FAQ
A. We are sorry if you encounter a busy signal on the phone. We have moved into a larger office, updated our phone system with more lines, and increased our staff. We do apologize if you have trouble getting through. Internet orders are processed in the order received. When ordering through the website you will receive an immediate e-mail response notifying you that your order has been received. It will include your order number. Please refer to this number if you call or e-mail about your order. You will receive a second e-mail within 5-10 minutes that includes your ship date. If the e-mail address you listed on your order is correct and you have not heard from us in 10 days, check that your spam program has not blocked our e-mail. We are hatching 140,000 birds weekly and securing your order and hatch/ship date is done as quickly as humanly possible.
A. You’ve heard the expression “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” Well, at Cackle Hatchery® our business demands for us to count our chickens before they hatch and to make it even harder our business demands we count (estimate) our chickens before the eggs are even laid. We fulfill 95% of the shipping dates we give you for your orders and we apologize if you should be one of the few customers who encounter a delay in the shipment of your chick order. You will be notified by email of your new rescheduled ship date.
A. Yes, most all of our packages of baby chicks you must pay a shipping/handling fee, but there are a few chick packages that are not charged this ship/handling fee. Internet orders automatically figure your shipping/handling fee for you with online orders. Mail-in orders or phone orders use our shipping chart. The shipping/handling fee covers postage to your Post Office, shipping box, padding, nesting, any heater or Hydro Aid, supports 5 Cackle Hatchery climate controlled delivery box trucks to the airport or regional centers, 2 postal computers/support cost and provides for the Cackle Hatchery live arrival guarantee. The USPS has required a non refundable $15.00 surcharge for all shipments of live poultry orders.
A. Here is a rough estimate of cost for shipping and handling: For 15-300 birds Step 1: $25.00 flat fee. Step 2: 15-100 x $0.27 per bird charge. 101-150 x $0.25 per bird charge, 151-300 x $0.23 per bird charge. Step 3: $25.00 + per bird charge = shipping cost. Example: 15 birds is $29.05, 25 is $31.75, 50 is $38.50, 100 is $52.00. All orders with less than 15 total birds will be charged an additional $20.00 small order fee.
A. As soon as you know when and how many you want to order you should go ahead and book your order. We start taking orders in mid-November to be booked and shipped for any time between Feb.-Oct. You can pick your desired ship date when you checkout. It is common practice to order 2-6 weeks before the date you want for delivery.
A. We ONLY ship through the US Postal Service using Priority Mail. Other carriers do NOT handle baby chick shipments. All chick orders are driven directly to the main USPS distribution centers to enter the mail stream as quickly as possible and avoid unnecessary delays.
A. Example: We guarantee on a 100 paid female baby chick order that you will receive at least 90 female baby chicks. If we make an error and we did not live up to our stated guarantee, we will refund the female baby chick purchase price on under 90%. Claims must be sent directly to us when chicks are not more than 8 months old.
A. Most breeds will start to lay at 5-8 months of age. Make sure you feed them chick starter up to the point they start laying, then switch over to egg pellets or crumble. Ensure they receive sunlight, fresh air, clean water, and adequate roosting space. If it is fall or winter, adding artificial light on an automatic timer (5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) can help stimulate egg production.
A. Yes, hens lay eggs without a rooster. However, the eggs will not be fertilized and cannot hatch into chicks.
A. White Leghorns and Brown Leghorns are famous for being prolific layers of white-shelled eggs. Excellent brown egg producers include Black Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and sex-link hybrids like Golden Comet and Black Sex Link.
A. Chickens annually go through a molt in late summer or fall, shedding old feathers and growing new plumage. Molting hens usually stop laying eggs during this time so their energy can go into feather production.
A. Chickens can transmit bacteria like Salmonella. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling chickens or coop equipment. Children should keep fingers away from their mouth until hands are washed.
A. Feed new chicks a quality 18-20% protein chick starter feed for the first 8-10 weeks. Provide fresh, clean water at all times in a chick-safe waterer.
