05/23/2026
Earlier this spring, Nick Sette, a member of our Land & Livestock team, led the relaunch of our laying hen program with a focus on heritage genetics and regional adaptability. We purchased day-old chicks in February, and they are currently being raised in the Valley Barn, where they spend their days outdoors in a paddock and return to the safety of the barn each evening. In early June, the hens will move into mobile egg coops and head out to pasture, where they will rotate alongside the cattle under the watchful protection of a team of guard geese. The flock is expected to begin laying in late June or early July, and in the weeks ahead you’ll begin to see farm-fresh, pastured organic eggs in the Market from a carefully selected mix of breeds, including Chantecler (a cold-hardy Canadian breed), Dominique (America’s oldest breed), Black Marans (known for their deep chocolate-colored eggs), and New Hampshire Reds, along with two Virginia-developed lines that Nick has worked with in the past: Cub Run Crele and Shenandoah.
