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In the rolling foothills of Troodos, where olive trees stretch toward the Mediterranean sun, a small army of retired hens is proving that life after egg-laying can be just as meaningful. Thanks to the Kot-Kot Project, these hardworking birds have found a second home at Akaki Grove, where they’re not just scratching around for fun—they’re helping to create a more sustainable way to farm.
Instead of being sent to slaughter after their peak egg-laying years, these hens are now on pest control and fertilization duty, roaming freely between the olive trees, munching on insects, and leaving behind the kind of natural fertilizer that keeps the soil rich and healthy. It’s an old-school, back-to-nature approach, but as farmer Elena Christoforos puts it, “They do the work better than any machine.”
What makes this project even more special is the way it connects different parts of the ecosystem. The hens are fed with food waste collected from local schools and businesses—scraps that might otherwise end up in a landfill, producing methane and contributing to climate change. Instead, they fuel the hens, who, in turn, feed the soil, boosting olive yields and helping trees grow stronger against drought and disease.
And they’re not just fertilizing; they’re also fighting one of the biggest threats to Mediterranean olive farmers—the olive fly. By pecking at larvae before they can hatch, the hens act as a natural line of defense, reducing the need for pesticides.
“The goal is to create a self-sustaining, biodiverse farm that can handle extreme weather and still thrive,” explains soil expert Nicolas Netien, who holds the world record for producing olive oil with the highest polyphenol content. “Bringing animals into the system speeds up the natural cycle of regeneration.”
Industrial farming rarely has room for sentimentality—most hens are considered useless after about two years, when their egg production slows down. But at Akaki Grove, these birds are living out their days in peace, free to scratch, peck, and roam for up to a decade.
It’s a simple but powerful idea: work with nature, not against it. The Kot-Kot Project is tackling food waste, improving soil health, and offering a humane alternative to industrial farming—all with the help of a few hundred happy hens.
