BACON HILL FARM TOUR
Thomas Poultry Farm
Data Barn
180,000 hens
12,000 doz. eggs/day
500 crop acres
17 employees
Wetlands and Wildlife Habitat [Mile 12.3 –
12.4]The wetlands on either side of Stone Bridge Road are home to thousands of species of plants and animals, some of which are endangered or threatened. The standing water here accumulates from ground water sources and seasonal precipitation, ranging in depth from mere saturated soil to a few feet of water during much of the growing season. Cattails, arrowhead, common rush and purple loosestrife are among the plants you will see here. Wetlands contribute to our clean water and clean air as well as provide scenic vistas, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
Look for nest boxes staked in the water to shelter wood ducks. The migratory ducks typically use hollowed trees as their home and hatchery. Nest boxes can support many more ducks per acre than natural tree cavities can.
Farmers have reported seeing drakes, great
blue heron, turkey, vultures, warblers and even bald eagles in Bacon Hill. Migratory birds
can often be seen in the spring and fall; snow and Canadian geese are frequent visitors to
farm fields and wetlands. |
Thomas Poultry Farm [Mile 13.4]
In 1873 William Leggett purchased the first 25 acres of this farm. In 1948 his great,
great granddaughter Eleanor Sherman and her husband Jared F. Thomas established the Thomas Poultry Farm. They began the farm with 200 chickens, packing and cleaning eggs in
the cellar of their home. The eggs were delivered house-to-house from the back of a
pick-up truck.
Today the farm, with 180,000 laying hens, is owned and operated by their son Brian Thomas, his wife Jennifer, and his partner Ken Bean. Thomas Poultry Farm markets eggs throughout New York and supplies eggs for nearly 300 Stewart’s convenience shops. Of the farm’s 17 full-time employees, eleven are descendants of Eleanor and Jared. In addition to Brian, daughters Ruth Pettis and Carol Baker help run the operation. Other family members include Jared Thomas IV, Joshua Thomas, James Pettis Jr., James Pettis III, Jeremy Pettis, and Seth Baker.
Corn is grown on 500 acres and harvested with a self-propelled combine, which cuts six rows of corn at a time, also husking and shelling it. The corn is dried and stored in large corn bins until needed. A computerized feed mill grinds the corn and mixes it with other nutrients to create a balanced feed. The 500 acres of corn only feed the chickens for approximately 4 months, since the chickens eat 18 tons of corn per day. The remaining 8 months of the year corn must be purchased.
Callahan Rd. [Mile
13.8]
Turn right onto Callahan Road.
The Powell Horse Farm is in the distance on the left.
West River Road [Mile 14.9]
Turn right onto West River Road.
Route 32 [Mile 17.2]
At the stop sign on the corner of West River and Rt. 32, turn left to head for
Schuylerville. Enjoy the many sites, restaurants, historic places and shops this quaint
village has to offer. You will want to visit the Schuyler House and the Saratoga Battlefield where the
Americans defeated the British in 1777, both administered by the National Park
Service. The new Saratoga National Cementery is close by as is the Champlain Canal
which offers boat rides in the summer.
This project is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, Saratoga County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, American Farmland Trust and the Rural New York Grant program, with additional financial assistance from the Saratoga County Farm Bureau, Saratoga County Agricultural Promotion Committee, and Saratoga County Dairy Promotion Committee.
Return to the Home page for more about agriculture, Bacon Hill, farm families, the importance of agriculture and the sponsors of this project.
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