Our story

Haven Hatchery began with a boy.

Before there were quail, there were chickens — and before Haven Hatchery had a name, it had a heartbeat.

Our family’s journey began on a small patch of land in Weir, Mississippi, where Uncle Ra Ra (my brother), Nanny, and Papaw raised a noisy, colorful flock of chickens. Eggs filled the kitchen counter. Feathers danced on the breeze. And our American Bully farm dogs kept watch like gentle giants, guarding every coop and corner of our lives.

Then came Haven.

Born at just under a pound — the size of a soda can, no bigger than my hand — my son entered the world fighting for every breath. He was born on a wing and a prayer, about the size of the very quail we now raise. Fragile, silent, and full of unspoken strength.

He spent the first eight months of his life in the NICU. Monitors beeped. Tubes tangled. But he survived. And even now, he fights every day to grow, to be understood, to find his place in a world that doesn’t always speak his language.

Tiny But Mighty

When Haven was two, we received his autism diagnosis. Therapies came next — speech, sensory, feeding — and the days grew long. In those quiet, exhausted spaces between appointments, we found a new kind of healing… in feathers.

Quail became our new chickens. Smaller, quieter, gentler. They didn’t just fill our brooder trays — they filled our hearts. Like Haven, they were tiny but mighty. And under just the right warmth, they thrived.

So did he.

From Love to Legacy

We didn’t plan to start a hatchery. But something beautiful was growing: a rhythm, a peace, a purpose. As our flocks expanded, so did our team — including Tammy, whose decades of poultry experience became the perfect complement to our family’s heart and hands. She brought not just knowledge, but love — and she became part of the story, too.

Together, we raise rare Coturnix and Bobwhite lines, heritage chickens, and jarfuls of Southern flavor — but more than that, we raise hope.

This Is Haven Hatchery

This farm is more than a business. It’s a home, a healing space, a legacy in progress. It’s a place where my son can sit in the sun with a feather in hand and feel proud of what he’s helped build.

And now — it’s yours, too.

Whether you’re here to hatch, to help, or just to hold a little piece of this journey in your heart — welcome to the flock.

With gratitude,
Mandi Smith
Founder & Haven’s Mamma

Black and white illustration of a country grown flower.

Pencil drawing of a person with coturnix quail on their head and shoulders, surrounded by more quail and eggs. The person wears glasses and has medium-length hair.

Illustration of a man in a cowboy hat and a young child with curly hair and glasses sitting on the ground. They are holding baskets of eggs, and the child is gently holding a chick.

He was born no bigger than a quail.
No heavier than hope.
But he fought — and so did we.

From the NICU to the nest box, Haven’s journey is the heart behind every egg we gather.
Our farm grew from backyard chickens to rare quail — each one tiny but mighty, just like him.

Every hatch is a little healing.
Every life here is a quiet miracle.

Thank you for holding a piece of our story in your hands.

Person lying down with sleeping baby using a nasal tube, both covered with a beige blanket.

Feathers, Family, & a Future Rooted in Hope

Whether you’re just beginning your homestead adventure or have soil beneath your nails and stories to share, you’re welcome here. On our small patch of land in Weir, Mississippi, every feather tells a story — one of healing, heritage, and heart.

At Haven Hatchery, we lovingly raise:

Heritage chickens, each with personality and purpose, offering beautiful eggs and a connection to tradition.
Color-rich Coturnix quail, including elegant celadons and rare ginger lines, carefully chosen for both beauty and egg-laying ability.
Bobwhite quail, wild at heart and raised with care, honoring Mississippi roots and bringing the outdoors in.

Every hatch is part of a larger journey — not just toward sustainable living, but toward a legacy built by a little boy, his family, and the quiet miracles that began with hope and grew wings.

A group of five people, including a baby, posing outside a building. The baby is wearing a red hat and shirt. The adults are smiling and dressed in casual clothing. There is greenery and part of the building visible in the background.

“From the smallest beginnings come the greatest stories. Just like Haven, our resilient namesake, who defied odds and found joy in the simple embrace of nature and animals. At Haven Hatchery, every story is a testament to triumph, resilience, and the beauty of life’s simple pleasures.”

— The Smith Family