OUR POLICIES
Our goal is always to breed happy, healthy birds and sell to satisfied customers! Check out our policies below:
LIVE HATCHLINGS
To ensure as safe of a trip as possible, we only ship during mild weather months, use USPS priority express, use industry-best packaging, and only drop off Monday-Wednesday to ensure delivery before Sunday. Unfortunately, once the box is in the possession of USPS it is no longer in our control and it's possible for the unexpected to happen. We will refund you for any deaths within 24 hours of delivery. In order to receive your refund, you must email us a photo of the dead hatchling(s) and your order information to info@homesteadandcohatchery.com within 24 hours of delivery.
Due to many variables in the brooder environment and care, we cannot refund any deaths beyond 24 hours.
We will email you updates on shipping and delivery dates including a tracking number. It is important to ensure you are able to pick the chicks up from the post office immediately. We will not issue a refund if chicks are not picked up the day of delivery. Shipped chicks require special care- be sure to read our care guide. By ordering live hatchlings, you are agreeing to our policies.
HATCHING EGGS
While we use industry-best packaging methods and have received great feedback, buying shipped hatching eggs is always a gamble. Your hatch rate may be anywhere from 0-100%. If the eggs have a rough trip, it is possible for them to get "scrambled" or detached air cells which can decrease hatchability. We regularly test fertility, however we cannot guarantee it. USPS priority includes insurance to cover any damage that occurs during shipping. It is the buyer's responsibility to file a claim with USPS if needed. We will email updates on shipping and delivery dates including a tracking number. We will put your phone number on the box for post office pickup, please ensure you can pick them up the day of delivery. Due to many variables in the incubator environment, we cannot guarantee hatch in any way. Hatching eggs require special care- be sure to read our care guide. By ordering hatching eggs, you are agreeing to our policies.
DELAYED ORDERS
They say, "Don't count your chicks before they hatch," but in the hatchery business, we have no choice! Right now we are using a monthly pre-order system to help ensure availability and ship in the order they are received, however working with living, breathing critters can be unpredictable. In the event we aren't able to fulfill orders timely, we will be in regular communication with the customer via email to provide updates and options. As we expand, this ordering system may change, so keep an eye out for updates.
LOCAL PICKUPS
For our fellow Hoosiers, there may occasionally be options for local pickup in Cloverdale, IN. Pickup is only available on certain monday-wednesday afternoons. If you choose pickup, you will be emailed a list of available pickup dates/times to meet. We cannot issue a refund if your order is not picked up on the agreed upon date/time.
SHOW QUALITY
We select for high quality color, body and comb type in our parent stock; however we cannot make any guarantees as far as producing "standard of perfection," exhibition, or show quality birds. Some of the birds we sell may not be showable at all due to the variety not being accepted yet; if you intend to show, be sure to check the rules for your organization before ordering.
COLORATION
Correct coloration in feathers and eggs is something that has to be diligently bred and culled for. While we are very selective and keep our breeders separated, genetics can be weird! We guarantee you will get the breed you ordered, but there is always the possibility for coloration or pattern to not be perfect (e.g. some penciling mixed in with lacing, too much white or black, light colored eggs, etc). Even the best show birds have a low "keeper" to "cull" ratio. Also, some of our breeds come in different color phases, so be sure to read the description fully.
Updated 8/27/23