FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We ship hatching eggs - within the United States, chicks and pullets are local pickup only

For Hatching + Incubator Info See our helpful resources page

Testing the Flock, Regularly MA NPIP#1362

Our Flock is tested multiple times a year for Pollorum Typhoid, and is H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean. We have a small closed flock.

BIOSECURITY/ FARM VISITS

Sorry, due to overall flock biosecurity, we can not host poultry guests near the coops to visit the birds. Biosecurity measures include regular cleaning and disinfection of chicken coops. Feeding fresh food free of mold. Isolating any new flock members for at least 30 days. Limiting exposure to wild birds. Designated Farm Boots. Boot Dips. If you’d like additional photos / video, or have questions about our flock please reach out via mail opengatepoultry@gmail.com

CLUBS

We are members of The Marans Club, and the Ameraucana Breeders Club. I recommend checking out The American Poultry Association and The Livestock Conservancy.

PARENT STOCK

Our stock has taken many years to build up. We started with hatching eggs from show quality birds, and specific breeders around the United States in 2016 and began sharing our flock in 2019. We consider the standard of perfection (SOP), temperament, and egg color when selecting our birds. Our breeding roosters all have big personalities, and have never shown aggressive behavior.

CHICKS

Our farm has been 100 percent solar powered since 2015, and this includes our incubators! All of our chicks up to two weeks old, are sold straight run. “Straight run” can be male or female. With each hatch, there’s a 50/50 chance of the chicks being male or female, and in birds it’s the female that decides the gender of the chick. If your goal is 5 hens, it’s best to get extra chicks. We believe in a balanced flock, and a rooster is the key. Cockerels that are not placed, will either be sold for food, or they’re harvested at Open Gate once they’re 16-22 weeks for our freezer.

We do not vaccinate our chicks for Mareks. The vaccine is a live vaccine, it doesn't 100 percent keep your birds from getting or spreading mareks, it can mask the symptoms and the chance of survival greater. There’s a small window for Mareks Vaccination and can not be given at a later date. If you keep a vaccinated flock - it’s best for you to only purchase vaccinated chicks or go the route of hatching eggs and vaccinate your chicks upon hatch.

I do recommend giving your chicks Medicated grain for 5-6 weeks to prevent any coccidiosis. After that time, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for flock maintenance. I would also give them some B-12 vitamin after the 5-6 weeks of medicated grain. I have some more info on the Helpful Resources Page.

Hatching Eggs

We are part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, NPIP certified: Pullorum Typhoid + H5/H7 AI Clean, and can't legally ship hatching eggs or birds without this certification, all breeders and hatcheries should have the certificate.

We ship eggs on Mondays - Tuesdays

We are sending fresh, clean, fertile eggs, from a flock that is tested for NPIP + AI CLEAN. Like all other small scale breeder + hatchery, we do not guarantee your hatch rate. There are too many factors that affect hatch rate (shipping, incubation methods). Our eggs are constantly tested for fertility. Shipped eggs are always a risk, but we do our best to save fresh eggs, and ship them in custom sized egg foam for maximum safe travel! We have success shipping MA > CA.

Refunds

Please understand that MOST farmstead hatcheries do not provide refunds for canceled orders once you purchase - for MANY reasons. As part of our customer purchase agreement, we do provide refunds for canceled orders but the customer is responsible for the processing fees. Once the transaction is complete the fees are not refunded to us, and therefore they are not refunded to you. The credit card company keeps the fees because the transaction was complete the first time around.

Shipping

USPS Priority 2-3 day. We can fit up to 2 dozen per box. If you’d like additional, please place a second order.

Unpacking Your Eggs

Each order comes with an information sheet about unpacking your eggs, getting them ready to set, egg labeling info. Upon arrival, unpack your eggs, let them settle, fat side up, at room temperature (65-70 degrees) for 12-24 hours before putting them in the incubator. Do have your incubator on for at least 24 hours before adding eggs to it.

MITES/ LICE

We recommend Elector PSP, as it’s the most efficient, effective, and easy solution to treat mites and lice. It should work the first time you use it, unlike other products which are less affective and require multiple treatments. I would check the dose, and spray the vent area with Elector PSP as well. No egg withdrawal.

MINERALS / PROBIOTICS / VITAMINS

Our birds are regularly given probiotics in their feed, vitamins, and minerals. They also get some organic sea kelp, meal worms, and black soldier flies. They welcome table scraps!

DEWORMING

We use Aquasol, Safeguard (fendbendazole) Goat Dewormer in water, Panacur (fendbenazole) Horse Dewormer Paste (pea size amount in the mouth). Each product has different egg withdrawal periods. I put a link in Helpful Resources if you’d like to test for worms, and read about different dewormers, prior to doing so. We definitely deworm our birds.

SANITIZE + WATER CARE

We use Oxine. It has many uses, and is a great addition to poultry water and overall flock health and care. It is even safe for fogging, equipment and more. Compare to Virkon S and Bleach. Here is a great oxine article for its many safe uses.

If you are not satisfied with your package when it arrives, and there is apparent damage, you immediately need to file a claim with USPS.

FIRST | they need to see the original shipping box to verify damage. A postal employee must certify that the shipment arrived damaged and show that as well when you file a claim. Another reason it’s good to start with “Hold for Pickup” at the post office. ***YES**** We did pay the new Perishable Handling Fee of $15.00. YES the eggs were packaged individually in foam, to withstand normal impact. If the box is clearly smashed because it got crushed or banged in a machine due to mishandling, then the case is there to file a claim***

SECOND | Save your shipping box don’t toss it, tracking number, proof of purchase, and multiple photos of damage. If you receive a 1/2 dozen or dozen the box is insured for $100.00… If you receive two dozen eggs the box is insured for the ITEM SUBTOTAL. “Postal regulations prohibit payment of postage for damage claims” - USPS. For example, if the item subtotal is $84.00 and shipping is $25.00 USPS will only refund $84.00.

THIRD | Make sure the claim is filed as “Hatching Eggs”. Yes they were all individually packaged in foam, and packaged to withstand normal impact during transportation.

File a Claim by Phone: This is done ASAP. Verification of damage has to be by a USPS employee, at the Post Office, or Mail Carrier.
Call 1-866-974-2733 and file a claim. They give a claim number. You receive a form. Provide Proof of Value.

File a Claim Online: https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm This is done ASAP. See Steps 1-3 above.

Get in touch if you have questions!