In the rolling countryside of Georgia, where red clay roads wind past pastures and pines, Darrius has built a life around chickens. He lives there with his wife and their children, raising flocks with the kind of care that can only come from genuine passion.
His journey started back in 1998, inside a poultry plant. Over time, he moved into live production, learning the ins and outs of equipment, management, and the delicate rhythm of raising healthy birds. “I wanted to get into the growing side,” he says. “I started looking for a farm, and in 2004, I found a pullet farm and started raising pullets. That’s where it all began.”
Years later, Darrius built four broiler houses on his property — each outfitted with a full VAL-CO package. He poured his energy into perfecting every detail, from the drinker lines to the ventilation system. It wasn’t long before his results began to speak for themselves.
“I’ve always been a performance-driven individual,” he says. “I like competition. I like to know I’m doing good. Chicken farming is a way to supplement for most farmers, but this is all I do — and I love it. I really enjoy chicken farming.”
That love shows in the way he works. Darrius walks each house daily, scanning for small things others might miss. He greases fan bearings every flock and washes them down to keep air flowing clean and strong. He knows his equipment as well as he knows his birds. “After six years, I’ve never replaced a bearing,” he says proudly. “That’s good management.”
That meticulous attention extends to his entire operation. Darrius installed solar panels on his barns, making his houses largely self-sufficient. And when he realized he needed to cut down on labor as he expanded, he added automation tools to help him manage it all.
The success of his first four houses inspired him to build four more. Once those are turning a profit, he’s already planning the next phase — eight additional houses to round out his operation. Poultry farming isn’t just his job anymore; it’s his life’s work.
When asked what he’s learned over the years, Darrius laughs. “That I know more than the service man,” he jokes, then turns serious. “The more time you spend in the chicken house, the better you’ll be. You can’t have tunnel vision. Even if you’re picking up chickens, you’ve still got to observe everything else. Everything happens for a reason. You have to figure out what’s in your control and what you can do about it.”
He’s not afraid to try new things, either. “I’m a regular risk taker. I don’t get hung up on trying new things. If you keep doing the same thing and expect different results — that’s insanity. The feed changes, the bird changes, the industry changes. You’ve always got to look for the next edge to get on top and stay on top.”
That drive has earned him more than just good performance numbers — it’s earned him respect. Last year, his goal was to finish in the top five growers. He didn’t realize he’d come so close to the top. Now, with another strong year behind him, he’s aiming higher.
“By the time the grower banquet rolls around in November,” he says, “I think I might be number one.”
And knowing Darrius, he just might be right.
