From backyard chicks to 2,000 hens

Sue Grossardt

Contributor

August 10, 2026

PESHTIGO – At 10 years old, Colton Schwittay said he already knows the ins and outs of the egg business.

Colton said he’s been getting his hands dirty since he was a toddler, helping with family chores from a young age. 

“I tried to help out wherever I could with feeding [the hens] and picking up,” he said.

Colton’s mother, Monica, said her son first began taking care of chickens when he was around two years old. 

Monica said Colton’s responsibilities grew alongside his interest in chickens, with a family trip to Tractor Supply around Easter becoming the moment that set his egg business in motion. 

During a trip to Tractor Supply for fencing and other supplies, Monica said Colton’s attention was captured by the baby chicks and ducks.

She said her son asked if he could bring home a few chicks, but the store would not sell just the couple he wanted.

Instead, Monica said the family was told they would need to take all 18 remaining chicks – unknowingly setting the stage for what would become Colton’s egg business. 

“And that’s how it all got started,” she said.

Getting his start

Monica said they started selling eggs at farmers’ markets, but egg orders began to pile up. 

“We [then] began selling to several outlets, including Astha Grocery and Gifts in De Pere and Farm Fresh Xpress, the Wisconsin-based online store that carries locally procured foods from farmers and vendors selling directly to customers,” she said. 

Colton said they were also selling eggs through their own family market, Schwittay Harmony Market (located at W5314 Town Hall Road in Peshtigo).

What started with a handful of chicks, Colton said, has grown into a flock of more than 2,000 hens, with chicks maturing into pullets before becoming egg-laying hens.

Colton’s Chicks LLC primarily sells chicken eggs, he said, but recently expanded to include duck eggs. 

Though some hens are kept at the Schwittay family home, Colton said most are raised at Sunny Side Hatchery, managed by Nick and Liz Levondoski. 

“Sunny Side Hatchery is an online ordering store, which is basically a farm-to-table business, including everything from meats to vegetables,” he said.

Colton said his work as a young business owner even caught the attention of his school, where he received a certificate of achievement for entrepreneurship. 

“My teacher saw my mom’s post on Facebook about the business,” he said.

Serving customers big and small 

Colton said he follows a set schedule with his distributor to ensure both large and small customers receive their orders.

Monica said one of her son’s operation’s largest customers is Lambeau Field. 

“They order between 12 and 14 cases of eggs each week, which equates to more than 200 dozen eggs,” she said. “During the Packers mini-camp, they will be ordering 14 cases per week.”

Landing Lambeau Field as a customer, Monica said, took time, as the chef had specific standards and requirements for the eggs, and Colton’s Chicks LLC had to meet those expectations before the partnership could begin.

“We didn’t get the contract right away from the Packers,” she said. “[Our eggs] weren’t quite meeting all of their standards. They wanted the eggs to have a harder shell, plus they wanted the [egg] white to stick.” 

Monica said Colton made some modifications to the food the hens consumed and was then awarded the business.

Caring for the hens 

Above all else, Colton said caring for the hens’ health and safety is central to how he runs the operation.

“We have sand baths for them to keep them cool and clean,” he said. “We make sure they have fresh straw and fresh bedding. We give our hens [proper] ventilation, and we give them treats like mealworms and vegetables. I talk to them, and we play music for them.” 

Colton said his sister, Adalyn, even turned the hens into a school science project, studying whether different types of music affected egg production. 

“The hens liked Christian rock the best, followed by country, and then in third place was rock… and Taylor Swift,” he said.

Learning the challenges of growth

As Colton’s Chicks LLC continues to grow, Colton said his biggest concern is making sure the hens receive the same level of care from others as they do from him.

Monica said learning how to delegate while maintaining quality is one of the important lessons Colton is learning as he runs a business.

“We do have protocols in place, and there is a certain order in which things are done for biosecurity reasons – for example, how they are fed and that they have fresh straw every day,” she said. “It can always be a challenge in business and getting employees to implement the protocols correctly. Customers must know they are getting the same thing every time. Colton is learning the importance of that.” 

As a parent, Monica said she hopes her children carry forward the values she has worked to demonstrate.

She said she sees those lessons taking hold when she hears Colton sharing their story with others.

“He told us the other day he was frustrated because someone wasn’t following exactly what they were supposed to do while he was trying to have a conversation with this person,” she said. “He’s a 10-year-old, right? However, you’re really never too young to express yourself.  He said to this person, ‘But that’s my name on the box.’”

Despite the demands of running a growing business, Colton said he makes time to enjoy activities with friends, including baseball, football and his involvement in 4-H.

Knowing where food comes from  

Colton said he cares about his hens and carries that out in his business.

“I take good care of them,” he said. “I don’t want them to live in a factory. I want people to know where their food is coming from and where the eggs they buy are coming from versus [buying them at] a grocery store.” 

Monica said watching Colton build his business has been an opportunity to see his confidence and character grow.

She said his ability to tell their story reflects the confidence he has gained through the process. 

“That’s the key initiative behind our store, Schwittay Harmony Market, known for its farm-fresh products and all Wisconsin-based foods like honey and maple syrups while also offering same-day delivery,” she said. “One of our basic reasons behind why we got our wholesale meat license initially, and then we got our retail license, was because we wanted people to be able to buy direct.”

Monica said Colton already understands the importance of knowing where food comes from and the value of connecting directly with customers. 

“It is a value that is very near and dear to us,” she said. “My husband, Jeremy, and I just sit back and watch him now. When we hear Colton talking to people, it’s like he’s really encompassed the same values we have tried to instill in our kids. He sincerely cares about his work, taking good care of his hens. He wants customers to know [what they produce] is nutritious.  He takes pride in what he does.”

See schwittayharmonymarket.com for more information.