FAQ's. If we haven't answered your question here, just contact us!
Our Farm
Are you NPIP certified?
Yes! We are proud participants in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, which allows us to ship in the US. Our NPIP number is #1366-MA, and our birds are tested by the state twice a year. Our flocks are Pullorum Typhoid and Avian Influenza clean.
What Do you feed your birds?
Our flocks are feed 100% organic feed, often fermented. We source our feed from Green Mountain Feeds in Vermont.
can I visit your farm?
Due to our participation in NPIP, we do not offer farm visits or tours. The NPIP program allows us to ship over state lines, and requires our chickens to be annually tested for certain avian diseases. We follow a biosecurity plan which helps us to keep our birds healthy and limit their exposure to disease. An important part of this plan is limiting visitors to the farm, as avian diseases can spread simply by wearing the same boots from the farm to the county fair to the feed and seed and home again. Keeping our flocks (and our customers' flocks) healthy is a top priority.
what is clan mating?
Clan mating is a breeding program where breeding stock is separated into three (or more) groups. In the first year of breeding, males are bred to females in their own group. The following year, the males from each group are bred to the "next group over." We chose this method because it allows us to breed while keeping a closed flock, and improve our birds each year while maintaining a high level of genetic diversity and vigor.
Ordering
What Happens after i place my order?
You will receive an automated receipt/confirmation of your order via email. This email will also contain a direct link to our Complete Chick Guide to help you prepare for hatching and brooding.
For pickup orders, we will be in touch about a week ahead of your pickup to confirm details. For shipped orders, we will contact you about a week beforehand to let you know when we'll be mailing your eggs, and we will email you a tracking number once your order has shipped.
For pickup orders, we will be in touch about a week ahead of your pickup to confirm details. For shipped orders, we will contact you about a week beforehand to let you know when we'll be mailing your eggs, and we will email you a tracking number once your order has shipped.
What If you can't fulfill my order?
Filling your order is our top priority. We take great care to underestimate the productivity of our birds and always set plenty of extra eggs with each hatch, so that we can dependably fill orders. However, there are a number of factors outside of our control, such as predator attacks, broody hens, and extended power outages. Should anything out of the ordinary happen, we will get in touch and make arrangements to either reschedule your order or offer a refund. Either way, we promise to communicate and take good care of you.
I'd like a quantity you don't have listed, can you help me?
Sure, just contact us and we will see what we can do.
How MAny chicks or Hatching eggs should I order?
When ordering, please keep in mind that half of your birds will be male, and half female. Of course, like any statistic, this varies in a small sample size. But, let's assume a 50/50 just to illustrate the following examples of someone wanting to add 6 hens to their flock:
- When ordering chicks, we recommend that you order twice the amount of hens that you would ultimately like to have. So if you'd like 6 hens, order 12 chicks.
- When ordering hatching eggs, the math is the same but you must account for the hatch rate.
- For shipped eggs, the average hatch rate is 50%. So if your goal is 6 hens, order 24 eggs. If 50% hatch, you'll get 12 chicks, and hopefully 6 hens.
- For unshipped eggs, the average hatch rate is 75%. In this case, you would order 18 eggs. If 75% hatch, you'll have 13-14 chicks, and hopefully half will be hens!
How Do i know if i'm allowed to have chickens where i live?
Chicken ordinances vary quite a bit from town to town. The good news is that in recent years, many communities have passed laws allowing where previously they did not. These rules are often based on the size of your property. For example, we live in the city of Greenfield, MA. Greenfield is a right to farm community. However, on lots less than 5 acres, residents are only allowed ten chickens, but can apply for a special permit to expand their flock. The easiest way to find out the ordinance for your city or town is to contact your local Planning Department or Health Department.
Shipping
How do you pack your eggs for shipping?
With great care! All eggs are individually bubble wrapped, secured in egg flats, double boxed, and sent Priority Mail, which typically arrives in 1-3 days. We can fit one dozen eggs (plus extras, always included when available) per box, shipping is calculated per box at checkout based on your location. More details in our Shipping Policy.
What happens if my eggs are damaged in transit?
To our knowledge, no eggs have been cracked or broken in transit with our current shipping method. We hope that continues, but we know that shipping conditions are outside of our control. Each package we mail is insured for the value of your eggs, so that you can file a claim with USPS. We ask that our customers file any claims with USPS, as the post office asks for photos of the damage and even the original packaging itself. Before ordering hatching eggs for shipment, please read our Shipping Policy.
Hatching Eggs
What incubator should i get?
For a table top model, we recommend the Incuview. We like it for it's combination of quality, price, and ease of use. We are also offering incubator rentals this year.
DO you guarantee a certain hatch rate?
We don't, as shipping and incubation conditions are outside of our control. However, we do everything in our power to set you up for a great hatch. We check egg fertility weekly, we store eggs in a cool and dark environment, and we package eggs for shipping with great care. Eggs are no older than 3 days when shipped, and no older than 6 days if picked up locally.
I've never hatched before. Should i get hatching eggs?
That's up to you! Hatching is a fantastic experience and while results can vary and experience does help, I wouldn't let being a beginner stop you from trying, especially if you are excited about the idea. There's only one way to learn, and that's to do it. We put together resource called the Complete Chick Guide which will help you get started hatching your own chicks--as well as raising them once they've hatched.
Chicks
do you vaccinate chicks?
We have always offered the Marek's vaccine to our customers. Since all large hatcheries offer the vaccine, we decided to offer it as well, to make it easier for our customers to support a small scale farm while still having the option to vaccinate for this common disease.
We discovered that almost all of our customers wanted their chicks vaccinated, so beginning in 2022 we will be vaccinating all of the chicks that we sell, in order to simplify logistics on our end.
There are three varieties or "serotypes" of Marek's vaccine: Serotype 1, 2, and 3. Large scale hatcheries typically give their chicks 2-3 of these serotypes, but only Serotype 3 is available to us as small scale breeders, so the vaccination we offer may be slightly less effective than the cocktail of all three available at large scale hatcheries. In general, when administered correctly, Marek's vaccines are 90-95% effective.
We discovered that almost all of our customers wanted their chicks vaccinated, so beginning in 2022 we will be vaccinating all of the chicks that we sell, in order to simplify logistics on our end.
There are three varieties or "serotypes" of Marek's vaccine: Serotype 1, 2, and 3. Large scale hatcheries typically give their chicks 2-3 of these serotypes, but only Serotype 3 is available to us as small scale breeders, so the vaccination we offer may be slightly less effective than the cocktail of all three available at large scale hatcheries. In general, when administered correctly, Marek's vaccines are 90-95% effective.
Do you offer sexed chicks?
No, all of our chicks are straight run--aka unsexed. You cannot tell if they are male or female at hatch. Roughly half will be male and half female.
Large hatcheries employ professional "chicken sexers" who are able to sex chicks by squeezing them and glancing at their internal organs. We do not do this, nor do we kill male chicks at hatch, which is also a common practice at large hatcheries. We love our roosters and raise all of ours to maturity, at which point they are either selected for breeding or protection, or are processed for food.
For more about purchasing straight-run chicks (and why we recommend it) please read this post.
Large hatcheries employ professional "chicken sexers" who are able to sex chicks by squeezing them and glancing at their internal organs. We do not do this, nor do we kill male chicks at hatch, which is also a common practice at large hatcheries. We love our roosters and raise all of ours to maturity, at which point they are either selected for breeding or protection, or are processed for food.
For more about purchasing straight-run chicks (and why we recommend it) please read this post.
Do you offer older birds--pullets or hens, or roosters?
At this time we do not.
can you take back my extra roosters?
Due to our NPIP certification and biosecurity plan, we cannot take back any birds once they have left the farm. We highly recommend you have a rooster plan in place before purchase, whether it's processing them, keeping some or all, or rehoming them. Our neighbors at Homestead Habitats offer at-home processing assistance if you'd like some help getting started raising your own meat. I also highly recommend this video tutorial.
do you guarantee the health of your chicks?
Yes, we take great care of your chicks before they are delivered to you, and spend time handling and observing them before sharing them with you. We also offer a 48 hour chick guarantee. Should any chicks perish within the first 48 hours in your home, we will refund you for those chicks.
do i need to bring anything to chick pick up?
Nope, just yourself! Your chicks will be nestled in a small box with heat packs (if needed for the season) and ready to go home with you!
do you guarantee nice roosters?
We breed for temperament as a top priority, so that you can enjoy and relax around your flock. However, even though we only select sweet tempered roosters for our breeding stock, we cannot guarantee that all offspring will be teddy bears. Almost all of the boys we hatch are easy to be around, but occasionally we get a bad-tempered rooster who nominates himself for the soup pot. It's also important to remember to respect the rooster's instincts and natural role in the flock as protector. Make sure not to alarm your boys with sudden movements or loud sounds. And no matter how gorgeous he is, try not to stare deeply into his eyes because in chicken-talk, that is a direct challenge.
what will my chicks need after i bring them home?
It's important to have all your supplies ready BEFORE you bring home your new chicks. The essentials are a brooder box, a heat source (preferably a heat plate for chicks), proper bedding, chick starter feed, and water. We've put together the Complete Chick Guide with all the information you need to raise your chicks until they are coop-ready, including all the equipment we use and love ourselves.