Shipping

At Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery, we take great care in preparing and shipping your chicks so they arrive healthy, safe, and ready to thrive. Because we ship live animals, every step of our process is designed to prioritize chick health, warmth, and timely delivery.

How we ship baby chicks

All chicks are shipped via USPS Priority Express, the only service in the United States that transports live chicks. The United States Postal Service has safely shipped poultry for over 100 years and remains the most reliable option for live delivery. Chicks are shipped on select weekdays to avoid weekend delays and minimize time in transit. Most orders arrive at your local post office within 1–2 days, though rural areas may take up to 3 days. Your local post office will call when your chicks arrive, and they should be picked up immediately and placed into a warm brooder.

Shipping day and chick age

Chicks are shipped the same day they hatch and are typically 24–72 hours old upon arrival. Newly hatched chicks absorb nutrients from the yolk sac prior to hatch, allowing them to travel safely for a short period without food or water. Each shipment includes a USPS-approved ventilated box, GroGel for hydration, secure packaging to retain warmth, and heat packs when needed based on weather conditions.

Minimum order for shipped chicks

A minimum of 5 chicks is required for shipped orders to help maintain warmth and reduce stress during transit. Breeds may be mixed to meet the minimum, as long as all chicks share the same hatch date.

Placing your order

All chick orders are pre-orders with specific hatch dates selected at checkout. Orders are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is limited. We recommend placing orders 2–6 weeks in advance for the best selection.

Shipping costs

Shipping is based on the number of chicks in your order and box size and includes all required materials such as USPS-approved boxes, GroGel, heat packs, insulation, and packing materials.

  • Up to 24 chicks: $57.50
  • 25–35 chicks: $67.50
  • 36–49 chicks: $77.50
  • Hatching eggs: $40 per dozen
  • Pullets - Max of 2 per box- $75

Orders of 50 chicks or more qualify for wholesale pricing.

Hatching Eggs

Hatching eggs ship every Tuesday via USPS Priority Express Mail. At checkout, select your preferred ship week — just like day-old chicks. Local pickup is also available. Eggs are carefully packaged individually to protect them during transit.

Shipping Rate: $40 per dozen

Note: Fertility is not guaranteed due to the nature of live biological material and shipping conditions beyond our control.

Pullets

Pullets ship when they are between 12-16 weeks old via USPS Priority Express Mail, two birds per box.  Your shipping date will be confirmed upon order.  Pullets are health-checked prior to shipping.

Shipping Rates:

  • 2 pullets (1 box) — $75
  • 4 pullets (2 boxes) — $150
  • 6 pullets (3 boxes) — $225
  • 8 pullets (4 boxes) — $300
  • 10 pullets (5 boxes) — $375

Local pickup is always free.

Tracking information

You will receive a shipping confirmation email on your ship date with a USPS Priority Express tracking number so you can monitor your shipment.

Arrival and inspection

When your chicks, eggs or pullets arrive, open all boxes immediately and inspect them carefully.  You must pick up your chicks as soon as the Post Office notifies you that they have arrived.  If you do not pick them up within one hour of your arrival phone call, the Live Arrival Guarantee is void.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All shipped chick orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee as long as they are picked up from the Post Office immediately upon receiving the arrival call from the Post Office.  IWhile rare, some chicks may not survive due to natural factors such as development or hatch stress. If chicks arrive deceased, we will issue a refund or store credit for those chicks, excluding shipping, provided the claim meets the requirements.

Reporting a DOA

To qualify for a refund or credit, you must report losses within 24 hours of delivery by emailing chicks@chesapeake-hatchery.com. Please include your name, order number, a clear photo of the entire group in the box, and the total number of chicks received and lost. We do not reship individual replacement chicks, as shipping very small orders increases stress and risk.