Don’t let the name fool you. My Big Little Farm may sound playful, but founder and CEO Lekgomo Malatjie means serious business when it comes to his quail. His urban farm in the heart of Johannesburg is making waves as a trusted supplier of quail birds and eggs, hatching 300 quails a week.
It may not look like much from the outside or inside, but this young entrepreneur is proving from a modest shack-like structure that success isn’t about where you start, but how you grow.
His business is a year old and Malatjie has wasted none of it. His eggs are in high demand at Chinese restaurants and supermarkets in Johannesburg, and he says health-conscious buyers across the country can’t get enough of them.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been hearing how much people are enjoying our quail eggs.”
At the beginning of 2025, the farm doubled its production capacity with over 1 000 quail hatches. They have also built new coops to accommodate the growing flock and expanded their supply chain to meet rising national demand.
“Knowing our work adds value to people’s lives keeps us motivated to grow and serve our community better every day,” explains Malatjie.
Cracking into major markets
In an article published on Food For Mzansi in 2024, Malatjie shares how he took a bold leap into farming, launching a backyard quail bird enterprise with no prior experience and he has never looked back.
Today, their markets for eggs vary from Chinese restaurants and supermarkets in Bruma and Rivonia.
“Some individuals [buyers are] from all over the country but mostly Limpopo who purchase the eggs for their medicinal properties and use them as a superfood,” he says.
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They also have a market for live birds, selling to farmers who purchase at various life stages from a week old to the point of lay.
“We are still trying to tap into the meat market, however, with our foot in the door, we are currently servicing household consumers in the Gauteng area with meat with a product of just 20kg of meat weekly.”
Levelling up and standing out
My Big Little Farm has also improved its infrastructure, including enhanced breeding facilities for quails and rabbits, further diversifying its offerings.
The farm is in the exciting process of outgrowing its backyard setup and transitioning into a full-fledged commercial farm in the next couple of months. This expansion, Malatjie explains, will not only increase capacity but also introduce new products like pickled quail eggs, adding even more value to the brand.
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These developments, alongside the presence of goats and rabbits, bring a unique appeal to their growing customer base and community.
“Having been in the industry for a year, we have learnt a lot from our mistakes and have put in place numerous strategies that have contributed to this growth.
“We have earned the trust of our clients through consistency and providing great quality in the process. Marketing has been one of our greatest strategies that has seen us win a lot of clients in the industry,” says Malatjie.
Tapping into e-commerce
The cornerstone of My Big Little Farm’s operations remains its flagship product – quail eggs. Known for their health benefits, Malatjie says the business has solidified its reputation as a trusted provider to both individuals and businesses seeking premium-quality eggs.
In the meantime, Malatjie says they are not done growing. They are gearing up for future growth, with plans to expand into e-commerce in 2026.
“Knowing our work adds value to people’s lives keeps us motivated to grow and serve our community better every day.”
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