Frequently asked.

— Ordering

What is the minimum order?

Three chicks. Below three, body heat in transit becomes the limiting factor and we cannot guarantee live arrival. Most customers order six to fifteen.

Can I mix breeds in one order?

Yes. Mix and match across any breeds and quantities, as long as the total is at least three.

Are the chicks sexed?

Most breeds are available as sexed pullets (95% female accuracy), straight-run, or as cockerels. Choose at the per-breed level on each product page.

Are the chicks vaccinated?

Every chick is vaccinated against Marek's, Newcastle, and Infectious Bronchitis within twenty-four hours of hatch.

How far in advance should I order?

Two to four weeks for popular breeds. Some heritage lines book six weeks out during spring. The product page shows the next available ship date.

— Shipping

How are chicks shipped?

USPS Priority Mail Express in an insulated, ventilated transit box. Each chick has up to seventy-two hours of internalized yolk, which is what makes shipping safe.

When do you ship?

Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Boxes are dropped at the Worcester regional sort facility before the 7 a.m. cutoff and routed overnight.

Where do you ship?

All forty-eight contiguous U.S. states. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, or internationally.

What if the weather is bad?

If the destination forecast shows below 20°F or above 95°F at the expected delivery hour, we hold the shipment for the next safe ship day. Holds are free.

How will I know it has arrived?

You'll get an SMS when USPS scans the parcel into transit and another at delivery. Most carriers will hold the parcel at the post office rather than leave it on a porch.

— Care

What temperature does a brooder need?

95°F at chick level for week one. Reduce by 5°F per week until you reach ambient room temperature, around week six.

What feed do they need?

A 20–22% protein chick starter, medicated or unmedicated — either is fine if the chicks are vaccinated, which ours are. Feed for the first eight weeks.

Can I put them with my existing flock?

Not until they're fully feathered (six to eight weeks) and even then quarantine for thirty days first. Mixing day-olds with adult birds is the #1 mortality cause we see.

How long until they lay?

Production breeds (Leghorns, Sex-Links): 18–22 weeks. Heritage breeds (Wyandottes, Orpingtons): 22–28 weeks. Slow breeds (Brahmas): 30+ weeks.

— Trouble

What if a chick arrives DOA?

Photograph the chick alongside the open transit box, email flock@avorahatch.com within forty-eight hours, and we will refund or replace. See the guarantee page for details.

A chick is lethargic on day two.

Most often dehydration. Dip the beak in lukewarm sugar water (one teaspoon sugar per cup) every fifteen minutes for an hour. If unimproved by hour three, call a poultry vet.

Can I cancel an order?

Yes, up to seven days before the scheduled ship date for a full refund. Within seven days, we can offer store credit or a future hatch slot.