NY Tyrant: Is it true that you have retired from teaching to raise chickens? 

Padgett Powell: I still purport to teach, and by dint of my record in chickens so far it is even fair to say I am a better teacher than a chicken man. I have bought so far 35 chickens and not raised one to egg-laying age, about 24 weeks. Raising writers I have many who have laid some very good eggs. 

From NY Tyrant Vol 3 No 2. Click to buy.