Cackle Hatchery
Owners: Clifton, Nancy and Jeff Smith
Location: Lebanon, Mo.
What is the history behind the business?
Clifford and Lena Smith opened Cackle Hatchery in 1936. Clifford had worked in a hatchery and decided he wanted to open his own and they chose Cackle Hatchery as the store name because of the cackle sound hens make. In 1964 Clifton and Nancy Smith took over the hatchery after Clifton’s parents retired. The business employs over 50 people and the family operation will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.
How has the business expanded through the years?
Starting with one small building, an incubator in the basement and some chicks in the early years the business now has 12 buildings and hatches over 150,000 chicks per week. In the late 1970s, the demand for chicks grew tremendously, especially for unusual breeds, therefore the hatchery now offers over 180 varieties and ships nationwide.
What’s a typical season like for the hatchery?
The hatchery starts taking orders in January, hatching and shipping begin in mid-February and run until early October. The down time is used to check the flocks to make sure all the chickens are healthy, and to clean the equipment and make any repairs needed. The chicks are shipped through the U.S. Post Office. During cold months, heat pads are used to keep the chicks warm until they reach their destination.
Story and Photo by Lane McConnell
