Beautiful & Exotic Chickens

This way to cuteness

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Shipping

COVID-19 information: Chickens do not carry or transmit COVID-19. As a mail order, web-based business, we are operating as usual and shipping out chicks as scheduled. As a farm, we are designated an “essential business” and allowed to operate without interruption. We have not experienced shipping disruptions from USPS due to COVID-19. Our cancellation policy remains in effect. If you have any concerns or are unable to go to the post office, please notify us immediately so we can postpone or delay your order.

Is it safe to ship chicks? Yes, it is perfectly safe to ship chicks. Just before hatch, chicks absorb the yolk which provides them with enough nutrients for their first days of life. We also provide the chicks with feed, Gro-gel, and heat packs when necessary. Our boxes are clearly marked to let the Post Office know to handle the chicks with extra care.

How much is shipping? We charge a flat rate of $35 for sending a box of up to 20 chicks via USPS Priority Mail Express. Additional charges apply to orders over 20 chicks. Heat packs, Gro-gel, feed, and Marek’s vaccination are included with the cost of shipping.

Can you ship FedEx or UPS? No, we can only ship via the United States Postal Service. FedEx and UPS do not accept shipments of poultry.

Can you ship to Canada? We’re sorry, but we do not ship to Canada.

Do you ship to Hawaii and Alaska? No, we do not currently offer shipping to Alaska or Hawaii.

Can I pick up my chicks/visit the farm? We'd love to spend time with you on our farm, but we take disease very seriously, and farm visits expose our flocks to the potential for inadvertent disease transmission. We simply can't take that risk, so we don't schedule farm tours or the pick-up of orders on the farm. We also cannot meet you offsite for pick ups.

Tracking Updates / Where are my chicks? / Are my chicks lost? It is very common for the tracking number to not update overnight or during the day. This does not mean your chicks are lost. Chicks are not guaranteed to arrive overnight and may arrive in 2-3 days depending on your location. Know that we see the exact same information on the tracking number that you and other Postal Service workers can. It is not possible for us to provide more information on the location of your chicks. Thank you in advance for your patience. We will not refund shipping charges for orders that do not arrive by the estimated delivery date and/or time.

Why did I not receive an order confirmation email? If you did not receive an order confirmation email with an order number, the first thing to check is your spam folder and that you have entered the correct email address. If you still do not see a confirmation email, it is likely that you did not complete checkout. Please email countryegghatchery@gmail.com

My chicks are scheduled to ship today, why haven’t I received confirmation yet? Shipping confirmation emails are sent in the evening after we drop the chicks off at the post office and they are scanned into their system. We do not have tracking information available for you until we have packed orders and printed shipping labels. Shipping days are extremely busy for our small team so please be patient. If we cannot ship your chicks for whatever reason, we will let you know.

Ordering

What’s the minimum order? We currently have no minimum order, however we strongly recommend that you order at least 6 chicks so that you receive the Live Chick Guarantee. We believe a half-dozen chicks is the minimum number necessary to provide warmth and cushioning for safe shipment. You, the buyer, assume the risk of loss if you order fewer than six chicks. We strongly encourage you to order the minimum to increase the health and safety of the chicks during shipping.

Are there breed minimums? We do not have breed minimums, but we suggest that you include at least 2-3 chicks of each breed.

Do you sell hatching eggs? We don’t sell hatching eggs on our website, but we do set auctions for hatching eggs on eBay. We post auctions based on egg availability and viability. Our seller page is https://www.ebay.com/usr/countryegghatchery

Can you sell me hatching eggs directly, without using eBay? No, we only sell hatching eggs on eBay.

Can I adjust my order after it has been placed? While we certainly can adjust your order after it has been placed, we ask that you be confident with your selections prior to placing your order. Be sure you can accommodate the number of birds in your order before placing it. You will not receive a full refund for removing birds from your order.

Adding chicks: we can add chicks if they are available for the same shipping date. The request to add chicks should be made by the Thursday before your shipping date. We make arrangements for all chicks to be sold prior to hatch day so we might not be able to fill last-minute requests.

Removing chicks: you forfeit 50% of the cost of the chicks that are removed from your order. The request to remove chicks must be made by the Thursday before your scheduled shipping date (up to 6 weeks after your order date).

Do you sell juvenile birds? Yes, if they are available.

When is the best time to order chicks? This will depend on your location, set up, and even personal preference. The most popular time for shipping chicks is in the spring when egg laying is at its peak. If you live in an area with late freezes, you may want to wait until early summer to have your chicks shipped. Those who live in warmer regions can have chicks safely shipped well into winter. Remember that there is a natural decline in egg production during fall when day light hours shorten so some breeds may not be available during that time. Due to higher volume of chicks that hatch during the spring and summer we strongly suggest placing your order several weeks in advance as some breeds sell out quickly.

Can you send me a catalog? We are a small farm not a big hatchery, so our breeds and availability change too often for us to have catalogs printed. We do keep the availability on our website up to date. Please contact us at countryegghatchery@gmail.com for questions.

Chick Arrival and Care

Can you identify my chicks? If you need help identifying chicks that were included with your order, please send your photos in a reply to your confirmation email and we’ll be happy to help you out. If you need help identifying the breed of a bird that you received from somewhere other than us, we’re sorry, but we have no way to verify the breed. Your guess is as good as ours. Our email is countryegghatchery@gmail.com

Why are my chicks dying? While it is not possible for us to know for certain, here are a few things to check:

Temperature: Check that the temperature is not too hot/cold and is it being adjusted appropriately for their age. The warm area should be 95-99°F for the first day or two after arrival, 95°F for the first week and then lowered 5°F each week following until heat is no longer required. Do not heat the entire brooder, they need to have an area to get away from the heat. Comfortable chicks will move in and out of the warm zone to regulate their temperature. If you are using a bulb heater, it should be ceramic or red to not disrupt their natural sleep pattern.

Feed: Are they on high quality medicated feed? A well-balanced starter feed is important for growing chicks to develop their immune system. We do not vaccinate for coccidiosis, so we strongly recommend using a medicated feed. Be sure the feeder is kept clean and dry.

Water: Their waterer needs to be kept clean and full of fresh water. You may want to consider adding electrolytes or apple cider vinegar on arrival.

Brooder: Make sure the chick’s living conditions are kept clean and dry. A dirty, wet, warm environment is prime living conditions for coccidia. Be sure that the brooder is well ventilated and free from draft.

What supplies do I need to have ready before my chicks arrive? Basic supplies include: Brooder, bedding lined with paper towel (do not use newspaper, magazines, or cedar shavings), heater, thermometer, waterer, feeder, medicated chick feed, and electrolytes or apple cider vinegar (in case your chicks arrive lethargic or stressed).

What do I do when my chicks arrive?

Pick up: Have a flexible schedule on your shipping week so you can pick your chicks up as soon as the Post Office calls you. Do not use the estimated arrival date/time as a scheduled pick up time. This is not a guaranteed delivery time for live animals! Do not allow chicks to sit at the post office. It is your responsibility to pick them up in a timely manner. Count the chicks in your box and take a photo if you have any losses. It is not necessary to file a report with the Post Office. Notify us of any losses within 72-hours by replying to your confirmation email and don’t forget to include the photos of dead chicks.

Arrival home: Have your brooder set up and the warm zone brought to a steady temperature of 95-99°F the day before your chicks arrive. As soon as you arrive home, dip each chick’s beak into warm (90-95°F) water as you put them into the brooder. This is very important! It will rehydrate them, and it will help warm them up. The chicks will not survive if they do not get water. You may add apple cider vinegar or electrolytes to the water if chicks appear lethargic or stressed. Do not prolong the use of the electrolytes as it may cause dehydration.

After hydration: Your chicks will likely take a long nap while warming up in the heat. Please remember that they have just traveled and are very tired. Allow them to rest and warm up if needed. Do not handle the chicks more than necessary for the first few days. Most chicks will start eating crumble on the own, but you may want to sprinkle some crumble on paper towel to encourage them. You can also feed your chicks egg yolk to give them an extra boost. We recommend boiling the egg first then crumbling the yolk. Do not leave any uneaten egg in the brooder, it will spoil.

What feed should I get for my chicks?

We recommend a high-quality medicated chick crumble, such as Purina. Follow the feeding guidelines on the product label. We do not offer a vaccination for coccidiosis, so it is strongly recommended that you start your chicks on a medicated feed.

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About Us

100% Solar-Powered

Country Egg Hatchery

We're passionate about exotic chickens and rare birds! We're Country Egg Hatchery - a small hatchery that specializes in rare, exotic and beautiful breeds of chicken and other birds. We hand-select each chick we send to you and your family - to ensure the highest quality. We are NPIP certified - meaning that our flocks are regularly screened for disease by a third party. We selectively breed for genetic diversity, beauty/color and health and are proud to hatch chicks in a 100% solar-powered chicken hatchery.

Contact us

countryegghatchery@gmail.com

www.countryegghatchery.com

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