How a team of non chicken owners became obsessed with chickens and worms.
Yes, we didn’t have chickens. Hear us out.
We may have started as outsiders, but coming in fresh meant no bias, no bad habits, no “that’s just how it’s done.” We knew we had a lot to learn, and more importantly, we had to listen. As in, listen more than any brand before us. Hatortempt wouldn’t be built on the experience of a handful of chickens from one coop, but on the shared experience of over 16,000.
Which is exactly what we did.
From meeting several suppliers, we learned quickly that we needed the strictest standards when sourcing partner farms, we needed a set of non-negotiables:
Our partners had to live and breathe the specific species they raised, even having master’s degrees in entomology (bugs).
Your girls eat them, and so do you through their eggs. Every facility had to be spotless. To quote Ryan our CEO “our farms are cleaner than food factories I’ve been to.”
Did you know worms can be fed plastics? Not ours. Their diet had to be nutritious from start to finish, meaning only wheat, carrots and squash, depending on the season.
We’ve rejected facilities for breaking worms by shoveling too fast… we’re not joking.
Or at least, you would have thought that from our original bag. If we were going to be made for America’s backyard, it needed to be something you were proud to have there. We needed a re-do, and not to toot our own leghorn, but we think we did a pretty good job.
When Hatortempt started, the backyard chicken community was small, but devoted. Your girls weren’t just a way to cheaper eggs. Your relationship was meaningful, fun, even therapeutic when they weren’t being jerks. This community was more authentic, resourceful, and caring than any space we had seen.
Lovisa, Head of Marketing
As the community grew, so did the voices shaping it. A special thank you to Savannah (@thehotmesshomestead) who supported us from early on. Your insights helped us listen, learn, and build better products. We will always be grateful that you were part of our journey.
Here’s the thing: when your first product is a hit, you have to work even harder on the next. For us, that meant every new Hatortempt product had to start with listening to our customers. Which in theory would be your chickens, but since they aren’t the strongest communicators, we listened to you instead. Through reviews, Facebook groups, and feedback, you showed us the gaps no one else was filling when caring for your flock.
Connor, Head of Sales & Product
Here’s the thing: when your first product is a hit, you have to work even harder on the next. For us, that meant every new Hatortempt product had to start with listening to our customers. Which in theory would be your chickens, but since they aren’t the strongest communicators, we listened to you instead. Through reviews, Facebook groups, and feedback, you showed us the gaps no one else was filling when caring for your flock.
We’ll always be online, but chicken supplies should be as easy to grab as dog food.
So far we’ve focused on the laying years, or as our CEO Ryan says, “We’re a brand for teenage chickens.” But what about chicks, or older ladies in retirement? Your bond doesn’t stop when the eggs do, and neither will we.
So much product development has gone to other animals, but chickens have been underserved. We’ll make the basics better, your experience easier, and your bond as meaningful as you want it to be.
With more people than ever starting their flocks, we want our VIC (Very Important Chicken) Club to be a space for resources and support. A community that both new and experienced parents can rely on, so they never feel like they are figuring their flock out alone.
As a thank you for your support, and for reading this far, here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming next…
