April Showers and where I have been
Welcome back to Fluent in Fowl Language!
I can’t believe April is already wrapping up — this year is absolutely flying by. And speaking of flying (cue the collective Dad‑joke groans), I spent half the month traveling. If you tried to reach me while I was away… my apologies and thank you for your patience!
✈️ Mississippi Adventures
My first stop was Valley Farms Hatchery in Leighton, MS — pronounced Lee‑ton (I’m looking at you, everyone who said it wrong). Valley Farms is our largest Sure Hatch–equipped hatchery in the U.S., producing an impressive 18,000 chicks per week.
I visited on hatch day, and let me tell you, they run like a well‑oiled machine. Chick harvesting starts at midnight, chicken sexers arrive at 2 a.m., and the packing crew rolls in at 3 a.m. to begin processing orders. Watching the whole operation in action gave me a new appreciation for the care, precision, and sheer hard work that goes into every hatch.
They even suited me up in PPE so I could tour the chicken house and check out their breeding stock. I also got to observe the chicken sexers at work — and yes, they showed me how to tell males from females. It’s definitely a specialized skill… and not one I’ll be adding to my résumé anytime soon.
Before heading home, I had a layover in Washington, DC, and even after all these years, seeing the Washington Monument in person (even from a distance) never stops being amazing.
🐔 Off to Minneapolis
The following week, I traveled to Minneapolis for the Midwest Poultry Federation’s PEAK trade show. It’s always a great chance to see new products, reconnect with customers, and soak in the energy of the industry.
After what felt like a million weather delays in Chicago, I finally made it to Minneapolis — a full 13 hours after leaving home at 4 a.m. (At least the sunrise that morning was gorgeous.) I switched my return flight through Charlotte and was rewarded with an equally stunning sunset, so I’m calling that a win.
PEAK is “the largest trade show and convention focused exclusively on the business of food production and poultry,” according to the Midwest Poultry Federation. If you’re in the area next year, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Seriously...look at this sunrise...
The sunset in Charlotte...seriously...
🥚 Spring & Summer Season Is Here
This time of year, we’re all about spring and summer hatching and egg production. We’re currently accepting pre‑orders for the next batch of SureHatch Incubators (expected to arrive June 2026). We’ve also added SureGrade Egg Washers and Egg Sorters to our lineup — with capacities ranging from 750 eggs per hour all the way up to 3,000.
If you haven’t seen our new egg‑handling equipment yet, now’s the perfect time to take a look!
🐣 Wrapping It Up
April may have been a whirlwind of flights, hatch days, trade shows, and poultry‑powered adventures, but it reminded me why I love being part of this industry. Whether I’m checking out the chicks that hatched at midnight, learning the art of chicken sexing, or catching up with customers at PEAK, there’s always something new to appreciate about the people who keep food production moving.
As we head into the busy spring and summer season, we’re excited to support your hatching and egg‑handling needs with new equipment, upcoming incubator arrivals, and plenty of ways to help your operation run smoothly. Thanks for following along on my travels — and stay tuned for more updates, stories, and fowl‑languaged fun in the months ahead!
