Building a new life in Slovenia with a growing ostrich farm
For Niels van Gerven and Kirsten Claessens, life used to look very different. Born in the Netherlands, Niels worked as an optometrist while Kirsten built her career as a process manager in international companies. In 2016 they met, discovered they shared the same dreams, and soon imagined a new life — one closer to nature and far away from the daily rush. During a holiday in Slovenia in 2018, they fell in love with the landscape and the peacefulness of the Savinja region. In 2024, they took the leap. They sold their home in the Netherlands, moved to a secluded farmstead in the village of Blatni Vrh, and started building something completely new: their own ostrich farm.
The story behind the farm
The farm they purchased includes 12 hectares of meadows and forest, along with three outbuildings. One of these was once a cow shed. With a clear vision and a lot of determination, Niels and Kirsten transformed it into a suitable housing area for young ostriches. They later built a second, larger shed to give older birds more space to run — essential for a healthy and active flock.
Their first ostriches arrived from Belgium in November 2024. Since then, they have started building contacts with local Slovenian farms to buy young birds closer to home, reducing transport stress and supporting local cooperation.
Although they had no farming background, they both believed that with common sense, hard work and a willingness to learn, they could succeed. “Doing it for real is different from reading about it,” Kirsten says, “but with trial and error, we gained confidence.”
Today, they keep 10 ostriches of around 18 months old and 23 younger birds aged seven months. Caring for the animals is Kirsten’s daily focus, while Niels handles repairs, construction and the renovation of the property. Summer is their busiest season, when hay must be cut and stored to feed the birds during winter.
Challenges and first contact with De Heus
As new farmers, one of their most important concerns was feeding the ostriches correctly. Slovenia offered no suitable ostrich feed, and they wanted high‑quality nutrition with all essential ingredients included. Through their search, Kirsten found Energys feed — produced by De Heus in the Czech Republic — and contacted the company.
Since November 2024, De Heus has supplied the pellets needed for the birds’ daily diet. However, after a few months Niels and Kirsten noticed their ostriches were becoming overweight. Unsure about the cause, they reached out to their De Heus contact.
This is when the strength of an international company made a real difference. The specialist immediately discussed the situation with colleagues in South Africa, who have extensive experience in ostrich nutrition. Together, they reassessed the feeding approach and adjusted the feed formula to better suit the conditions on the Slovenian farm.
Working together to drive progress
For Niels and Kirsten, the support from De Heus has brought peace of mind. “The personal contact is what we appreciate most,” Kirsten explains. “We always speak to the same person, someone who knows our situation well. He thinks along in solutions and arranges everything perfectly.”
Thanks to the adjusted feed and ongoing communication with the specialists, they now know their birds receive exactly what they need to grow in a healthy and balanced way.
“I am very glad that I got to know De Heus because this way I don’t have to worry about the quality of the feed and the health of our animals.”
Kirsten ClaessenS
An ostrich farm on the rise
With improved feed management and the right nutritional support, the ostriches are now thriving. “Our birds receive the right feed so they can grow up and prosper healthy,” Kirsten says. The farm is also growing beyond live animals. Niels and Kirsten have plans to open their own small slaughterhouse, allowing them to process their birds locally and guarantee the fairness and quality of their meat. They love animals, but they also love producing a natural product with care and respect. Alongside ostrich meat, they plan to offer ostrich eggs — perfect for cooking, crafting or decoration. As Kirsten explains with a smile: “Did you know one ostrich egg equals 23 chicken eggs? You can make 80 pancakes from one!”
Looking to the future
Niels and Kirsten are still at the beginning of their farming journey, but their goals are clear:
- grow a healthy, thriving ostrich farm
- sell fair, high‑quality products
- ensure full control of production, from feed to final processing
- share their story through their website and social media.
Related topics:
