Q. How can I reach you if I have any questions? 

A. You can reach a customer service representitive during the following hours:

Monday thru Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm CST

Friday 8:00am to 3:00pm CST

For immediate assistance send your questions or comments to sales@chickensforbackyards.com. You can speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives by calling Toll Free at 888-412-6715. Click here for our contact info.

Q. Can you send me a catalog?

A. We are an online based company, and currently do not have a catalog.

Q. What is the minimum number of chicks I can order? 

A. Our minimum quantity is typically 3 chicks but during cooler months we may raise our minimum for the chicks safety.

Minimum Chicken order: 3 chicks (April-October ship dates)

                                    15 chicks (November-March ship dates)

Minimum Bantam order: 5 chicks

Minimum Guinea order: 15 keets (guineas must ship separately from all other birds)

Minimum Turkey order: 15 poults

Q. How old are the chicks I'm ordering from you?

A. Our chicks are typically shipped within 24 hours after they have hatched. 

Q. Do you sell adult chickens?

A. No, we only sell one day old baby chicks.

Q. What does it cost to ship chicks (chickens)?

The more chicks you order, the less you pay for shipping.

A. Small Flock Custom Order: $49.00

   All Other (15 or more Chicks): $19.99 Best Value!

Special packaging & handling is required for orders containing less than 15 chicks to ensure their safe arrival.

Q. What does it cost to ship supplies? Free Shipping Offer!

Shipping is charged for chicks only. There will be no shipping charges for most merchandise ordered with chicks (chicken coops and other large products may be plus shipping or ship to surcharges may apply).

Shipping rates apply only to shipments within the continental United States. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii or other outlying areas of the US should call for a shipping quote.

Q. How are the chicks, poults & keets shipped?

A. They are shipped Priority Mail in a special box with ventilation holes. Heat packs are occasionally added during extreme low temperatures to help keep them warm especially for small quantity orders.

Q. Is it safe to ship baby chicks?

 A. Baby poultry can be shipped with relatively few problems because of how nature has designed hatchlings to survive. Just before they hatch, they absorb nutrients from the egg, which allows them to live a few days without food or water. They are boxed and into the mail stream within a few hours after they have hatched.

Q. When will my chicks arrive?

A. We will email a ship date to you within 5 days of placing your order. Your chicks will arrive 1 to 3 days after they have shipped on your scheduled ship date. You should receive a phone call from your local post office upon delivery and we recommend you pick them up immediately upon notification.  Shipments not picked up from the post office in a timely fashion will be considered abandoned and are not eligible for refund or reshipment.

Q. What if my chicks arrive in poor condition? 

A. Please contact us 48 hours after you have received your chicks to report any losses or variances, so we may reimburse you for the cost of those birds.  Shipping charges are not eligible for reimbursement.  Reshipments are subject to availability and minimum shipping requirements.  If eligible, we will reship only once.  Thereafter, we will issue a refund only.  Please report all losses at one time, at the end of the 48 hour period.

Q. What if I need to cancel or change my order for baby birds? 

A. There is a $10 cancellation fee for all chick orders. No orders may be cancelled within 2 weeks prior to the ship date. There is a $10 fee for changing a chick order (such as switching breeds, etc...), however orders cannot be changed within 2 weeks prior to the ship date. 

Q. Do you guarantee my birds will be the correct sex? 

A. We have a 90% sexing accuracy guarantee. For errors that exceed our guarantee, we will refund 50% of the cost of each chick that was not the correct sex. Sexing errors must be reported when chicks are at least 10 weeks old but no later than 18 weeks. 

***No credits will be issued for any reason after birds are 18 weeks old.

Q. What is Marek's disease? 

A. Marek's disease is caused by a virus that can lead to progressive paralysis and death. Cases are somewhat rare but there is no treatment for affected birds. To effectively vaccinate, marek's vaccine must be given when chicks are one day old. 

Q. How do I care for my chicks when I receive them? 

A. We strongly recommend preparing a brooding area for your chicks before they arrive. Your new chicks will require a temperature of 90 to 95 degrees upon arrival, which can be reduced approximately 5 degrees each week for the first 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, your chicks will not require supplemental heat unless ambient temperatures are extremely low. A thermometer is recommended in the brooding area, but monitoring  the chicks' behavior will help you better understand their heating requirements. Chicks that crowd tightly and pile on each other may be too cold, while chicks that avoid the heated area may be too warm. Use pine shavings or DACB Drop Pan Paper to line the brooder floor. DO NOT USE CEDAR SHAVINGS; cedar is toxic to chickens. 

In addition to a warm brooding area, your chicks will require food and water immediately upon arrival. We recommend offering your chicks GrowGel in addition to a waterer designed for chicks. Manna Pro Medicated Chick Starter (non-medicated feed is recommended for waterfowl) is a great food choice for your new baby chicks.

Q. When will my hens begin to lay? 

A. Although it varies from breed to breed, your hens will typically start laying eggs when they are approximately 5 months old.

Q. What does the term "broody" mean when you describe a breed of chicken?

A. It's an indication that a particular breed is inclined to sit on her eggs in an attempt to incubate and hatch them.  

Q. How many nests/nest holes should I provide for my hens to lay eggs in? 

A. Most hens are good about sharing, typically you will only need one nest or nesting box for every 5 hens.

Q. Do I need a rooster for my hens to lay eggs?

A. No, hens will lay eggs without a rooster around. However you will need a rooster if you want fertile eggs that can be incubated.

Q. How are the chicken supplies shipped? 

A. Most chicken supplies are shipped UPS Ground but occasionally we will ship via USPS if the item weighs less than a pound. 

Q. How long does it take to receive my chicken supplies?

A. Most chickens supplies ship out the same day or the following business day and typically take 1 to 5 business days to receive based on your location. Below is a UPS Ground map to give you times in transit. 

The map displayed above shows estimated shipping time for supplies only (not chicks). All chicks are shipped via USPS Priority Mail which is typically 1 to 3 business days.

Shipping rates apply only to shipments within the continental United States. Customers in Alaska and Hawaii should call for a shipping quote.

Links

Laws Regarding Keeping Chickens by City
City Laws  click to visit