Policies- Ordering, Shipping, Humidity and Dark Eggs

Our poultry operation includes an eclectic variety of poultry. Working with breeding coups and free-range field rotations, we ethically breed happy hens to offer our colorful eggs. We check for fertility rates regularly but that is just one portion of the process to ensure eggs properly develop into healthy chicks. Shipped eggs often have reduced hatch rates; industry-wide, a 50% hatch rate on shipped eggs is considered common.   Additionally complicating the hatching are dark eggs such as Marans and Moss-Eggers (ours included) often yield less than 50% hatch unless incubated in high-end humidity-controlled incubators; see hatching notes below. Please read our detailed policies below before completing a purchase!

Ordering

Hatching Eggs are a perishable item that loses viability by the day. While we verify fertility rates regularly and ship eggs within days of collecting, please note there are many factors that impact hatch rates, see below. Because of the perishable nature of hatching eggs, we are unable to store and ship eggs as orders are placed. This is a preorder item and is expected to ship within 3-4 weeks of orders being placed. All orders are shipped on a first-come first-served basis. We will contact you via email with a confirmation and tentative ship date. Please note, we do not ship when temperatures are below 40; cold temperatures have a dramatic impact on hatch rates.

Pick-up Options

Pick-up at the homestead is an option and needs to be coordinated via email or phone; please do not arrive without prior arrangements. You can select pick-up or shipping when you complete the order. We will contact you once your order is complete or as always, let us know if you have any questions.

Shipping

We ship all hatching eggs via USPS Priority Mail within four days of collecting.  Shipments are sent Monday-Wednesday to ensure arrival prior to the weekend.  Whenever possible we use compostable/recyclable shipping materials to reduce the environmental impact.  Each box can ship up to two dozen eggs total thus paying for 1 shipping charge, $25 includes the cost up to 24 eggs.  After purchase, you will receive an immediate purchase confirmation.  Within the week following your purchase, we will contact you through e-mail you provided,  with your estimated shipment date.  Please note, while we can make minor adjustments to shipment dates, we cannot make last-minute changes nor do we offer refunds on purchases.

While we monitor our fertility rates and work diligently to ensure prompt shipping, there are many factors beyond our control.  Hatching eggs are purchased with NO guarantee. We provide the best quality but like all breeders and hatcheries, we simply cannot control what happens during shipping or incubation. As such, there are no refunds on hatching eggs.

If your box arrives obviously damaged by the post office with broken eggs inside, please send photo documentation by email and file a claim with USPS.  While this does happen, it is rather infrequent. 

We DO NOT ship chicks or live birds.

Hatching Marans or dark eggs:

Marans and other eggs with dark blooms are more difficult to hatch. Hobby incubators with poor humidity control make hatching more difficult. There are many opinions on the interwebs on how to improve hatch rates.  In my experience, if you can manage lower consistent humidity rates in a professional incubator, you should be fine hatching darker eggs.  If you are using a hobby-grade incubator, you might find this challenging but not impossible.  Though hobby incubators are fine for most breeds they are not designed to maintain the consistent low humidity that Marans require. While I used a hobby incubator for years, it took significant monitoring and maintenance to achieve a good hatch rate.  Because of the dark pigmentation caused by the bloom the humidity level impacts growth. Fluctuation in humidity can cause issues early in the cycle, where humidity that is too high, considered 50% or more for Marans, can cause large chicks that cannot turn and pip under the air sac, resulting in many ‘drowning’ before unzipping. Additional consideration needs to be taken with the humidity at lockdown too.  Also, it is essential to not open your incubator mid-hatch.  Please take time to review the literature. Many folks do not mix other breeds with dark eggs and Marans during the hatch. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Reclamation of Roosters Prohibited

Because of biosecurity, we are not able to take returns of roosters or unwanted birds. As part of the  National Poultry Improvement Plan, NPIP, the quirky bird is unable to take back anything, birds or eggs.  Keep in mind each egg has a 50% chance of being a rooster, please plan accordingly for how many you want as well as can raise. Most municipalities do not permit roosters and excess roosters can stress hens.   That said, there are many organizations that take roosters to feed food-insecure folks or sell them for meat.  People also rehome young cockerels in social media groups, this is more successful with heritage breeds or colorful eggs.

Return and Refund Policy

Because so many factors are beyond our control, no returns will be made on live chicks or hatching eggs. Refunds will be issued at our discretion and are typically only made in extreme circumstances. Last-minute changes or buyer’s remorse will not result in a refund.

Payment Method

If you need to use a payment method other than what is offered, please contact us to discuss.