Hatching season is set to begin any day now with our Sebastopol Geese usually laying their first egg right around Valentine's Day. Here's what you need to know about getting hatching eggs or baby birds from me.
Hatching timelines:
Geese: March through June
Ducks: April through July
Turkey: April through June
Chickens: April through September
Once a group of birds begin to lay consistently, and the weather here in NJ is above freezing, eggs are placed into my incubator to confirm fertility rates. After I am comfortable that we have near 100% fertility, I will open orders for hatching eggs.
Hatching egg orders are filled first come / first serve based on availability rates through the season. Eggs can be shipped or picked up on the farm. Shipping requires a 6 egg minimum, there is no minimum on orders picked up here on the farm. When you place an order for shipped eggs I will provide the tentative timing for the shipment - that timeline could shift a week forward or back based on laying rates. Pick up schedules are set as well, with minimal adjustment required. Payment is due at the time of order, unpaid orders will not hold slots on the schedule.
All shipments are made Monday through Wednesday via USPS Priority Mail only to ensure eggs are not in transit over a weekend.
Baby birds will be available only after the Easter holiday, I will not sell birds prior to that. Ducklings can be shipped; all other birds must be picked up on the farm. Hatching is done on demand for all birds except Geese. When you place an order, we will establish the expected timeline for setting your clutch and actual hatch date (I can work with you based on schedule availability) and payment is due. Once paid I will set your clutch as scheduled. There are no refunds once a clutch is set, unless the clutch fails to produce.
All clutches that are set for orders are set with extra eggs in an attempt to ensure that enough birds hatch to fulfill the order in full. In the event that a clutch fails entirely or does not produce enough birds, I will set another clutch for you until the order can be filled. If I am unable to fill an order after a failed clutch, or you prefer not to wait, I will refund in full.
Minimum Order Quantities for Baby Birds:
Geese: 2 goslings, local pick up only
Ducks: 8 ducklings to ship, 2 ducklings for local pick up
Turkey: 2 poults for local pick up
Chicks: 3 chicks for local pick up
Baby birds are shipped only on Mondays or Tuesdays via USPS Express Mail only. Shipping prices include the required shipping box.
You can always check out my YouTube channel to see the adult birds, the environment they live in, and how I maintain them. I'll also post videos of baby birds when they start hatching because who can resist that cuteness?
