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filler@godaddy.com
Thank you for your interest in supporting our (tiny) business! Below is some info we've compiled to answer common questions:
We are a small homestead-type farm and can't hatch zillions of chicks without potential homes like commercial hatcheries do, so we've come up with a process that has worked decently so far.
Through the winter, we run FREE waitlists for each breed. If you are interested in joining a waitlist, please contact us. Some are filling up fast!
We do not take any payments until we're almost positive that we can fulfill an order. After we confirm that fertility is strong in late winter/early spring, then we reach out in chronological order. We know it might be annoying, but since we keep very small breeding flocks, anything can happen and we don't want to let anyone down.
******* HATCHING EGG INFO ********
If you order hatching eggs, we take full payment and send them out. We try to accommodate any timing requests that you might have. If we see that weather is too hot/cold or if we notice issues with hens or their fertility, we might reschedule in order to help you get the best possible hatch rate.
Please note that we cannot guarantee hatchability - shipped eggs have a 0%-100% hatch rate, based on how they're handled by USPS.
Shipping charges are dependent on USPS prices and the cost of supplies. Right now, it looks like it will be around $25 for packaging & a medium flat rate box, which comfortably fits a dozen eggs. We do not bother with fragile stickers or other labels because USPS just ignores them. If you would like, we CAN purchase USPS Special Handling for an additional $15.
******** LIVE BIRD INFO ********
If you order chicks that have not already been hatched or planned to hatch, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required. After we receive payment, we will incubate enough to fill your order plus a few extras, just in case. Each hatch takes about 21-35 days, depending on species. Deposits are non-refundable for any reason UNLESS enough of your chosen breed(s) have failed to hatch. If that is the case, we can either refund the missing count, substitute with a different breed, or hold your deposit for the next hatch.
Since even autosexing breeds can be guessed wrong 10-20% of the time and we definitely aren't brave enough to vent sex, all babies are sold as straight run/unsexed. Some (we’re looking at you, Ameraucanas) might take a few months to confirm, and one (Tufted Romans) we still can't figure out without DNA sexing or watching an egg actually leave their body. We ARE willing to take a guess while they're babies if you absolutely need a female - they would be under the Pullet/Juvenile Female price point - but we're sorry that we cannot guarantee accuracy and are unable to take back the animal if we're wrong.
We will have started birds as well as adults available throughout the year, beginning in late spring/early summer. Availability is based on how many spare chicks have hatched & how many we’ve decided to keep for ourselves. Some might be VERY limited at first as we replenish our breeding groups (Ameraucanas, Legbars, Marans, Welsummers, and Olive Eggers).
You are responsible for arranging transportation of live animals. We will not ship live animals but are willing to meet within a half hour of Mishicot, Wisconsin. A $1/day boarding fee will apply if a purchased animal is not picked up at the arranged-upon time.
******** HEALTH INFO ********
Due to the nature of our offerings, we cannot guarantee health or viability of any animals once they leave our property. We are part of NPIP and annually test for Pullorum-Typhoid. In order to maintain our NPIP status and for the biosecurity of our flocks, we do not allow visits to our poultry areas or allow purchasers to select birds from our brooders, but we will gladly take photos/videos upon request. We maintain mostly closed flocks, with the exception of occasional new birds brought in from other NPIP farms to minimize inbreeding. These are strictly quarantined for 1-2 months after purchase.
We do not have access to an avian vet who can draw blood for us, so we do not regularly test for Avian Influenza or other unmentioned diseases unless a bird has died of unexplained causes. If we suspect an illness, we send samples to the University of Wisconsin's accredited lab for testing. We last submitted a bird October 2022. She came back clear of AI and the necropsy showed egg yolk peritonitis from e-coli and a small amount of coccidia. In March 2022, another bird was submitted and cleared of AI and Mycoplasma. She had bronchitis due to staph. We would be happy to provide copies of the reports.
We are currently going back and forth on the Marek's vaccine. About half of our birds are vaccinated, and we are considering offering the vaccine to buyers of chicks. It would cost an additional $75 per hatch (the vial is around $35, shipping to us is around $35, and injection supplies are around $5). Our sponsors and advisors with decades of experience VERY strongly encourage it because the disease is absolutely devastating and basically unavoidable, especially if birds regularly travel to shows or if owners attend sale barns or swap meets. The downside is that if Marek's does invade a person's vaccinated flock, they might never know about it and become super spreaders, because the vaccine only prevents symptoms.
******** PRICE LIST ********
Below is our full 2023 price list. Prices are subject to change, especially for individual birds we think might be exhibition quality.
~~~~~ CHICKENS ~~~~~
Opal & Cream Legbar (some will hatch Opal; some will hatch Cream until late 2023/early 2024)
*** VERY LIMITED until summer due to a predator attack!
Black Ameraucana (all will be Black carriers of Self-Blue until late 2023/early 2024)
*** VERY LIMITED until summer due to a predator attack!
Norwegian Jaerhons
Svarthona
Buckeye
Partridge Chantecler
Bielefelder
Welsummer
*** VERY LIMITED until summer due to a predator attack!
Black Copper Marans
*** VERY LIMITED until summer due to a predator attack!
All Olive, Easter, Sage, Mint, Experimental Eggers
*** VERY LIMITED until summer due to a predator attack!
Barnyard Mix - might lay any color of the rainbow and could include genetics from all our listed breeds and others; including a Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock, Deathlayers, and Dominiques!
~~~~~ GEESE ~~~~~
Pilgrim (raised this year to follow the trend of hatchery prices)
Tufted Roman
~~~~~ DUCKS ~~~~~
Welsh Harlequin
Cayuga
Muscovy
Barnyard Mix - might be a mix of Welsh Harlequin, Cayuga, and Muscovy - please note that Muscovy-Mallard hybrids are infertile, like mules.