CAMPBELL Harcourt’s chickens have moved from their coop near the mulberry tree to sharing a lush lucerne paddock with sheep.
It’s been one of the big changes for the Pompapiel youngster since his Golden Girls eggs were first sold earlier this year.
A selling network to family and friends has expanded to more than a dozen shops, cafes, butchers and hotels across the Loddon.
The eggs are even sold at local football matches where Campbell has been volunteering to help in the canteen at Serpentine, Calivil and Pyramid Hill.
Less active laying in winter by his several hundred chickens has also seen supply outstripped by demand in Inglewood, Wedderburn and Boort and nearer home at Pyramid Hill, Mitiamo and Dingee.
“We have moved them to new lucerne pasture ... they are eating good sheep food but also being fed chicken food,” said Campbell of his chickens now competing for grazing land a the self-replacing Merino flock.
Campbell has met challenges of supply and distribution with determination following the unexpected passing of his mother Sharon just weeks after the egg empire took off in March.
Husband Darryl Chappel said: “Campbell’s mum was very into supporting him with the business and would be proud of how things have grown.”
“I’m a farmer and to cold call people talking about chooks took me out of the comfort zone,” Darryl said.
“And the workload increased. The chickens were Sharon and Campbell’s thing.”
Campbell and Darryl now have their first staff member, Leanne Welsh, who assists with distribution, egg collection, grading, cleaning and packing.
“The workload has increased really quickly,” said Campbell, a Year 6 student at East Loddon P12 College.
Darryl said: “We had chatted a lot about how the egg business was going and Sharon’s words had been that it would work.”
Campbell said feedback across Loddon communities were that his eggs were great to fry and did not stick to pans.
“It’s very interesting to hear how good the quality is,” he said.
Campbell and Darryl said they were committed to continuing Sharon’s philosophy of the business by supporting Loddon communities. “We are only a small (egg) business filling a niche with quality products for people in the shire,” Darryl said.
The wool producer said that Campbell’s business meant the farm did not have “all its eggs in one basket”.
Campbell and Darryl said the local community had been fantastic in their support that had helped grow the egg business over the past five months.
“The farm, the chickens are not only a business it’s our life,” said Darryl. 
Making his latest delivery in Pyramid Hill, Campbell said: “People like the golden yoke of our Golden Girls eggs.”