From the Netherlands to the slovenian hills: The story of an ostrich farm and its cooperation with De Heus

The turning point came in 2018 during a holiday in Slovenia. They were captivated by the landscape, the tranquility, and the natural rhythm of life. After returning to the Netherlands, they realized they no longer wanted to continue their existing lifestyle. The decision was bold: they sold their house and bought a beautiful old homestead in the Savinja region of Slovenia, in the small village of Blatni Vrh, where they established an ostrich farm. Since August 2024, they have been writing a new chapter of their lives there – as farmers.

The farm covers 12 hectares of meadows and forests, surrounded by rolling hills. The nearest shop is a 25-minute drive away, which only emphasizes the peace and remoteness of the location. The homestead includes three farm buildings. One of them previously served as a cowshed and has now been converted into a stable for young ostriches. They have also built a shelter and a large enclosure for older birds to ensure they have enough space to move. “An ostrich needs to expend energy and have access to fresh pasture,” they explain.

Although they had no prior farming experience, they believed that with enough determination and common sense, they could learn everything they needed. They brought their first ostriches from Belgium in November 2024. Today, they cooperate with local breeders in Slovenia to reduce the stress associated with long-distance animal transport.

Each of them has a specific role on the farm. Kirsten primarily takes care of the animals – feeding, cleaning the stables, and daily care. Niels handles repairs, construction work, and building renovations. The most demanding period is summer, when they need to mow the meadows and prepare hay for winter.

Ostrich farming attracted them not only as a new lifestyle but also as a business opportunity. They consider ostrich meat to be exceptionally tasty and high-quality. Their goal is to offer a fair product and maintain control over the entire process. That is why they are working on building their own slaughter facility, so they can process the animals themselves, with maximum emphasis on animal welfare.

In the future, they also plan to sell ostrich eggs. One ostrich egg is equivalent to approximately 23 chicken eggs and can be used to make up to 80 pancakes. In addition to culinary use, the eggs are popular as decorative items thanks to their strong shells and unique appearance. Their products are offered in their own small farm shop, and more information can be found on their website www.ostrichfarmslovenia.com and on social media (www.facebook.com/ostrich.farm.slovenia).

High-quality animal nutrition plays a key role in their success. Since November 2024, they have been cooperating with De Heus, which supplies them with Energys Hobby ostrich feed. In the beginning, they faced a problem with overweight animals, probably due to different feed management practices. They therefore turned to their supplier. Thanks to De Heus’s international background, consultations were held with experts from South Africa, where there is extensive experience in ostrich nutrition. Based on these insights, the feed formula was adjusted to match the specific conditions of the farm.

The result is healthy growth and thriving animals. Kirsten especially appreciates the personal approach: “We always have the same contact person who knows what is happening on our farm. They think in context and arrange everything perfectly.” Thanks to this cooperation, Niels and Kirsten can fully focus on developing their farm, confident that the quality of the feed and the health of their ostriches are in good hands.

The story of Kirsten and Niels proves that the courage to change one’s life, the willingness to learn new things, and strong mutual support can lead to the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.