Our Story
Discover our journey from humble beginnings to Talking Hens in Merricks.
Now
Talking Hens is a family business with a passion for innovation, education, and sustainability. Founded by Jason Nethercott and Giuliana Postregna in 2012 on the family farm in Keysborough, the business relocated in 2018 to the village of Merricks on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Now focusing purely on the needs of urban backyard chicken keepers, the award-winning business supports and stays connected with its customers via weekly emails, shop visits, workshops, social media posts and in-person deliveries of products. The business is blessed with wonderful customers who are open to learning and want to provide the very best experience for their children, grandchildren, and backyard chicken flocks.
Our History
Talking Hens was built upon the legacy of Giuliana’s father, Agostino Postregna (Gus), a Northern Italian immigrant. Gus arrived off the ship at Melbourne’s dockyards in 1952 with nothing but a suitcase and a dream of a better life for his family. From his tough beginnings at Bonegilla immigration camp, Gus would go on to start a family with all children involved in the egg farming industry in one way or another.
Gus laid the foundations that enabled Talking Hens to be established in the same year that he and his wife Alma passed. Both Jason and Giuliana gained a lot of experience and learned valuable lessons from free-range egg farming but completely moved away from it in 2017 to focus exclusively on the needs of families keeping backyard hens.
Family Values
Both Giuliana and her husband Jason are from an educational background and love talking to and interacting with customers. Warmly welcoming families to the farm is always a joy and they love watching the excitement of children seeing the hens, often for the first time.
Supporting, encouraging, and providing best practice information to families is a priority along with answering any and all questions. Staff are thoroughly trained, friendly, and approachable so that they are able to provide expert advice and support for families both new and experienced in keeping backyard chickens.
Sustainability
Circular economy principles are at the heart of the business, with a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly practices. Working on new ways to produce high-quality products using hemp and hempcrete, recycled wood and 3D Printing with metal and plant-based plastics are just some of the materials and technology that the business has been using. Talking Hens is constantly searching for new, more sustainable practices, using locally made, high-quality, and recyclable materials wherever possible.
1000+ 5 Star Reviews
Australian Born & Bred
Sustainability Focused
Industry Leaders (10+ years)
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