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May 05, 2023

Happy Hen Farms: Nampa college student grows egg farm, sees demand 🐓

In 2015, Jack Stewart – who at the time was 12-years-old – had five chickens at

In 2015, Jack Stewart – who at the time was 12-years-old – had five chickens at his family's home in Nampa.

Today, Stewart is 20 and is getting his degree in Agribusiness at the College of Western Idaho. He now has over 1900 hens at his free-range, non-GMO three-acre egg farm named Happy Hen Farms.

His eggs, which he says have been in more demand with avian flu and the increase in conventional eggs prices over the last year, can be found in grocery stores across the Treasure Valley.

"The grocery stores and distributors are my main priority since they have been having a lot of issues with keeping eggs in stock, not only from my farm, but also several other farms due to shortages, bird flu, and other supply chain disruptions," Stewart said.

According to a Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 report from Cal-Main Foods – the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States – the volume of cage-free dozens increased 14.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

"I have heard from many customers who have switched from conventional eggs to mine say that they would never willingly go back, or would give up eating eggs altogether if mine weren't available," Stewart said.

Stewart says has felt the greater demand for locally produced, cage-free eggs.

"At the end of the day, comments like those make what I do worth doing; all the highs and lows, hot days and cold days, and everything in between, that's worth it to me to know that someone trusts me to provide a product that they can feed their family with."

In the Boise area, Stewart notes that conventional cage-produced eggs and cage-free eggs are running anywhere from $3-$4.50 ish, with the eggs marketed under the free-range and "natural" labels (non-local farms) to be going for $5-$9 a dozen. Local eggs in the pasture-raised or free-range area are running anywhere from $5-$9 as well, depending on brand and store.

Stewart also says that despite the Avian Flu and the changing egg industry, he's kept his prices the same.

"This is largely due to the scale of the farm, as well as careful management of time and money spent on inputs, waste reduction, and just overall efficiency of the farm."

Happy Hen Farms eggs are sold for $5.75 to $6 in local grocery stores.

"Currently, it's just me running the farm, with occasional help from friends and family if needed," he said. "However, I can definitely see the need for more consistent help in the future"

As one might expect with the name Happy Hen Farms, Stewart says he's often asked how he knows the hens are happy.

"Part of the answer is because there are certain observable clues, like how healthy the birds are, or their behavior towards each other, etc..," he said.

He also says that he hopes to continue to grow his flock size to at least 3000 hens.

"There's always something new that increases the quality of life for each new flock, whether that be better feed, climate-controlled barns, cleaner barns, greener grass, etc.."

The farm is classified as "free-range" because the hens roam freely among trees, bushes, and shrubs, as well as open areas of grass year-round. When it's cold out, the hens go into the barns when there are greens to make up for what they would be eating outside.

Stewart's eggs can be found at several small local grocery stores, including the North End and Meridian Boise Co-Op locations, Roots Zero Waste Market, Juniper Company (his grandparent's health food store in downtown Nampa), and Reed's Dairy/Boise Milk.

For more information about Happy Hen Farms and to follow along with farm updates, you can follow Stewart's Instagram page here.

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