I had an absolutely awful experience with Laura and her business. In fact, this may have been the worst experience I've had as a customer, anywhere, ever. I had been in touch with Laura for a couple weeks about buying two pullets. She said I could come by July 3rd at 1pm. We were coming from the east bay, and after realizing the traffic was getting increasing worse on CA-17, I texted her and asked if I could come by at 2pm instead. She said okay. My 73-year old mother and I were in bumper to bumper traffic for 2.5 hours, trying to make it to Laura's farm. My mom was in town from SoCal for July 4th, and came along for a fun mother-daughter adventure. We finally got there, around 2:25pm, exasperated from hours of traffic. I texted Laura, per her instructions, that I was there at the farm. She then texted me back that I was late, she was "eating lunch" now, and would not come out to greet us. I said I was very sorry, we had been in awful traffic for over two hours, and I couldn't text since I was driving. I asked if we could wait until she was done with lunch. She texted back saying she would not sell me chickens anymore, since I was so rude for being late and not asking my elderly mom to reach out from her phone, informing her of the minor delay. She also said I should have predicted the increasing traffic before we left. Keep in mind I was a brand new, paying customer, who had just traveled over two hours in stop-n-go traffic to get to her farm, for two pullets. I wanted to support a local farm, instead of a more commercialized operation. It was intended to be a nice outing with my mom, who I don't get to see often. We had devoted our entire day to this. We finally got there, and Laura was now refusing to come out, because we were nominally late, due to holiday traffic. I felt so embarrassed and bad for my mom, who agreed to accompany me on this super long drive, only to be met with bizarre, belligerent texts from Laura upon our arrival. Laura proceeded to send me several walls of unhinged texts, chastising me for wasting her time, how she swept and cleaned up the coop for us, we were so disrespectful for being late, and she had to "hold me accountable". We read these texts while standing in her empty parking lot, completely baffled. We don't know this woman, we had never met her or even spoken on the phone before. We were new, honest customers, who had driven 2.5 hours to see her business. We just wanted to buy a couple chickens. It was such a nonsensical, hostile and unprofessional interaction, I genuinely wondered if she was impaired. She was not fit to interact with a customer, and I seriously question her judgement to properly care for these animals. Then I had to drive the 1+ hour home (without traffic) and tell my kids I couldn't get the pullets, and they were so disappointed. Laura should seek professional help and take a course in customer service, at a minimum. I will be reaching out to the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, and letting them know of our experience. Update (7/7) - we told the story at one of our 4-H meetings over the weekend, and everyone was shocked. Several of them are livestock breeders and said it's possible the chickens we wanted were sick or deceased, and Laura realized that after we already left. We were recommended a different farm, and we got our healthy, beautiful chicks from there the next day (for 1/3 the price Laura was charging), and encountered zero issues. read more

Writing to save you the heartbreak of losing your chickens. Purchased 4 chicks from Laura in March, 3 have died of Mareks. Now the others in our flock are starting to show symptoms. I've talked to others who have had the SAME issue with their chickens from her. Even the vet was aware of this being a consistent problem with her farm. I trusted that she had so many positive reviews yet many in our community have had the same experience as me. Her chicks brought a disease into my healthy, thriving little flock and I'm heartbroken. Do not, I repeat, do not, buy your chicks from here. read more

Laura gave us a tour of her barns & flock. She was very knowledgeable and clearly loves what she does. Her barn was beautiful and all animals were very happy & healthy. I purchased 6 chicks and was given a lot of time to choose my girls. I will absolutely be back in the coming years! read more

All chicks had coccidiosis and 2 of the 6 chicks died from Mareks. I purchased 6 chicks from Laura at 4Acorns Farm on June 28, 2025. Within a week of bringing them home they had coccidiosis. I reached out to Laura, she responded with advice. I treated them and they were fine. End of August I reached out again, one of my chicks was sick, I sent two texts a couple days apart and Laura never responded to either. All I wanted was advice, I had never encountered this before. That chick died a few days later. Within a couple weeks another chick became ill. I was able to take her to the vet, she was diagnosed with Mareks, this was later confirmed via necropsy. Both chicks had the same symptoms, I just couldnt find a vet to see the first one in time before she passed. Laura advertises her chicks are vaccinated for Mareks and treated for coccidiosis. All of my chicks had coccidiosis and 2 of the 6 died of Mareks. The vet I went to is familiar with this farm and shared they have seen and treated several chickens who have been sick with Mareks. Given there are no recent reviews I felt it was important to share. I reached out to Laura with 4Acorns and she never responded. I think someone who truely cares about her business, reputation, and animals would respond. I have cared for my growing flock for several years purchased from both breeders and hatcheries none of my chicks have had an issue except for those purchased from 4Acorns. I believe that Laura may have some questionable vaccine practices. My hope is that she reads this (or my email) and improves her practices to sell healthy chicks. read more

I bought 6 birds from Four Acorns Farm in 2025. All but one died of Mareks. I'm writing this review now because it's come to my attention how widespread this issue has been in our community--even multiple local vet clinics are aware of this issue. I have reported this occurrence to CDFA and encourage others who have had the same experience to do so. read more

4 Acorns farm was a wonderful experience! We just purchased 9 chicks from the farm and the service and education was fantastic! The farm was clean and well organized. Chickens were very well kept and all happy and friendly. They had many different breeds of chickens and some rare and interesting ones. Laura, the owner, was very informative and focused on educating us about the different breeds she keeps flocks of and how to care for and keep the chickens. She was also wonderful with my kids and helped teach them at a level they could understand. Clean, friendly, and educational. I've already shared the farm's name with my local feed store who were very excited to learn about a high quality chicken breeder in our area and will definitely recommend 4 Acorns to anyone in the market for chickens! read more

I just purchased 2 Black Star pullets from Laura today. great facility, she's very knowledgeable about all breeds. we have had chickens for 6 years now. she taught me everything I didn't know. High recommend Four Acorn Farms! read more

We took a Backyard Chicken Keeping 101 class with Laura through the Cabrillo Extension program. The class was fantastic, and we came back to Laura when we were ready to start our flock. We purchased 5 chicks, and at around 6 months old, two of them died of Marek's disease, which was confirmed through necropsy by UC Davis. We purchased an additional four birds, and of those 4, one died within the first week, and we just lost another again to Mareks at about 6 months old. The owner, Laura, is very knowledgeable and seems to care a lot about raising chickens. She advertises her chickens as vaccinated for Marek's, and I do believe her. However, the amount of loss we have seen is not consistent with proper vaccination protocols, so I suspect something about her vaccination process must be wrong. Losing these chickens has been heartbreaking for us, and for a while, I felt like we were doing something wrong. I wanted to share this experience in case others have lost young, healthy chickens from this farm. read more

Laura, farm owner, truly cares and it shows! She gave us a wonderful tour of her immaculate facility and introduced us to the entire adult flock. They are all so beautiful and well cared for! Then Laura took us into the hatchery. I'm not equipped for chicks. Laura helped me choose the best pullets for my flock. I definitely recommend Four Acorns Farm for anyone searching for quality chicks & pullets. read more

I purchased some chicks from Laura and was very impressed. Her birds are absolutely beautiful and friendly. One of the Cochin chicks I bought jumped right into my lap & made herself comfortable as soon as we got home. I mean, c'mon! So cute. Laura was very professional and knowledgeable. She has a great set up and really cares about her flock. Thanks Laura! read more

Four Acorns Farm - Super cute Cochin chick - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

I purchased 6 chicks almost 4 months ago from Four Acorns Farm. I was referred to Laura by a friend and was very pleased with the whole experience. Laura runs a fantastic operation and takes great pride in her work. I love my ladies! read more

Four Acorns Farm - a group of chicks - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

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I went to Four Acorns Farm today to purchase chicks, and Laura was amazing! We got a variety of chicks, and all were beautiful. We were able to get Cuckoo Marans, Buff Laced Polish, Delaware, Ameraucanas, and Lavender Orpingtons. All were healthy and vaccinated for Mareks. Laura does a great job and she is extremely helpful and experienced. Great place to purchase, I highly recommend! read more

Four Acorns Farm - a box full of chicks - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

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Great place to buy chickens! This is our second time buying from Laura and we couldn't be more pleased. She is very professional and informative and has such a great variety of chicks. Our hens grew up to be so healthy and beautiful. Thanks Laura! read more

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Truly amazing! I was very nervous to start my flock. I was looking to find some chicks that would not only produce some eggs for us but also be a part of our little family. Laura provided us with the most beautiful chicks, but our incredible experience didn't end there. Laura took time to share her invaluable knowledge. We were gifted great tips on how to care for our chicks, tips on future care for our chickens, and info about breeds. We could not have asked for a better place to get started. Thank you so much, Laura! read more

Four Acorns Farm - a small bird in a cage - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

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I found Laura on Craigslist then shortly afterwards on Facebook. We had to socially distance ourselves due to COVID but it was still an amazing experience. Her set up is amazing and its obvious that she takes pride in her flock and how they are cared for. We picked up two little ladies and cant wait to see them grow into our backyard flock. I would definitely purchase from her in the future. read more

My friend and I both had a poor experience at the basket weaving class at Four Acorns Farm this year. While I appreciate the teacher's intent, she chose a level 3 basket for a first-timers class and none of the 12 students came close to completing the basket in the six-hour class. In the end, I threw away the materials because I wasn't skilled enough to complete the basket at home. Also, there is only one bathroom and it is in the teacher's house, so you are only allowed to use it during designated breaks or with special permission. We had a lunch break but we didn't really have enough time to eat because we were still trying to complete the basket at that time, not knowing it wasn't going to be possible. I would be very cautious spending $145 (plus we paid another $25 for the actual kit so the $145 is just for the lesson) to take a class where you won't leave with even a basket. The class is in the barn so dress appropriately for the weather. read more

Would highly recommend Four Acorns Farm if you're looking to buy chicks. The birds are healthy, the farm is super clean, and Laura can answer any questions you may have if you're a beginner. If you're not new to chickens, you should definitely check her out because she has some amazing breeds! read more

We were very excited to have our first backyard chicken and I found Laura's post on Craigslist. Her chicken looks healthy and well taken cared of and most importantly sexed. I cannot keep a rooster so I decided to contact her. When we went I was blown away how beautiful and elegant her garden and coops are. Not like other smelly and dirty coops I would imagine. Laura is patiently explained all the different chicken she has and also answers my chicken raise 101 questions. I feel very well supported and knows where to go if I will have any questions. Very happy to find her read more

I would second everything noted by C.M. In fact, this person may have been in the same class as me, as I took the class on March 9, 2019. Class is 3 hours, very informative, and small enough to allow for answers to all questions (10 participants max). Getting to see Laura's setup is really helpful, and I ended up completely plagiarizing her feeder system. Taking the class may have also helped me avoid sick chicks. During class, Laura mentioned that she does not recommend keeping chicks in cardboard boxes, which I had been doing for the prior couple of weeks. Immediately after the class, I went home and punched holes in the cardboard box to increase ventilation, until I was able to procure the kind of wire cage that she recommends. My chicks never got sick, but it's possible they would've had I not attended this class. Lastly, at $30 per person, her class is quite reasonably priced. I had originally planned to take the class offered by Love Apple Farms, but because they only offer it once a year, in June, I decided to take this class instead. I am glad I did - it was a fantastic class, and more reasonably priced to boot. read more

I recently got some beautiful giant Cochin chicks from Four Acorns Farm. While picking them up I got a tour of the beautiful property and chicken coops. All the chickens were very well cared and very clean. Laura was knowledgeable and able to answer all my questions. So happy with these babies and looking forward to purchasing more chicks in the future! read more

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Definitely my go to person from now on. She has hard to find breeds and she also has a beautiful flock. She is very knowledgeable and teaches classes too! We went on a rainy day with my crazy littles and she was great with them. I highly recommend her if you're thinking of starting up a flock or expanding it. read more

Four Acorns Farm - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

I wish to add to the positive reviews! I purchased two pullets from Laura. I am impressed with her professional operation, and the beauty of her birds! I hope to buy again. Thank you! read more

We purchased 2 Cream Legbar Pullets from Four Acorns Farm and we could not be happier with our new additions! Both our pullets are beautiful and healthy. Laura was very professional and answered all of our questions, she gave us the best tips when it came to integrating the new pullets with our existing flock. I would highly recommend purchasing chickens of all ages and breeds from Four Acorns Farm! Thanks Laura! read more

Bought 7 eggs from Laura and all hatched! Beautiful chicks. This was my first time hatching and was surprised we had a 100% hatch rate!

Five ! Thank you Laura for such an array of beautiful eggs, all 12 arrived in perfect condition and in perfect timing! The packing of the eggs was safety first and the extra chick stickers and highlighted marking on box to alert postal service was above and beyond! We are on day 2 of incubation and can't wait to meet our newest additions to our coop, The Feathered Fanny! read more

Four Acorns Farm - eggs in an egg carton - Farmers Market Near Me - Aptos, California

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We took the beginning chicken class this weekend and it was full of very helpful information. She has a beautiful coop and her chickens are obviously well cared for and look beautiful and healthy. She has so much knowledge and experience but organizes the class as to not overwhelm you. Great class size so you felt like you could ask plenty of questions. We will definitely be back to buy some beautiful and healthy chickens once we are ready. read more

I have had a back yard flock for the past 7 years. I bought hatching eggs last year from Four Acorns Farm. When you really love your chickens - you know quality birds when you see them. I bought some hatching eggs and had 100% hatch rate on these birds. My chicks were adorable and the layers of very nice dark eggs - Thank for the Marans! read more

We picked up four gorgeous chicks (practicing social distancing of course!) from Laura last week. I was sad we couldn't visit her other girls, but we'll be back for that later. We are so happy with our chicks, healthy, lively, and obviously in great health. The whole process was super easy! read more

I recently bought three day-old Splash Marans from Four Acorns Farm. I'm a repeat customer as I was super happy with our previous Splash Maran hen that we bought. She lays the darkest brown eggs and is the sweetest chicken. Laura was great in helping me get our new chicks on the day we needed them to integrate into our flock. I highly recommend Four Acorns Farm. read more

I picked up four little chicks from Laura two weeks ago. They are doing great and she made the whole process easy as pie. She responded to my Facebook messages in a timely manner and had a quick easy, socially-distanced process for picking up the chicks. She is also quite knowledgable about chickens. I was happy to be able to get my chicks from a local farm from someone who obviously cares for her big flock! read more

We recently purchased eight chicks from Four Acorns Farms and could not be happier!!! All chicks are healthy and thriving. Pick up was extremely easy and very COVID conscious. Laura was so helpful in answering all of my chicken questions. I highly recommend Four Acorns Farms and hope to purchase more chicks from them when we are ready to expand our flock! read more

I took a 3 hour beginner chickens class and Laura was so informative and hospitable! She provided a packet to follow along, let us see her coops, and have first choice of chicks she had for sale. We got to hold a chick also. The class was 10 people, so not too large. Just right to ask questions and keep the content moving. read more