b'By 1965 Peels Poultry Farm was the worlds largesttwo new 20,000 sq. ft. brooding houses on their producer of Barred Rocks forcauseway farm, and on Scugog Island, they operated Canada and the United States,three farms, where an isolated unit for special disease and was the largest Canadianstudies was established. supplier of broiler breeding stockBut Peels largest expansion came in 1967, with the to hatcheries in the country.official opening of its new hatchery on Hwy. 7A, just Douglas Hillier, managerwest of Port Perry. The massive 190 x 94 hatchery was at Peels Poultry Farm in 1965,one of the largest and most modern in Canada, and PART TWO reported that all exports would bemore than 300 guests were on hand for the opening shipped by air, to get the chicksceremony.Ron Peel gave up his job as ato buyers as soon as possible after hatching. A charter flight ofDr. John Pricebeekeeper to take on the chicken23,000 chicks, hatchedDr. John PriceFriday morning, left Toronto airport on industry, and became CanadasFriday night for Mexico, and the chicks were in the buyers hand 28 hours largest supplier of breedingafter hatching, he explained.Unfortunately Ronald A. Peel, stock to hatcheries duringwho had operated Peels Poultry Farm for 38 years, passed away April 7, 1965 in Oshawa the 1950s & 1960s. Hospital.Following his death, the company appointed Dr. Peels Poultry Farm John Price, as General Manger Growing up as the son of a farmer, its notand Director of Research. Dr. surprising that Ronald Peel ventured off into the worldPrice had joined the firm in 1954 and had been instrumental inAerial view, 1955, Peels Poultry Farm.of agriculture, although in quite a different directionthe development of the Peel Breeder Aerial view, 1955, Peels Poultry Farm.than that of his father and grandfather. female and Peel Cornish Breeder The young mans first venture out on his own, came about male. Sales continued to grow and by 1969, Dr. John Price 1924, when he worked as a beekeeper.Throughout the 1960s, the companyreported that both foreign and domestic sales of Peels This was the same year the 25 year-oldcontinued to grow as they expanded both theirbreeding stock were exceeding the projections of two married Margaret Janet Sanderson. research and production facilities.years earlier, and in some markets, requirements have Three years later, he had moved from In addition to their large complex of buildingsmore than doubled in the previous year. By this time beekeeping to poultry, forming his Peels By 1944, he was considered one of the outstandinglocated in Port Perry, on the south side of 7A Highwaythe company was capable of producing 150,000 chicks Poultry Farm company, and beginning poultry men of Ontario and his company, Peelat the Queen Street intersection (see photos), they hadper week.to raise Plymouth Rock capons. But hePoultry Farm had grown steadily, supplying farmers,constructed research buildings in four new isolatedWith the glory years behind them, Dr. John Price wanted more than to raise them for eggshatcheries and breeders from across the province. buildings on their Prince Albert farm. They also addedannounced in May 1973 that Peels Poultry Farm had and meat, and envisioned creating aThis resulted in the need for a larger plant, so abeen sold to a group of investors. Two years later the whole new strain of chickens.new modern laying house was constructed, withproperties were advertised for sale by tender. This Ron PeelHis work paid off and he quicklytwo new incubators, bringing his setting capacity to included 36 acres of land and buildings with a total of Ron Peelbecame so successful, in 1939 he was 47,000, and hatching capacity to 10,000 chicks. 40,000 sq. ft. Also going up for sale, by auction, was all asked to supply chickens for the King of England. So it wasAs his name and reputation grew, he began to of Peels farm equipment, hatchery and egg grading inJune that year he was able to meet rush orders to supply see orders coming in fromequipment, vehicles, office equipment and a 53 ft. 100 capons for King George IV and Queen Elizabeth when other countries. In 1946 hefiberglass cruiser.the Royal Train passed through southern Ontario. shipped 200 baby chicks to Thankfully Ronald Peel was not there to see theAlways watching for trends, when the meat chickenWashington by Air Express. demise of business, which had been started with a industry turned to broilers, Ron Peel was one of the first to This was his first attempt at dream and risen to be known far and wide as one of the change. He developed a fast feathering, bred-to-lay Barred shipping chicks by air, and largest and best chicken breeding facilities in the world.Rock, which became one of the leading breeding stocks in the fortunately all arrived aliveNOTE:The Peel Poultry Farm buildings (shown in world.at their destination. In 1949aerial photos), at the corner of Hwy. 7A and Queen St. He applied a unique system of select breeding that Peels shipped their largestwere purchased by Jerry Jonkheer. He operated Jerrys produced a chick that was rugged, grew fast and developedorder ever, 6,000 FeatherProduce from the site for almost a decade before it was into a larger bird than others. In addition, the pullets would Barred Rock chicks to Newdestroyed by fire in March 1982.The new Peels Hatchery in 1966. Trusses and construction of thelay a larger egg than the average Barred Rock. Brunswick, a trip of 800 milesThe new Peels Hatchery in 1966. Trusses and construction of the by C.N.R. express. Doug Hillier plant was done by Lake Scugog Lumber. By J. Peter Hvidsten, Focus on ScugogDoug Hillier plant was done by Lake Scugog Lumber.FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 202037'