A lifestyle hobby has turned into a thriving business for a North Canterbury family.
Five years ago, Cheviot residents Kobus and Julie Venter purchased a dozen hens for their son Jack.
Kobus spoke to RNZ about why they started the busienss and how it's going:
Their flock now numbers more than 1000 and they lay about 200 dozen eggs a week.
The eggs go to restaurants and cafes in Kaikoura, Amberley, Cheviot and Christchurch.
"Before we actually started we came up with the concept of Jack's Eggs," Kobus said.
"Jack, our son, who has down syndrome, we had a few chickens down the road when we were living at another house ... and he took a bit of interest in that and then we moved into this place and decided to do a commercial business for our son to take over one day."
He said Jack was "pretty chuffed" to have his name attached to the business.
The family has about 1150 chickens on the property at the moment.
"They will be reasdy to lay eggs in about two or three weeks from now."
Kobus, who emigrated to Canterbury from Zimbawe, says the biggest selling point for the business is the freshness of their eggs.
