Bay Head Resident Opening Egg Farm in Point Borough

Like many people, Bay Head resident Sally Minella ("Sal" to her friends) found she had extra time on her hands during quarantine. "Working from home, I had at least two extra hours a day that used to be devoted to commuting and ironing pants. I realized that I should try to use the time to do something that I had always dreamed of." said Minella. 

"As long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a farmer," she said. "My grandfather owned a small farm and I loved spending time there as a girl. But now, after spending 30 years in a career in finance, I realized that the lure of  a farm never left me." Minella decided to setup a coop and get two chickens. She called them Lucy and Ethel and in no time they were providing fresh eggs. Minella was ecstatic. "It may only have been two chickens, but every time I collected an egg, I felt like a real farmer!"

Minella loved the experience so much that she decided two chickens weren't enough. She became determined to create a real egg business, but she didn't want to move  from her home. "It wouldn't have been practical to create a chicken farm in Bay Head, but then I saw the ordinance regarding chickens in Point Borough," she said. Minella found that Point Pleasant Borough allowed up to 12 chickens on a residential property. She located an empty lot that was already zoned for five residences and was only minutes away from her home. She purchased the land and was then able to start building her farm. 

"I had to keep the properties separate to stay within the law, so I fenced off each lot and installed one coop on each. I put in some storage sheds, a pre-fab office space with room to package the eggs, and I was good to go," said Minella. In honor of her late grandfather, Johnny Rottinn, she called her new business Rottinn Egg Farm. "He would be so happy that there is another Rottinn Farm in the family."

Minella's husband, Sol, has been very supportive of his wife's project. "I'm so proud of Sal," he said. "People who know her always say, 'Sal Minella's enthusiasm is infectious!' and they're right. She's been working at a fevered pitch on her little farm, putting all of herself into it. I can guarantee that every egg that comes out of her farm will have a little Sal Minella in it!"

Minella plans to have Point Pleasant Borough's first working egg farm up and running before Memorial Day. With 60 hens laying, she is hopeful to average 30-50 eggs a day. She will then sell the eggs onsite or at area farmer's markets. She's confident that everyone will love Rottinn Eggs.

Minella expects to have hens delivered to her little farm in April so they have a chance to settle in and get to laying before the summer. Many of her friends are anxious to try her eggs before her business even opens. "I don't really mind," said Minella. "I know that once they try truly fresh eggs, they'll be back for more."

Rottinn Eggs will sell for $8 a dozen, which Minella believes is a bargain for farm fresh eggs. "When you visit  a local farmer's market this summer, and you've put all your purchases in your bag, be sure that the last one in is a Rottinn Egg. You won't be disappointed."