GA Press:Monroe man sinks teeth into alligator business

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Posted by Desiree on September 04, 2001 at 10:15:12:

Monroe man sinks teeth into alligator business

By Gray Beverley
Telegraph Staff Writer

FORSYTH --- Daryl Remick has a lot of mouths to feed: A wife, two children, one dog, eight buildings full of chickens and about 1,000 alligators.

Yes, that's right, an alligator farm in Monroe County.

Remick, 39, started the business in 1999 as part of his existing chicken operation. He raises about 200,000 chickens every six to eight weeks, about 5 percent of which die before the trip to Cagle's.

In Georgia, it is legal to bury those carcases, but Remick wanted to find a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of them. And another chicken farmer had told him alligators can be a good business.

Farming isn't what he had set out to do. Remick graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1984 and joined the Marines, where he served four years before returning home to Monroe County.

He said he looked for a job but wanted to avoid commuting to Atlanta or working in an office. His grandfather had started a dairy farm in 1957, but Remick said he'd rather wear a coat and tie than milk cows every day.

So, in 1988, Remick began "baby-sitting" chickens, becoming the third generation in his family to farm. His chicken and alligator business --- one of eight licensed gator farms in Georgia --- takes up about 39 of the family's 300 acres.

He is currently a major serving as one of 50,000 Marines nationwide in the Individual Ready Reserve, an assignment that has taken him around the globe. His wife, Rossella, is from Lima, Peru. They met at the Wellness Center in Macon, when she was visiting family here about five years ago. Remick said farming is a commitment like marriage, noting that debts always exist and divorcing the land would be painful. The beauty of it, he said, is that there is not a typical day. The chickens are watered and fed automatically, but the alligators must be served. Mixed with commercial feed, the alligators get about 200 pounds of chicken per day.

The alligators live in 10 indoor pits, which have to be cleaned about three times a week. The alligators are not bred at Remick's farm; mating calls for natural environments, where it's slightly less crowded.

Plus, he said, they really don't like each other.

So Remick has to purchase hatchlings. He said competition for the newborns is fierce, especially since the hoof and mouth epidemic in Europe has increased the demand for reptile hides. In December, Remick paid 100 percent in advance for his next shipment, and he said there is no guarantee when or if that will arrive.

Remick said alligators are not as aggressive as their cousins, the crocodiles. But, he said, alligators do not make good pets. He tried caring for some at home for a few days, but they proved too difficult to house-train.

Alligators are typically sold once they grow to 4 feet, which takes about a year. The first batch met Remick's expectations in gross income, but building improvements and other expenses dwindled the net purse.

But Remick, whose chicken business "pays the bills," said he did not get into farming thinking he'd just sit back and reap profits.

The alligator boots, he said with a smile, will have to wait.

--- To contact Gray Beverley, call 744-4494 or e-mail gbeverley@macontel.com.

Nick Oza/The Telegraph

Daryl Remick, right, and Jose Garcia handle alligators on Remick's property in Monroe County. Remick's land holds one of the state's eight licensed alligator farms. The alligators, which are typically sold once they grow to 4 feet, live in 10 indoor pits.

Alligators consume their feed. Remick gives the reptiles a mixture of commercial feed and about 200 pounds of chicken per day.

Monroe man sinks teeth into alligator business

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: Monroe man sinks teeth into alligator business : By Gray Beverley : Telegraph Staff Writer : FORSYTH --- Daryl Remick has a lot of mouths to feed: A wife, two children, one dog, eight buildings full of chickens and about 1,000 alligators. : Yes, that's right, an alligator farm in Monroe County. : Remick, 39, started the business in 1999 as part of his existing chicken operation. He raises about 200,000 chickens every six to eight weeks, about 5 percent of which die before the trip to Cagle's. : In Georgia, it is legal to bury those carcases, but Remick wanted to find a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of them. And another chicken farmer had told him alligators can be a good business. : Farming isn't what he had set out to do. Remick graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1984 and joined the Marines, where he served four years before returning home to Monroe County. : He said he looked for a job but wanted to avoid commuting to Atlanta or working in an office. His grandfather had started a dairy farm in 1957, but Remick said he'd rather wear a coat and tie than milk cows every day. : So, in 1988, Remick began "baby-sitting" chickens, becoming the third generation in his family to farm. His chicken and alligator business --- one of eight licensed gator farms in Georgia --- takes up about 39 of the family's 300 acres. : He is currently a major serving as one of 50,000 Marines nationwide in the Individual Ready Reserve, an assignment that has taken him around the globe. His wife, Rossella, is from Lima, Peru. They met at the Wellness Center in Macon, when she was visiting family here about five years ago. Remick said farming is a commitment like marriage, noting that debts always exist and divorcing the land would be painful. The beauty of it, he said, is that there is not a typical day. The chickens are watered and fed automatically, but the alligators must be served. Mixed with commercial feed, the alligators get about 200 pounds of chicken per day. : The alligators live in 10 indoor pits, which have to be cleaned about three times a week. The alligators are not bred at Remick's farm; mating calls for natural environments, where it's slightly less crowded. : Plus, he said, they really don't like each other. : So Remick has to purchase hatchlings. He said competition for the newborns is fierce, especially since the hoof and mouth epidemic in Europe has increased the demand for reptile hides. In December, Remick paid 100 percent in advance for his next shipment, and he said there is no guarantee when or if that will arrive. : Remick said alligators are not as aggressive as their cousins, the crocodiles. But, he said, alligators do not make good pets. He tried caring for some at home for a few days, but they proved too difficult to house-train. : Alligators are typically sold once they grow to 4 feet, which takes about a year. The first batch met Remick's expectations in gross income, but building improvements and other expenses dwindled the net purse. : But Remick, whose chicken business "pays the bills," said he did not get into farming thinking he'd just sit back and reap profits. : The alligator boots, he said with a smile, will have to wait. : : --- To contact Gray Beverley, call 744-4494 or e-mail gbeverley@macontel.com. : Nick Oza/The Telegraph : Daryl Remick, right, and Jose Garcia handle alligators on Remick's property in Monroe County. Remick's land holds one of the state's eight licensed alligator farms. The alligators, which are typically sold once they grow to 4 feet, live in 10 indoor pits. : Alligators consume their feed. Remick gives the reptiles a mixture of commercial feed and about 200 pounds of chicken per day.

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