Chickaletta Family Farm & Coop
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Our small poultry farm was started in 2021 and our flock consists of 60+ hens and 4 Roos.
Chicken Eggs • Hand Gathered • Farm Fresh • Raised on an Organic & Holistic diet and practices • Pasture Raised & Free Ranged
Pastured Free Range Antibiotic And Hormone Free Use Only Organic Materials Non Gmo Holistic Management
Hi! We’re so glad you’re here!
Our story began in the summer and fall of 2020, when Steven and I had what seemed like a crazy idea: What if we raised our own chickens for meat and eggs?
Naturally, I said, “Let’s do this!”
From the beginning, I knew I wanted a colorful flock—and colorful eggs would be an added bonus. So, I did what I always do when something interests me: I started reading everything I could find about chickens. After learning about the different breeds, sizes, personalities, and egg colors, I knew I wanted large, standard-sized chickens that would lay medium to extra-large eggs.
We began by raising several batches of meat birds for ourselves, our friends, and our family. Then, in April 2021, I welcomed my first group of laying hens. By August, our flock had already grown to more than 30 chickens. I added more in April 2022, and by that summer, we had 53. Now, in 2026, we are pushing nearly 80 laying hens, along with a couple of roosters who help watch over and protect the flock.
At that point, there was no denying it—I was hooked. Steven was hooked, too, although he mostly just likes the food, haha. Before long, everyone was hooked.
Our chickens have never been just “producers” to us. They are our pets with a purpose, and we give them the best care we reasonably can. They provide food for our family and our customers, but their health, comfort, and quality of life come first. We believe happy hens lay the best eggs—and truly happy hens are healthy hens.
That belief guides everything we do at Chickaletta Family Farm & Coop. We practice careful biosecurity to protect our flock and reduce the risk of illness and disease. We also take as natural, organic, and holistic an approach to their care as possible.
Our hens and roosters receive plenty of time outside to roam, forage, dust-bathe, and behave like chickens. We do not force our hens to lay, nor do we force them into molting. Instead, we allow nature to take its course.
Egg production naturally slows down or may stop altogether from late fall through winter and into early spring. During the spring and summer, our hens may lay daily, every other day, or every few days. Excessive summer heat can also reduce production—and that is okay. When their bodies need a break, we let them rest. We will never force them to continue laying simply to produce more eggs.
Our flock is primarily fed life-stage-specific, certified-organic, non-GMO, corn- and soy-free feed from Scratch and Peck Feeds. When supply issues make that feed difficult to obtain, we may substitute another high-quality organic feed from companies such as Kalmbach Feeds or New Country Organics.
Scratch and Peck feeds contain protein levels appropriate for each stage of growth and are made with a blend of cracked organic grains, organic flax meal, vitamins, and minerals. According to Scratch and Peck Feeds, its ingredients are sourced from North American farms.
Depending on their age and individual needs, our chickens may also receive grit, oyster shell or sea kelp, and organic herbs. Their treats may include grubs, mealworms, black oil sunflower seeds, squash or pumpkin seeds, and three-grain scratch. When additional support is needed, we may supplement with prebiotics, probiotics, electrolytes, or extra vitamins and minerals. We strive to select products with simple, natural ingredients whenever possible.
Our chicks are vaccinated by the hatchery for Marek’s disease on the day they hatch. We do not routinely administer additional vaccines after that. We monitor the flock closely and provide parasite support when needed. We also offer pumpkin and squash seeds as part of our natural flock-care routine—and the chickens absolutely love them!
Our chickens are not disposable. If one becomes sick or injured and can reasonably be helped, we will do everything we can to care for and save her. Raising chickens responsibly is about much more than collecting eggs; it means caring for the animals that provide them throughout every season and stage of life.
While we are not certified organic, we do our best to follow organic practices and the general USDA National Organic Program standards applicable to poultry. Our use of terms such as “organic practices” describes how we strive to raise and care for our flock and should not be interpreted as an organic certification or certified-organic claim for our farm or eggs.
So, how can you get our eggs?
You will not find them in stores, and we do not sell to restaurants. Unless we announce otherwise on our social media page, you can find us at the YLNI Farmers Market in downtown Fort Wayne on Saturdays. On weekends when we are not attending a market, we may place our self-serve table and cooler at the end of the driveway. We also offer limited delivery when we will already be traveling in the general area of the delivery address.
Thank you for supporting our farm, caring about how your food is produced, and allowing us to share our colorful flock and farm-fresh eggs with you.
Cassandra Merkle
Business professional by day, chicken farmer by night who strives for a healthier way of living. My animals are a part of my family whether they are pets or serve a purpose to provide food.
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