds the bird upright at arms length for me to see. All things Colorado delivered straight to your inbox. We highly recommend using the Oil of Oregano in their water daily as a supplement to aid with digestion and overall health. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Every precaution is taken for the health and safety of the chickschicks that, in 40 weeks, could fetch anywhere from $35 to $100 apiece from fly-tiers. This is a very hardy bird, does well in all climates and an excellent layer. Thus when he said these were developed by a long time friend, we now see how long time their friendship has been. Do something different and the world will beat a path to your door. "I'm not a businessman, I'm a chicken breeder," he says. Once they start laying we will start processing orders. Because without his feathera feather he built through 10 years of genetic manipulation, working from nothing more than legends of a bird that most likely never existedthe pattern would not have been possible. We hatch birds every Friday and process birds twice a week. . To achieve the freakishly narrow saddle feathers that grow along the back of Whitings birds, the genetics had to be short-circuited through intensive breeding.
This remarkable growth difference, coupled with a uniformity of feather size, is Whitings biggest innovation. ", The staff peaked at 45 employees in the late 1990s, but has gotten smaller as the operation increasingly automated feeding, cleaning, and other processes. Now he has set to develop new, improved lines of the popular breeds, along with developing new breeds and crosses to fill new niches and markets. "He kept feeding me money, and I kept building facilities as fast as I could. Natural feathers are narrow at the tip, wider through the body, and taper again at the base. But he did make it a reality. He inspects every rooster and hen, sifting through feathers with a bright light, to decide which will be bred. Sales for what he called Spey Hackle were slow; they never caught on for steelhead, as hed hoped. These are the most pampered chickens I know of, he says. Tom Whiting is a poultry geneticist that received his Ph.D. in Poultry Genetics from the University of Arkansas. He pulls racks of hatchlings out of the incubator and sorts them by breed, handling each one with the gentleness of a new parent. Sugar Feather offers sexed female birds for our customers. "There wasn't much written about it, but I've figured it out over the years," he says. ", "The sport of fly-fishing is enjoying a boom because it's outdoors, you're socially distanced, and it's kind of healthy. The idea of birds in cages bothers many people, but Whiting swears that if he were to die and come back a chicken, he hopes its here at Whiting Farms. Pre-ordered adults and hatchlings may be picked up by appointment. ", "I've been networking lately with places like University of California, Davis, to see if there are graduate students who are entrepreneurially minded," says Whiting, 64. All from a guy who doesnt even fish. We are on the third generation of our American Line breeding program and integrating different colorations. Hey, he says, my breeding records are immaculate.. "Some of the guys in hackle production said, 'Now is the time to get out,'" Whiting remembers. Feedback |
The "chipmunk" colored chicks appear to be a blue egg laying strain of very good quality Brown Leghorns.
The silky feathers stretch longer and longer with the passing years, as if monuments to what was once thought improbable.
Those that pass that testa fraction of the top 1 percentare moved to the breeder shed, where theyre caged with a harem of 10 to 14 hens. The feathers become fish flies! People always ask how many birds we have here, he tells me. Whiting isnt averse to challenging work, toiling with almost preternatural patience. Both are schools that Dr. Keith Bramwell attended. He has been described as a genetics expert that crosses various breeds to create new breeds just for fish fly tying.
", The company supplies large fly manufacturers in Asia as well as distributors and fly-fishing shops across the U.S. "There are about 100 million dozen flies tied per month in the world to fill the fly-fishing market" notes Whiting.
", "I do get offers to sell, but most of them want me to stay and run it," he says.
A question answered: achieving Africa's Renaissance. "About 30 to 33 percent of my market is just supplying these factories. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Eriksen had designed the sea trout fly, which called for Whitings Spey Hackle, and in doing so, he revolutionized sea trout fishing. '", By Eric Peterson | "I feel an obligation to preserve these gene lines. His operation actually encompasses three distinct businesses: the "cash cow" of fly-fishing feathers -- dry and wet -- along with small-scale commercial poultry production and premium breed development for larger commercial operations that account for less than 10 percent of combined sales. So, he transferred to Colorado State University to study avian science and stayed in school through a doctorate in poultry science with an emphasis in genetics at the University of Arkansas. He produces feathers for fish fly tying. These were genetically selected for two traits, the Andalusian Blue color and the blue egg color. I think thats worthy of doing what we do.. He also decides when they will meet their ends. It still seems like a miracle to me, he says, that you can put an egg in an incubator, and 21 days later a perfectly formed baby chick breaks its way out of it., Often zipping around his farm for 12 out of 24 hours, Whiting still does much of the day-to-day bird work himself. I cant stop thinking about quail, Whiting told him. This is no ordinary chicken. "These are some of the most pampered chickens in the world. Its in these quiet moments that Whiting wonders: What sort of fantastic results could the next decade bring? Its long term. On the wall behind him, a frame showcases capes from decades ago next to his own more recent creations. Whiting has been approached several times about selling everythinghis company, buildings, and birdsbut he wont entertain the discussion. Sugar Feather offers sexed female birds for our customers. Its just an interesting genetics project, and Im objective., So far, his methodical, scientific approach has proven wildly effective. Back then, youd need a minimum of two hackles to tie any dry fly, and a Royal Wulff would take three or four. The birds are treated well and live comfortably, he says.
As Whiting puts it: All the preceding metabolic needs of the bird must be more than met in order for ample surplus nutrients to be available for feather growth. In other words: Feathers are the last thing a birds body spends energy on. Hes wearing a T-shirt, khaki shorts, and black socks scrunched down into worn Asics. ", That's at odds with "a punishing revenue horizon," he adds. You owe me, Eriksen said. Some nights, long after his staff has gone home, Whiting lingers in his office. Instead of live-plucking them, which would be painful (and illegal), Whiting Farms euthanizes the birds using carbon dioxide. The Oregon-based fly-tier had developed a genetically desirable grizzly hackle chicken in the 1960s that supplanted imported feathers for many fly-tiers in the U.S. After discussions, Whiting bought Hoffman's most popular lines and set up operations at a pair of former mink ranches outside Delta. It suits me, temperamentally. It resembles a mayfly, which is one of the fishing flies people tie. Thirty years of claw rakes and beak tears have scarred his arms. Inside this barn, his lifes work8,800 roostersis on fine display. People say, Why do you waste resources on something thats as ephemeral and frivolous as fly-fishing? he says. Training an heir apparent will require at least five years, he adds. Their feathers are wonderful for crafting and fly-fishing! We arrive at what Whiting calls Headquarters Ranchhome to the main office, processing plant, shipping department, four brooder barns, six rooster barns, and a hen barn. He jokes that on some days he looks like a junkie with bad aim.. Hes even working to develop roosters without combs and wattlesthe red flesh on their heads and below their chinsbecause the tissue is susceptible to frostbite in colder climates. In the old days, the capes were infinitely smaller and had fewer feathers of much poorer quality, says Dave Hughes, the author of more than 20 books on fly-fishing and fly-tying. There is no breed standard for this bird. Here is a photo from Whiting Farms website of his Herbert/Miner male mounted. Its amazing to consider, really. All rights reserved. . Lousy air quality, loud disturbances, poor vaccinations, nonuniform lighting, temperature swings, rodents, rough handle, unsanitary cagesany of those factors can take away from the feathers. To this day, Whiting doesnt take much credit for the Spey Piglet; to be fair, he didnt create the actual fly. Should I warn neighbor that dog might get shot? I go through miles of cages, up and down those rows with a guy handing me birds under a bright light. The cages run on and on like this, full of chickens boasting brilliant feathers that might, one day, entice a strike and spark a fish story. His two ranches are separated by 7 miles of arid Colorado desert country, with duplicate bird lines kept at both locations should a biohazard strike. We now have one (1) of those. I needed an outlet, and I have onewith these birds. In the magazine was a recipe for the Pattegrisen, or Pigleta shrimp pattern that had taken the Baltic region by storm. We walk outside, and Whiting leads me to another building where he removes a padlock and swings open a steel door. See our Sexing Policy here. (Correction, Please!). When I hopped into his beat-up 4Runner he apologized for the lack of air-conditioning. Suite 675
As seen in the photos, those can be what we call our American Line. But he just couldnt leave it aloneso he took the matter into his own hands. It changed the way we fish.. I can tell a Hoffman grizzly blindfolded, because I know the feel of those feathersthe density of the pigment in the black makes a softer section. . "I always think, 'If I've got to stay here and run the damn thing, why am I giving away the gravy? 
As for the Spey feather, Whiting knew that heron feathers had long been considered a substitute for Spey cock, and they reminded him of an ancient Chinese breed of chickenthe silkie. After A River Runs Through It hit the silver screen in 1992, a surge of interest in fly-fishing led some industry veterans to look for an exit. Most of the birds dont pass a closer inspection, but if they do, Whiting takes out the calipers, starts noting measurements, and fills out a two-page report on body measurements like shank length, as well as the birds disposition. He developed the breed for the fly-fishing industry. By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies, tracking statistics, etc. If you are looking for a rooster, please choose the male option. (The poultry yard). When asked for heronlike strands for creating saltwater salmon and shrimp flies, Whiting spent a decade crossing Chinese silkie chickens with his own birds to produce the furry feathers. The follicles, so to speak, are programmed to grow only narrow feathers. Smoothness of the barbs is important, too, as it makes for fluid motion across the waters surface.
Theyre grizzliesa black-and-white striped pattern thats his top seller. From all the manpower, the infrastructure, our location, the feed, the cages, the lighting, the temperatureits all geared to the individual feather. Glossy feathers, some long enough to graze the roosters feet, drape in graceful arcs as Thomas Whiting holds the bird upright at arms length for me to see. All things Colorado delivered straight to your inbox. We highly recommend using the Oil of Oregano in their water daily as a supplement to aid with digestion and overall health. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Every precaution is taken for the health and safety of the chickschicks that, in 40 weeks, could fetch anywhere from $35 to $100 apiece from fly-tiers. This is a very hardy bird, does well in all climates and an excellent layer. Thus when he said these were developed by a long time friend, we now see how long time their friendship has been. Do something different and the world will beat a path to your door. "I'm not a businessman, I'm a chicken breeder," he says. Once they start laying we will start processing orders. Because without his feathera feather he built through 10 years of genetic manipulation, working from nothing more than legends of a bird that most likely never existedthe pattern would not have been possible. We hatch birds every Friday and process birds twice a week. . To achieve the freakishly narrow saddle feathers that grow along the back of Whitings birds, the genetics had to be short-circuited through intensive breeding.
This remarkable growth difference, coupled with a uniformity of feather size, is Whitings biggest innovation. ", The staff peaked at 45 employees in the late 1990s, but has gotten smaller as the operation increasingly automated feeding, cleaning, and other processes. Now he has set to develop new, improved lines of the popular breeds, along with developing new breeds and crosses to fill new niches and markets. "He kept feeding me money, and I kept building facilities as fast as I could. Natural feathers are narrow at the tip, wider through the body, and taper again at the base. But he did make it a reality. He inspects every rooster and hen, sifting through feathers with a bright light, to decide which will be bred. Sales for what he called Spey Hackle were slow; they never caught on for steelhead, as hed hoped. These are the most pampered chickens I know of, he says. Tom Whiting is a poultry geneticist that received his Ph.D. in Poultry Genetics from the University of Arkansas. He pulls racks of hatchlings out of the incubator and sorts them by breed, handling each one with the gentleness of a new parent. Sugar Feather offers sexed female birds for our customers. "There wasn't much written about it, but I've figured it out over the years," he says. ", "The sport of fly-fishing is enjoying a boom because it's outdoors, you're socially distanced, and it's kind of healthy. The idea of birds in cages bothers many people, but Whiting swears that if he were to die and come back a chicken, he hopes its here at Whiting Farms. Pre-ordered adults and hatchlings may be picked up by appointment. ", "I've been networking lately with places like University of California, Davis, to see if there are graduate students who are entrepreneurially minded," says Whiting, 64. All from a guy who doesnt even fish. We are on the third generation of our American Line breeding program and integrating different colorations. Hey, he says, my breeding records are immaculate.. "Some of the guys in hackle production said, 'Now is the time to get out,'" Whiting remembers. Feedback |
The "chipmunk" colored chicks appear to be a blue egg laying strain of very good quality Brown Leghorns.
The silky feathers stretch longer and longer with the passing years, as if monuments to what was once thought improbable.
Those that pass that testa fraction of the top 1 percentare moved to the breeder shed, where theyre caged with a harem of 10 to 14 hens. The feathers become fish flies! People always ask how many birds we have here, he tells me. Whiting isnt averse to challenging work, toiling with almost preternatural patience. Both are schools that Dr. Keith Bramwell attended. He has been described as a genetics expert that crosses various breeds to create new breeds just for fish fly tying.
", The company supplies large fly manufacturers in Asia as well as distributors and fly-fishing shops across the U.S. "There are about 100 million dozen flies tied per month in the world to fill the fly-fishing market" notes Whiting.
", "I do get offers to sell, but most of them want me to stay and run it," he says. A question answered: achieving Africa's Renaissance. "About 30 to 33 percent of my market is just supplying these factories. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Eriksen had designed the sea trout fly, which called for Whitings Spey Hackle, and in doing so, he revolutionized sea trout fishing. '", By Eric Peterson | "I feel an obligation to preserve these gene lines. His operation actually encompasses three distinct businesses: the "cash cow" of fly-fishing feathers -- dry and wet -- along with small-scale commercial poultry production and premium breed development for larger commercial operations that account for less than 10 percent of combined sales. So, he transferred to Colorado State University to study avian science and stayed in school through a doctorate in poultry science with an emphasis in genetics at the University of Arkansas. He produces feathers for fish fly tying. These were genetically selected for two traits, the Andalusian Blue color and the blue egg color. I think thats worthy of doing what we do.. He also decides when they will meet their ends. It still seems like a miracle to me, he says, that you can put an egg in an incubator, and 21 days later a perfectly formed baby chick breaks its way out of it., Often zipping around his farm for 12 out of 24 hours, Whiting still does much of the day-to-day bird work himself. I cant stop thinking about quail, Whiting told him. This is no ordinary chicken. "These are some of the most pampered chickens in the world. Its in these quiet moments that Whiting wonders: What sort of fantastic results could the next decade bring? Its long term. On the wall behind him, a frame showcases capes from decades ago next to his own more recent creations. Whiting has been approached several times about selling everythinghis company, buildings, and birdsbut he wont entertain the discussion. Sugar Feather offers sexed female birds for our customers. Its just an interesting genetics project, and Im objective., So far, his methodical, scientific approach has proven wildly effective. Back then, youd need a minimum of two hackles to tie any dry fly, and a Royal Wulff would take three or four. The birds are treated well and live comfortably, he says.
As Whiting puts it: All the preceding metabolic needs of the bird must be more than met in order for ample surplus nutrients to be available for feather growth. In other words: Feathers are the last thing a birds body spends energy on. Hes wearing a T-shirt, khaki shorts, and black socks scrunched down into worn Asics. ", That's at odds with "a punishing revenue horizon," he adds. You owe me, Eriksen said. Some nights, long after his staff has gone home, Whiting lingers in his office. Instead of live-plucking them, which would be painful (and illegal), Whiting Farms euthanizes the birds using carbon dioxide. The Oregon-based fly-tier had developed a genetically desirable grizzly hackle chicken in the 1960s that supplanted imported feathers for many fly-tiers in the U.S. After discussions, Whiting bought Hoffman's most popular lines and set up operations at a pair of former mink ranches outside Delta. It suits me, temperamentally. It resembles a mayfly, which is one of the fishing flies people tie. Thirty years of claw rakes and beak tears have scarred his arms. Inside this barn, his lifes work8,800 roostersis on fine display. People say, Why do you waste resources on something thats as ephemeral and frivolous as fly-fishing? he says. Training an heir apparent will require at least five years, he adds. Their feathers are wonderful for crafting and fly-fishing! We arrive at what Whiting calls Headquarters Ranchhome to the main office, processing plant, shipping department, four brooder barns, six rooster barns, and a hen barn. He jokes that on some days he looks like a junkie with bad aim.. Hes even working to develop roosters without combs and wattlesthe red flesh on their heads and below their chinsbecause the tissue is susceptible to frostbite in colder climates. In the old days, the capes were infinitely smaller and had fewer feathers of much poorer quality, says Dave Hughes, the author of more than 20 books on fly-fishing and fly-tying. There is no breed standard for this bird. Here is a photo from Whiting Farms website of his Herbert/Miner male mounted. Its amazing to consider, really. All rights reserved. . Lousy air quality, loud disturbances, poor vaccinations, nonuniform lighting, temperature swings, rodents, rough handle, unsanitary cagesany of those factors can take away from the feathers. To this day, Whiting doesnt take much credit for the Spey Piglet; to be fair, he didnt create the actual fly. Should I warn neighbor that dog might get shot? I go through miles of cages, up and down those rows with a guy handing me birds under a bright light. The cages run on and on like this, full of chickens boasting brilliant feathers that might, one day, entice a strike and spark a fish story. His two ranches are separated by 7 miles of arid Colorado desert country, with duplicate bird lines kept at both locations should a biohazard strike. We now have one (1) of those. I needed an outlet, and I have onewith these birds. In the magazine was a recipe for the Pattegrisen, or Pigleta shrimp pattern that had taken the Baltic region by storm. We walk outside, and Whiting leads me to another building where he removes a padlock and swings open a steel door. See our Sexing Policy here. (Correction, Please!). When I hopped into his beat-up 4Runner he apologized for the lack of air-conditioning. Suite 675
As seen in the photos, those can be what we call our American Line. But he just couldnt leave it aloneso he took the matter into his own hands. It changed the way we fish.. I can tell a Hoffman grizzly blindfolded, because I know the feel of those feathersthe density of the pigment in the black makes a softer section. . "I always think, 'If I've got to stay here and run the damn thing, why am I giving away the gravy? As for the Spey feather, Whiting knew that heron feathers had long been considered a substitute for Spey cock, and they reminded him of an ancient Chinese breed of chickenthe silkie. After A River Runs Through It hit the silver screen in 1992, a surge of interest in fly-fishing led some industry veterans to look for an exit. Most of the birds dont pass a closer inspection, but if they do, Whiting takes out the calipers, starts noting measurements, and fills out a two-page report on body measurements like shank length, as well as the birds disposition. He developed the breed for the fly-fishing industry. By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies, tracking statistics, etc. If you are looking for a rooster, please choose the male option. (The poultry yard). When asked for heronlike strands for creating saltwater salmon and shrimp flies, Whiting spent a decade crossing Chinese silkie chickens with his own birds to produce the furry feathers. The follicles, so to speak, are programmed to grow only narrow feathers. Smoothness of the barbs is important, too, as it makes for fluid motion across the waters surface.