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Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any of the questions below for an instant answer.
If your question or answer is not listed below, please feel free to email us.
Is shipping included in the price?
No. Shipping will vary from one location to the next as determined by the United
States Post Office. Therefore it is impossible to set a flat rate shipping cost.
Your shipping and box charges will be discussed with you when we call you to verify your order.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Due to problems we have had in the past, we will only accept the following forms of payments.
Through Paypal, you will be able to pay with your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
In most cases you will also be able to pay directly through your checking account. (we ask that you refrain
from paying with an e-check as it takes way too long to clear, and chicks need to be mailed when they are
1 day old.) We will also accept United State Postal Orders only. (USPS money orders need to arrive prior
to hatch date to avoid any delays.) We apologize if this causes any inconvenience, but we have found this
policy works out best for the chicks involved.
How will my chicks arrive?
Your chicks will arrive via the United States Postal Mail Service. Many times the
Post Office will hold the chicks at your local office and phone you when they arrive.
This is why it is so important to have a good contact number when you place your order.
When will my chicks arrive?
Chicks are shipped on their hatch day, and are shipped out express mail. Generally they
arrive the next day, but in some cases they will arrive on the second day.
Do I need to prepare for my chicks arrival in advance?
Yes, you will need a brooder for your new chicks. A brooder is simply a box or cage with a heat source.
Generally a light bulb or heat lamp. Be sure to note,.. which ever type of brooder you use, make sure
the heat source is not too close to your new babies, and that they have a way to get away from the heat
should they become too warm. You also want to make sure the brooder is out of the way of any drafts,
especially in the winter. You will also want to have feed and water available as soon as they arrive.
Be sure that each chick is introduced to water as soon as they arrive by dipping the
beak of each chick in the water.
For extra energy for the first 2 days add 3 tablespoons of table sugar to each
quart of water.
What do I feed my new chicks?
Your local feed store will carry "Chick Starter" which is a feed specially designed for your
new chicks. There is quite a bit of debate all over the internet as to the protein
level that
is best to give young chicks. You will want to make your own decision by looking at the information
available on the internet as well as speaking with your local feed store. We recommend that your
chicks stay on the chick starter for a minimum of 18 weeks, again this is a choice you will want to
make on your own.
Can I order just pullets (hens) or cockerels (roosters)?
At this time we are only shipping straight run (mixed pullets and cockerels) in day old chicks.
If you are ordering started or adult birds, we will be able to sex the birds for you.
Please keep in mind, the price is different for hens and roosters.
Can I put my babies in with my existing chickens?
We do not recommend this. Chickens are flock birds and have what is called a pecking order. Each chicken in the flock
knows where he/she is, in the pecking order and they want to keep their place in that order. New birds have
to establish their own place in the order, and young chicks are unable to defend themselves
against older much larger birds.
What
is the minimum number of chicks I can order?
We have a 15 chick minimum order.
Can
I mix and match different breeds of chicks in the same order?
Yes. As long as the minimum is met.
Penny's Little Gem Hatchery
Copyright © 2008 All rights
reserved.
Revised: January 8, 2009