The Girls are Home: A Look Inside Our New 20,000-Hen Expansion

If you’ve been following our journey lately, you know that things are moving fast at Waseda Farms. Between our spots in De Pere and Baileys Harbor, and our newest addition in Sturgeon Bay, we’ve been working hard to make sure that when you want organic, local food, we’re there to provide it.

But the biggest project—and the one I’m most excited to finally share the details of—is our brand-new chicken barn. We’ve officially welcomed 20,000 new organic laying hens to the farm, and it’s a total game-changer for how we do things.

Why 20,000?

I get asked that a lot. "Jeff, isn't that a massive jump?" It is. We went from a flock of about 9,000 to this new group of 20,000. But the reality is, the demand for a real, untainted organic egg is higher than it’s ever been.

To keep the shelves stocked at all three of our locations and ensure that our community has access to the best protein possible, we had to grow. But as we grew in size, we made sure we grew in quality and welfare, too.

State-of-the-Art Living (Inside and Out)

We didn't just build a bigger coop; we built a state-of-the-art aviary system. This allows the ladies to explore different levels, roost high up where they feel safe, and have dedicated nesting areas.

But the real magic happens when the doors open. We purposely built this barn right in the middle of a 50-acre cow pasture. This gives the girls a massive "backyard" to explore every single day.

Being in the middle of the field means they have 360-degree access to fresh air, sunshine, and a natural buffet of bugs and clover. It also plays a huge role in our regenerative cycle. The chickens are able to follow the cattle through the pasture, acting as a natural "clean-up crew" that sanitizes the fields and fertilizes the soil. When the birds are this active and integrated into the farm’s ecosystem, they’re healthier, and you can truly taste that vitality in the eggs.

It All Starts with the Soil

You’ve heard us talk about "Regenerative Agriculture" before, and these chickens are a massive part of that. Along with what they are able to forage in those 50 acres, they are fed a 100% certified organic diet—no GMOs, no antibiotics, and no synthetic "fillers."

What they eat eventually goes back into the land, which helps us grow the lush, organic grasses our cattle graze on. It’s a closed loop. When you see those deep, sunset-orange yolks in our eggs, you’re seeing the result of that high-quality organic diet and a life spent out on the pasture.

A New Chapter for Waseda Farms

Taking the reins here at Waseda has been an incredible ride so far. There’s a lot of "boots-on-the-ground" work that goes into an expansion like this. If you saw my recent video, you know I’m usually running a few steps behind on the "to-do" list, but seeing these birds settled in and thriving makes every long day worth it.

We believe that transparency is everything. You should know your farmer, and you should know exactly how your food is raised. This new barn is our commitment to staying a leader in organic farming here in Wisconsin for a long time to come.

Next time you’re in De Pere, Baileys Harbor, or Sturgeon Bay, grab a carton and taste the difference for yourself. We’re proud of these girls, and we’re proud to be your local farm.