Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. We do not sell or assign ownership of individual hens.

    Our flock is cared for as one shared community flock, with Flock Steward households working together to provide year-round care for all of the hens.

    Rather than purchasing or adopting a single chicken, Stewards share the responsibility of caring for the entire flock.

    If you're looking for a way to be involved, there are many opportunities to participate. You can apply to become a Flock Steward become a Collective Member, volunteer as a Heritage Helper, support the project through sponsorships, attend community events, participate in Heritage Egg Share Drawings, or, when available, sponsor the naming of a hen.

  • The Heritage Hen Collective was intentionally designed as one shared community flock rather than a collection of individually owned chickens.

    This approach creates a healthier, more sustainable program for everyone involved. Instead of each person being responsible for a single hen, the Flock Steward households work together to care for the entire flock. The hens receive consistent, high-quality care every day, responsibilities are shared, vacations are covered, and no one person carries the full burden of chicken keeping.

    A shared stewardship model also reflects the mission of the Heritage Hen Collective. Our goal isn't simply to provide chickens—it's to preserve a historic coop, build community, create educational opportunities, and care for the flock together.

    By caring for one shared flock, every Steward develops a relationship with all of the hens, not just one. The flock becomes a shared responsibility and a shared experience, which is at the heart of what makes the Heritage Hen Collective unique.

  • No. The Heritage Hen Collective is not approved for retail egg sales, and our project approvals do not permit us to sell eggs.

    The Heritage Hen Collective is a community-based preservation and education project centered around a stewardship model, where those who share in the work, share in the harvest.

    Flock Stewards receive their weekly egg shares first, and whenever surplus eggs are available, they are shared with the community through Heritage Egg Share Drawings using Heritage Credits.

  • Heritage Credits are our way of saying thank you to the people who help make our shared community flock possible.

    Members, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and others who support the Heritage Hen Collective can earn Heritage Credits through a variety of activities and contributions.

    Those credits can then be used to enter weekly Heritage Egg Share Drawings when surplus eggs are available, as well as other special drawings and member rewards throughout the year.

    Before the flock arrives, supporters can also earn Founding Heritage Credits. These special credits recognize the people who help bring the Heritage Hen Collective to life and will be distributed throughout the first year after the flock opens, giving early supporters a head start in weekly drawings and other rewards.

    We'll continue adding new ways to earn and use Heritage Credits as the Heritage Hen Collective grows.

  • After the Flock Stewards receive their weekly egg shares, any surplus eggs are made available to the community through our Heritage Egg Share Drawings.

    Supporters earn Heritage Credits by participating in meaningful ways, such as becoming a Collective Member, volunteering, donating, or contributing in other ways. These Heritage Credits are then used as entries into our weekly Heritage Egg Share Drawings.

    This system allows us to thank and reward the people who help sustain the Heritage Hen Collective while ensuring that the flock remains community-supported and the egg harvest is shared fairly.

  • Absolutely! In fact, many of the first Heritage Credits will be earned before the hens ever arrive.

    As we prepare for the flock, there will be many ways to earn Founding Heritage Credits, including becoming a Collective Member, joining the Founders Club, sponsoring a Featured Space, volunteering your time, participating in special activities, and supporting the Heritage Hen Collective in other meaningful ways.

    Founding Heritage Credits are a special thank-you for helping build the Heritage Hen Collective from the very beginning. Unlike regular Heritage Credits, which are earned and used on a monthly basis after the flock arrives, Founding Heritage Credits will be distributed throughout the first year after opening, giving early supporters a full year of opportunities to enter Heritage Egg Share Drawings and other member rewards.

    We'll continue adding new opportunities to earn Heritage Credits as our community grows.

  • The Heritage Hen Collective is a community preservation, education, and stewardship program located at historic Trimborn Farm.

    Under the current zoning regulations for the property, hens are permitted as part of an approved educational use.

    We work closely with the Greendale Health Department, which oversees all aspects of the operation to help ensure the flock is managed responsibly and in accordance with all applicable health and safety requirements.

    This partnership allows the Heritage Hen Collective to provide educational experiences, preserve an important piece of local history, and create opportunities for community involvement while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and public health.

  • Right now we're raising the funds needed to stabilize the historic coop, build the enclosed run, purchase equipment, and prepare for the arrival of our shared flock.

    Every membership, donation, sponsorship, volunteer hour, and Founders Club contribution brings us one step closer to opening day.

    Visit our Ways You Can Help page to learn more.

  • Yes! The Heritage Hen Collective is located at Historic Trimborn Farm, which is a County owned property and open to the public during regular county park hours. Visitors are encouraged to visit.

    Once the hens arrive, they will spend the daytime in their outdoor enclorure, where they are fully visible to the public.

    Throughout the season we'll also offer community open houses, educational programs, guided tours, story times, special events, and seasonal activities.

    (Please note: the hens are not currently located at Trimborn Farm. There is much work to do before we can welcome them to their new home)

  • We plan to welcome our first flock to the Heritage Hen Collective in Spring 2027.

    Before the hens can move into their new home, there's still a great deal of work to do. The historic coop must be stabilized and prepared, a secure predator-resistant chicken run must be constructed, fencing and safety features installed, equipment purchased, and the flock carefully selected and introduced.

    These improvements are being made possible through the generosity of our community. Every membership, sponsorship, volunteer hour, and donation helps move the project one step closer to welcoming the hens.

    We'll be sharing updates along the way so everyone can follow the progress and celebrate each milestone as we prepare to open the coop doors and welcome the flock to their historic home.

  • Welcoming the flock is the exciting finish line—but there's a lot of important work to do first.

    Before the hens can move into their new home, we must stabilize and prepare the historic coop, construct a secure predator-resistant chicken run, install fencing and other safety features, purchase equipment and supplies, recruit and train our Flock Stewards, and carefully select and prepare the flock.

    We're also raising the funds needed to complete these improvements while building the memberships, volunteer team, and community partnerships that will support the Heritage Hen Collective for years to come.

    While we are excited to begin operating, we're committed to doing it right. Our goal is to welcome the hens in Spring 2027, when everything is in place to provide them with a safe, healthy, and well-prepared home from day one.

  • Yes! Once the flock arrives in Spring 2027, opportunities to name one of our hens will become available. These will be offered separately and will help support the ongoing care of the flock and the Heritage Hen Collective.

    Whether you'd like to name a hen after a favorite person or in memory of someone special, naming one of our hens is a fun and meaningful way to become part of the Heritage Hen Collective's story. Each naming opportunity will be available through a one-time contribution that directly supports the care of the flock and the continued growth of the Heritage Hen Collective.

    We'll share more details about the naming program as we get closer to welcoming the hens to their new home.

  • Each Steward household is asked to:

    • Make a one-time onboarding contribution of $200 per household.

    • Contribute $65 per month to provide high quality feed and bedding and help support the ongoing care of the flock.

    • Commit to one scheduled care shift each week (approximately one hour), coordinated with the other Flock Stewards.

    • Work together with the Steward team to help cover vacations or unexpected schedule changes so the hens receive excellent care every day of the year.

    • Serve as ambassadors for the Heritage Hen Collective by sharing your enthusiasm for the project and, as your schedule allows, helping welcome visitors or assist with occasional community events and educational programs.

    Stewardship continues through every season—from the heat of summer to Wisconsin's cold winter months. While the commitment is meaningful, so are the rewards.

    In return, Flock Stewards enjoy the unique experience of caring for the Heritage Hen Collective's shared community flock alongside a small team of dedicated Stewards. They share the flock's weekly egg production together, with each Steward household receiving a guaranteed share as a thank-you for their ongoing commitment and care.

  • Only a limited number of people are needed to provide consistent weekly care. We plan to grow our flock after our first operating season, and will be opening additional Steward positions at that time.

  • Becoming a Flock Steward starts with submitting an application. Because the Heritage Hen Collective will have just six Flock Steward households, we want to learn a little about each applicant and make sure everyone understands the year-round commitment involved.

    Stewardship isn't first-come, first-served. Our goal is to build a dependable team of six households who are excited to work together in caring for our shared community flock.

    Please visit our Flock Stewardship page for all of the details and to apply.

  • An Annual Membership is a wonderful way to support the Heritage Hen Collective while becoming part of our growing community—no chicken care required!

    As a Collective Member, you'll receive:

    • Monthly Heritage Credits to enter weekly Heritage Egg Share Drawings and other member reward drawings throughout the year.

    • Member pricing or discounts on select workshops, classes, tours, and special events.

    • Priority registration for programs and experiences with limited space.

    • Exclusive member-only opportunities throughout the year.

    • Regular updates on the flock, the historic coop, and the exciting things happening at the Heritage Hen Collective.

    Most importantly, your membership helps preserve Greendale's historic chicken coop, care for our shared community flock, and make educational and community programs possible for everyone to enjoy.

    Please visit our Annual Membership page to learn more and to join.

More Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will the hens attract predators?

    Predators are a natural part of keeping chickens, which is why the Heritage Hen Collective has been designed with their safety in mind. The hens will be protected by a fully enclosed, predator-resistant run constructed with heavy-duty hardware cloth, secure doors, and overhead protection. The coop will be locked each night, and the property will include additional security measures such as cameras and routine monitoring to help keep the flock safe.

  • A properly managed chicken coop should not have a strong odor. The coop will be cleaned regularly, bedding will be replaced as needed, and good ventilation will help keep the environment healthy for both the hens and visitors. Maintaining a clean, attractive space is an important part of our stewardship commitment.

  • Cleanliness and biosecurity are top priorities. Flock Stewards follow dailyt cleaning routines, monitor the health of the hens, and follow established sanitation practices. Visitors who enter designated flock areas will be asked to follow simple biosecurity measures, such as using shoe covers and hand sanitizer, to help protect the health of the flock and themselves.

  • No. The Heritage Hen Collective will only keep hens. Without roosters, there will be no early morning crowing.

  • No. The hens will live in a secure coop and fully enclosed chicken run designed to keep them safe from predators while protecting the historic property and surrounding neighborhood. They will not be allowed to roam freely at any time.

  • Hens naturally make soft clucking sounds throughout the day, but they are much quieter than roosters. The Heritage Hen Collective will not have any roosters, so there will be no early morning crowing.

    Hens may cluck while foraging, communicate with one another, or announce that they have layed an egg. These sounds are a normal part of chicken behavior, only happen during the daytime hours, and are brief.

  • Our hens will live at the Heritage Hen Collective year-round—including during Wisconsin winters.

    Healthy chickens are naturally well adapted to cold weather. The historic coop will provide a dry, draft-free shelter, while deep bedding, proper ventilation, fresh water, and attentive daily care help keep the flock comfortable and healthy throughout the winter months.

    Flock Stewards care for the hens every day of the year, ensuring they have fresh food, unfrozen water, clean bedding, and regular health checks regardless of the weather. While egg production naturally slows during the shorter days of winter, the hens continue to enjoy a safe, comfortable home until spring arrives.