LAVENDER AND GREEN. Stephanie Bartholomew of Happy Hatching holds a Lavender Orpington chicken.

Starting with just three hens and one rooster when moving to rural Chippewa County, Stephanie and Nick Bartholomew’s numbers (and interest in chickens) quickly multiplied. “We went from a handful of chickens to too-many-to-count in the blink of an eye,” Stephanie said. “Once I got those first chickens, I fell in love.”  

Finding a new breed of chickens available for purchase across the country, Stephanie was able to quickly hatch a new variety weeks after her package arrived in the mail. “Enjoying a piece of someone else’s farm is so special,” she said. “There are amazing farms across the country that may be very rural or inaccessible and you can support, be a part of, and enjoy a piece of their farm – just by ordering hatching eggs online.” From that interaction, her entrepreneur light started to burn brighter, and Happy Hatching LLC was hatched.

We went from a handful of chickens to too-many-to-count in the blink of an eye. Once I got those first chickens, I fell in love.  

HOLD VERY STILL! Stephanie Bartholomew (second from left) and her children pose with some of the chickens from the family’s egg-selling operation, Happy Hatching. At center is her father-in-law, Pete, who gathers recycled packing material for shipping the eggs.

Selling packs of six hatching eggs of a variety of breeds online, including Lavender Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, and Buff Silkies, Stephanie is bringing new chickens to family farms all over the country. When shipping, she takes great care to wrap the eggs in toilet paper and bubble wrap, all sealed in a padded egg carton and then wrapped tightly together to ensure safety in the mail.

However, once the eggs arrive, it takes knowledge and skill to properly incubate them. “It is quite normal to hatch only one or two chicks from an order, and possibly not hatch any chicks at all,” she emphasized. “I also include fun chicken bumper stickers and inspirational Scripture cards. I want my grand-chickens to bless each home and farm they arrive at,” she smiled.

Stephanie emphasizes not only care for the chickens but also entrepreneurship skills to her five children, three of whom help the business to grow. “I am teaching my children how to run a business and how to take care of customers,” she said proudly. Donating a portion of their profits to their local church and community, and putting funds back into the business, Stephanie and her chickens continue to thrive with a flawless review record on her eBay store. “So far, I have sold just shy of 800 boxes of eggs and currently offer seven breeds,” she said.

Learn more about Happy Hatching’s eggs, where to buy them, and how to start your own farm at  happyhatching.myshopify.com or ebay.com/usr/happyhatchingllc.