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Monday 9am - 7pm Tuesday 9am - 7pm Wednesday 9am - 7pm Thursday 9am - 7pm Friday 9am - 7pm Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Hayward Hens Homestead & Bakery, 53 Hayward Bishop Way, Senoia, GA (2026)

05/21/2026

🐓 A Little Hayward Hens June Update 🐓

Friends, June is filling up FAST, and I only have a limited number of openings left for custom orders before my calendar is officially full. Please also note that Hayward Hens will be CLOSED June 26–29 while this baker celebrates her own birthday 🎂💕 (because even farm girls need cake and a little rest too 😉).

Also, I’ve had more and more inquiries lately about GLUTEN-FREE custom treats, so I wanted to share some important information:

—I am happy to offer gluten-free decorated cookies in select gourmet flavors including Madagascar Vanilla Bean and Cookies & Cream (made with gluten-free Oreos).

However, I want to be fully transparent with my clients: while I take great care to sanitize thoroughly between orders, my kitchen is NOT a certified gluten-free kitchen. If you or your loved one has Celiac Disease, please understand there is still a slight possibility of cross-contamination. Your health and safety matter to me, and I always want clients to make informed decisions.

📅 One important reminder as graduation, weddings, showers, and summer celebrations are in full swing:

I am unable to hold dates on my calendar.
An inquiry does not reserve your spot, and an unpaid invoice means you do not have an official booking. Payment in full is required to secure your date, and openings are always first come, first served.

Thank you for continuing to support this one-woman bakery + farm dream. Y’all keep me busier than a hen in a feed room, and I’m so grateful for every order. 🫶🏽🐓

📩 If you’d like to book for June, don’t wait too long to reach out!

www.haywardhens.com

05/20/2026

There was a recent discussion in a cottage baker group that really got me thinking about community, ethics, and what supporting one another actually looks like.

A baker shared that another baker—who also happened to be her client—asked for the recipe to a specific cake pop she ordered frequently. When the baker politely declined, she was accused of being “greedy” and told there was “enough business to go around.”

Whew. Let’s talk about that.

I absolutely believe there is enough business to go around.

I cheer other bakers on. I’ve referred clients to fellow cottage bakers. I’ve purchased from them. I’ve taught baking and decorating techniques and encouraged others along the way because people further ahead in their skill set once poured into me, and that blessing helped grow my own business.

But community and entitlement are not the same thing.

Supporting fellow bakers does not mean you are owed someone else’s proprietary recipes, trade knowledge, equipment access, or labor.

And while we’re being honest…

I stop being your hype woman when you repeatedly underbid my jobs requiring edible image printing—something you don’t personally offer—only to turn around and ask me to print the edible images for orders I lost the bid on. I gave grace the first time. I gave the benefit of the doubt the second. By the third? Baby, we’re done. Boundaries are healthy.

Back in 2023, when my health allowed me to restart my cottage bakery, I privately reached out to 12 local bakers hoping to build camaraderie. My thought was simple: if I had a bad lupus flare while attempting to finish an order, perhaps we could help one another in emergencies—and I would gladly return that support.

Only two bakers responded. Two.

And one of those beautiful souls became an answer to prayer.

Last year, when Mammy passed away, I had a cake due the very next day while preparing to fly home to say goodbye. I baked what I could and created the custom elements for a Paw Patrol Salted Caramel cake, and the wonderfully talented Chef Beautifully Baked Bonne stepped in with love and kindness. She made her own Salted Caramel Buttercream and beautifully finished the cake for my little client’s birthday. That family was grateful for her—and so was I.

That is community.

Since 2023, I’ve unfortunately had to distance myself from several local bakers (like 5) whose business ethics left much to be desired. I gave grace. I gave second chances. But when people show you patterns, believe them.

Kindness is not weakness.

You can sympathize with someone’s hardships without excusing poor behavior. You can support people without allowing yourself to be used. And you can maintain compassion while still protecting your peace and your business.

As someone who moderates an international cookie artist community of nearly 189,000 members, I have zero tolerance for mean-girl energy. I don’t allow tearing others down, and I certainly don’t entertain manipulation or cruelty disguised as “competition.”

Recently, I met up with another local baker, Bri Johnson. We both have strengths. We both have specialties. And neither of us sees the other as competition.

Why?

Because the clients meant for you will find you.

Some weeks I’m so exhausted pouring into my own clients that I don’t even have the energy to bake for myself or my husband. And in those moments? I’m thankful to support fellow bakers by purchasing their breads, sweets, and goodies.

That’s what community looks like.

When you live with a mindset of abundance and integrity, you consider others.

You celebrate wins.

You protect boundaries.

You help when you can.

And you never mistake kindness for permission to take advantage.

Support local. Support ethical. Support community.

05/17/2026

With yesterday’s beautiful wedding, I wasn’t able to share a post showcasing a set of cookies for a member of the Delta Airlines family AND one of the most adorable parties arranged by Sweet Peach Events, a true celebration of love and joy.

Parker’s daddy works for Delta and her momma is one of the incredibly talented women behind Sweet Peach, a family-run business in Newnan, and the other owner is related to some of my church family - what a small, wonderful world we live in.

It has been an absolute blessing to watch their babies grow up and be celebrated, and I must admit, it’s a reminder that even though I may not be able to throw parties for my own grandbabies back in Indianapolis, I get to be a part of making memories for other families. But, if I’m being completely honest, this is the party I would have been over the moon to have myself at Parker’s age - she, like me, has fallen head over heels in love with chickens, and her momma knew the perfect party theme to make her little heart sing!

The balloon arch, the “chicken scratch,” the cutest coloring sheet—and, the most adorable cake and cupcakes made by Parker’s grandma, a true labor of love.

My own momma relied on a bakery in Indianapolis named Roselyn’s to make my birthday cakes, and my Scottish Mammy would sometimes make my cake if the restaurant didn’t have her “in the weeds,” but she was guaranteed to have always baked a sugar-free chocolate pie to serve alongside.

Seeing all these elements and people coming together to celebrate their loved ones is part of what drives me to do what I do - it’s a reminder that every detail, no matter how small, matters.

If you look at the party hat cookies I made for Parker, you may notice the green pattern is actually that of a speckled Silverudd Blue egg (see the eggs from my friend, Wonder Hooves Farm), a beautiful touch that adds to the magic of the party. I found a chicken print that was perfect for the background of Parker’s cookies, but the colors needed a little tweaking, which is where my passion for detail comes in - I made the colors match the party’s color palette, and used a picture of Parker and her momma to create picture cookies that are simply irresistible. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love what I do - it’s a privilege to be a part of making memories that will last a lifetime.

Now, if only Parker’s chicken dress came in my size! A gal can dream…

05/16/2026

A gentle PSA from your neighborhood wedding baker…

If you hire multiple dessert vendors for a wedding or event, PLEASE label who made what (have the cottage baker label their wrapped cookies as required by Georgia law).

Here’s why:
If there’s one decorated cake, dessert bars, cheesecake shooters, cookies, cupcakes, and assorted sweets all sitting on the same dessert table with no labels, guests naturally assume one baker created everything.

As a professional baker, I genuinely want your dessert table to shine. In many cases, I can create cohesive dessert packages that match your event vision, flavor profile, dietary needs, and aesthetic so everything flows beautifully together.

I’m all for clients choosing what works best for them. Truly. But communication and proper signage matter more than people realize. And if you choose to use multiple vendors? That is absolutely your prerogative—I simply appreciate open communication so expectations are clear and your event is represented well.

When you use multiple bakers, if something arrives late, is dry, doesn’t taste great, or doesn’t show up at all? That confusion can unintentionally impact the reputation of the baker who did deliver exactly what was promised. As I left today’s wedding venue with 30 minutes left on the clock, two desserts still had not been delivered. I had genuine anxiety to leave with missing treats. I was also asked to place decorated sugar cookies made by another baker on the dessert table. Remember, when you pay my delivery fee, that includes my helping hand to set up your dessert table and assist your event coordinator, however, I am not able to handle another baker’s product due to insurance liability.

Small businesses survive on reputation. We don’t have million-dollar marketing budgets—our work speaks for us. At the end of the day, my name, my craftsmanship, and my reputation matter deeply to me. I pour my whole heart into every order, and I want every client’s special day to be remembered for all the right reasons.

And for my fellow Type A bakers out there…yes, we absolutely notice when mystery desserts appear on the table.

05/16/2026

This wedding was booked a YEAR ago and it was imperative that I include a cookie cake similar to the one I made for the bride’s bridal shower and Keto-friendly sugar-free Strawberry Cheesecake bars. Delivery and set-up at the Newnan Train Depot. Also, created a set of Raspberry White Chocolate decorated cookies for peach events to celebrate a precious ‘chick’ turning TWO.

05/12/2026

Helping both a Delta Airlines family and a family from my church celebrate their kiddos graduating from Georgia Southern University this week. Flavors included: Madagascar Vanilla Bean, Biscoff Cookie Butter, Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Lemon Cheesecake. Now it’s time to prep for this weekend’s wedding!

05/12/2026

🦅🎓💙 Georgia Southern Graduation Cookies 💛🎓🦅

More sets of custom graduation cookies flew the coop this week for Georgia Southern University graduates, and goodness…these turned out so beautifully! There is something extra special about helping families celebrate milestone moments like this.👩🏾‍🎓👩🏻‍🎓

Before anyone inquires — I am unfortunately COMPLETELY BOOKED for the remainder of May. Graduation season, weddings, and corporate orders have every corner of my kitchen spoken for.🥴

And while I am beyond grateful, I also want to gently educate folks on something:

Cookies like these are never “last-minute” orders.

Designs of this level take time. Planning. Custom artwork. Specialty supplies. Flavor selection. Packaging. Precision. Creativity. And yes…a whole lot of late nights from this one-woman bakery owner.

These are not grocery store cookies.

These are gourmet, handcrafted edible art made completely from scratch — and they taste every bit as good as they look. Just ask my repeat clients…because there’s a reason they continue to come back, and there’s a reason they gladly pay my asking price.

Quality ingredients. Luxury details. 35+ gourmet flavors. Made with our own farm-fresh duck eggs from our flock in Senoia. Pure artistry poured into every single order.

And with love, let me say this:

If my pricing is not within your budget for creations like this, then you may simply not be my client — and that is perfectly okay. Every baker has their place in this industry, and I wholeheartedly believe clients should find the right fit for their needs and budget.

But if you are looking for premium quality, unforgettable flavor, and custom cookies that make people stop and say, “Oh my goodness!”…that is where Hayward Hens shines. And, IF I can create cookies like these, imagine what my custom cakes would taste like…😉

📅 Future custom orders should ideally be booked 2–3 months in advance, especially during graduation and wedding season.

Sweet friends, before sending a private message to inquire about pricing, please check my website first. Pricing information is available there and helps ensure we’re a good fit before beginning the custom order process:
https://haywardhens.com/collections/all

05/09/2026

Before ordering custom cookies, there’s something I wish more people understood…

Custom cookies are not “just cookies.”

When you place an order with a custom baker—especially with logos, edible printing, specialty packaging, custom ribbon, or intricate designs—you are not buying something mass-produced sitting on a shelf.

You are hiring an artist, baker, designer, planner, purchaser, decorator, photographer, quality control manager, and often delivery driver… all wrapped into one person. Every single cookie is handcrafted by my two hands.

At Hayward Hens, custom cookies involve:
✨ Design & planning
✨ Shopping for specialty ingredients & supplies
✨ Ordering edible ink, custom packaging, ribbons, toppers, etc.
✨ Baking completely from scratch using premium ingredients (including farm fresh duck eggs from our flock)
✨ Mixing and coloring royal icing
✨ Printing, hand painting, detailing, decorating, and drying time
✨ Packaging and presentation

And perhaps the biggest investment of all?

TIME.

The graphic below shows an average breakdown of what goes into custom decorated cookies behind the scenes. For many detailed cookie orders, I can easily invest 16+ hours of labor on one dozen cookies—and that doesn’t even include equipment costs, utilities, business overhead, or profit.

This is why approving a quote matters.

When a client approves pricing, selects upgrades, custom packaging, and gives the green light to proceed, supplies are often purchased immediately—especially on rush orders. Those purchases come directly out of a small business owner’s pocket in good faith to meet deadlines.

Unfortunately, this week I experienced a hard lesson in why boundaries matter.

A large corporate cookie order totaling over $1,100 was APPROVED with a short turnaround time. Specialty packaging supplies with their company’s logo on them were immediately ordered to meet the deadline using money I had put aside for feed. Hours later, the order was “paused” after hundreds of dollars had already been invested to fulfill what had been approved. The client promised to communicate back within two days but failed to respond until I tagged in another manager.

What stung most wasn’t the cancellation—it was the passive-aggressive implication that the order was somehow “far over budget” after premium upgrades and top-tier options had already been selected by THEM when pricing was made very clear in advance. They refused accountability and covering the costs I incurred thus placing me in a crisis on how I am to feed my animals that depend on me.

Here’s the truth:

Luxury custom cookies are not Walmart pricing.
They are handcrafted edible art created from scratch with significant time, skill, premium ingredients, and planning. They taste as good as they look.

And while I always try to work within reasonable budgets where possible, communication matters and is key. Had a budget been shared upfront, options could have been adjusted, quantities changed, or designs simplified.

Small businesses are not giant corporations with unlimited financial cushions. When hundreds of dollars are committed based on someone’s approval, that loss hits real families, real farms, and real livelihoods.

For me, this bakery helps support 125+ farm animals, medical expenses, and the day-to-day realities of running both a homestead and a bakery as one person.

I will always strive to serve my clients with excellence, kindness, and integrity—as if Jesus Himself were standing in my kitchen beside me.

But Southern hospitality doesn’t mean a lack of boundaries.

So if you’re considering ordering custom cookies from any baker, here’s my gentle encouragement:

🐓 Book early
🐓 Communicate your budget upfront
🐓 Understand that custom means custom
🐓 And please remember—behind every small business is a real person taking real financial risks to create something special for your celebration.

Sadly, due to the lack of communication and respect from this client, I had to fire them. I took no joy in that action either.

Thank you to the many clients who trust my work, value handmade artistry, and support small businesses like mine. Y’all are the reason we keep going.

05/08/2026

Running a small business will teach you real quick who values your work and who sees “small business” as something easy to push around.

What folks fail to understand is that when you tell a custom baker to proceed, approve pricing, approve upgrades, and order specialty supplies, that baker is spending REAL money out of pocket based on your word. Ink cartridges. Specialty packaging. Custom ribbon. Ingredients. Time. Labor. Planning. Rearranging an already overloaded production calendar.

That money doesn’t magically appear out of thin air.

My bakery is not a hobby. It is how I help feed 125+ farm animals. It is how I help pay for medical treatments and prescriptions that insurance companies love to deny despite premiums costing an arm and a leg already. It is how I survive while battling physical limitations most people never see behind the scenes.

I may be disabled. I may be small. But I am not weak, naïve, nor someone to be played for a fool.

With my background in legislation, tort law, and legal analysis, I fully understand contracts, liability, business damages, and the difference between a misunderstanding versus negligence that financially harms a small business owner. I have zero issue standing up for myself through the proper legal channels when necessary. And, I have…just ask Mrs. Thompson of Newnan who tried me last year. It cost her an arm and a leg and almost got her jail time as “Theft of Services” and “Theft by Deception” are criminal acts here in Georgia.

Southern hospitality does not equal being a doormat.

And before someone twists this post into bitterness, let me say this clearly: I still believe in serving people well. I try my best to serve every client as if Jesus Himself were standing beside me in my kitchen. Because truthfully…He is.

We are called to love one another, support one another, and conduct ourselves honorably. But people also forget that the same Jesus who preached compassion also overturned tables when righteousness demanded it.

There is a difference between kindness and allowing people to take advantage of you.

Some lessons are expensive. Unfortunately, sometimes small businesses are the ones forced to absorb the cost of someone else’s poor communication and lack of accountability.

This is one of the reasons I require payment in full to secure bookings. I have been taken advantage of in the past and cannot afford that type of loss again when I have over 125 animals depending on me to feed them and I, in turn, depend on their eggs to back your cakes and cookies with.

Have a blessed weekend!
Xoxo, Birdie

05/07/2026

There’s just something about delivering to Delta Air Lines that makes me smile every single time. ✈️❤️

A recently retired Delta Vice President reached out to his former executive assistant a few weeks ago requesting custom cookies for his son’s party this weekend to celebrate his graduation from Woodward Academy in College Park. He shared that he loved the cookies and variety of flavors I had created for his retirement celebration months ago and wanted Hayward Hens to be part of another special family milestone.

Moments like these mean so much to this small homestead bakery.

I was just at Coca-Cola on Tuesday delivering another order in Marietta. I have a couple more in the works.

Every time I receive an order for Delta Air Lines or Coca-Cola, I get absolutely tickled. Both companies have always stood out to me for the way they genuinely celebrate their employees and make people feel valued, seen, and appreciated. That kind of culture matters — and it’s an honor getting to play even a tiny role in those celebrations.

From corporate events to retirement parties, weddings, graduations, and everything in between — thank you for continuing to trust Hayward Hens with your most meaningful moments.

And, congratulations Jacob and I pray your time at Hampton University is spectacular!
Xoxo, Birdie🐓

05/04/2026

A Gentle (But Honest) Reminder from the Coop 🐓

Friends, I need to share something that comes up every single year—and especially during busy seasons like graduations and birthdays in May.

Please, please do not wait until the last minute—or even two weeks before your event—to inquire about custom cakes or decorated cookies.

By the time you’re thinking about your celebration, my calendar is often already full. In just the past couple of weeks, I’ve had to turn away more graduation and birthday orders than I can count…not because I didn’t want to take them—but because I simply couldn’t.

And I want to be very clear about something:

When I say I’m booked, it’s not negotiable—and it’s not an invitation to push, guilt, or respond unkindly.

This business is run by one person—me.
Not a team. Not a storefront with staff. Just me…managing both a bakery and a working farm.

On top of that, I am also navigating ongoing health challenges, including chemotherapy treatment for Systemic Lupus. That means my energy is limited, and I have to be incredibly intentional with how I schedule my time and workload.

I know my limits.
And I will not compromise the quality of what I create—or my health—to squeeze in “just one more.”

Every order I accept gets my full attention, care, and craftsmanship. That only works if I protect my calendar.

If you want to work with me, the best thing you can do is plan ahead.
Booking early ensures you get a spot—and the level of quality Hayward Hens is known for.

Thank you to those of you who plan ahead, support this small business, and treat me with kindness. It does not go unnoticed.

With appreciation,
Birdie from Hayward Hens

Please visit my website for pricing inquiries first: www.HaywardHens.com

Hayward Hens Homestead & Bakery

05/21/2026

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Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm
Saturday	12pm - 5pm