Organic Farm!! Free-range chickens lay good eggs!! Introduction
Walking into the rural path of Lufeng Village in Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County, the large sign "Youzhu Farm" is written on the outer wall of a house. The first thing that catches the eye in the farm is a series of tall towers storing soybean feed. As you get closer, you will discover five chicken coops scattered throughout, some housing chicks, while others are for egg-laying hens. At the same time, numerous chickens are running in the open space beside the coops, each one cherished by the farm's second-generation owner, Luo Youzhu. Under 30 years old, Luo Youzhu is a local Hakka from Hsinchu County. He grew up watching his father, Luo Shilong, raise chickens and has always had a deep affection for them. After his military service, Luo Youzhu briefly worked in sales for a year, but the pressure of the job led him to decide to return home and help out, beginning his journey in chicken farming. Friendly farming for happy egg-laying. The Luo family initially raised indigenous chickens. One day, a salesperson selling eggs visited and mentioned that the market for eggs was good, which sparked Luo Youzhu's interest in raising laying hens since there were some unused coops at home. "A family that raises chickens just wants to raise everything," Luo Youzhu laughed. Thus, both he and his father ventured into the field of egg-laying chicken farming. From unfamiliarity to gradually gaining experience, Youzhu Farm is now fully dedicated to raising laying hens and has become the family's "happy farm." What sets Youzhu Farm apart is its use of a free-range method to raise laying hens, as this treatment is typically reserved for meat chickens. "Why do laying hens have to stay in cages day and night to lay eggs? It makes you uncomfortable just looking at it." Believing that treating chickens kindly leads to good eggs, Luo Youzhu insists on the principle of "ethically sourced," treating the chickens humanely even if the free-range approach seems economically less efficient. The farm’s egg collection boxes are designed for automatic collection, ensuring that the eggs do not fall and reducing contamination without washing them. How to get these hens, accustomed to running around freely, to lay eggs in their designated boxes? When hens are about to lay eggs, they tend to crouch down and remain still, at which point they need to be placed in the nesting boxes to help them get used to laying eggs there. Facing thousands of chickens, this training period can last one to two months, repeating this action from morning till night, making the effort palpable. Homemade!! Non-toxic, healthy feed for happy chickens. Entering Youzhu Farm's feed mixing warehouse, a variety of ingredients are piled inside. Staff weigh the ingredients one by one before mixing them, which are then delivered to the coops for the chickens’ enjoyment. Starting with his father, Luo Shilong, who tried researching feed formulation, Luo Youzhu continued to adjust it after taking over, changing the formula more than thirty times, including discovering how different components affect eggshell thickness and yolk color. "Just like cooking at home, rice is certainly the main dish." The feed at Youzhu Farm is primarily based on grains, with added trace elements, seaweed, and probiotics, and each batch requires time to perfect the ratio. Luo Youzhu believes this is like a mother cooking at home, knowing exactly what ingredients are used and where they come from. By avoiding synthetic chemical additives and being meticulous about the feed, Youzhu’s eggs have become more natural and non-toxic, earning recognition from many customers amid frequent food safety issues. Taking steady steps!! Facing challenges in marketing. Initially, transitioning from indigenous chickens to laying hens not only meant losing existing customers, but young Luo Youzhu encountered skepticism from egg distributors, who thought he was just playing around and questioned how long he could sustain his efforts. Later, a chance encounter led him to the "Taiwan Animal Society Research Association," an organization emphasizing friendly farming practices, which introduced Youzhu Farm’s non-toxic eggs to many organic stores, helping to solve some of the distribution issues. Furthermore, Luo Youzhu actively participated in many small farmer markets to communicate one-on-one with consumers, saying, "I often tell consumers that while a dozen eggs may seem expensive, there is much value in them that you cannot see." Slowly and steadily building the market, Youzhu's eggs are now available at various locations, including direct sales points for young farmers and organic stores in Hsinchu County. "In tough times, I remind myself of the reason I persisted: the joy of collecting my first egg." In each egg, Luo Youzhu finds meaning in his existence and strives to share this simple happiness with more people.
