Frequently Quacked Questions

General

  • Currently we hold NPIP certification and our flocks are closed. This means that we do not introduce any new birds onto our property to prevent potential infections and the spread of diseases among our existing chickens. Disease transmission can occur through various means, including footwear, clothing, and hair of individuals who own chickens. In order to safeguard the health of our flock and ensure the well-being of your future chicks or pullets, we have implemented a policy of not allowing visitors onto the farm premises.

    We understand that this precautionary measure may appear unusual or unwelcoming. However, please rest assured that we prioritize the health of our flocks. When you acquire birds from us, you can be confident that they originate from healthy and robust parent stock.

    If you wish to collect chicks, hatching eggs, or coop ready birds, please schedule an appointment in advance. This enables us to accommodate your visit and ensure a smooth transaction process.

  • Started Pullets are birds we raise from chicks to the age of approximately 2-3 months

    1. Your birds do not need a brooder and can go directly to the coop.

    2. You are able to choose the sex of you birds.

    3. We are able to assess any personality requests you may have.

  • You will have to pick them up. When your order arrives, the post office is instructed to call for pick-up. We put on your shipping box the phone number you gave to us. We recommend keeping close watch on the delivery and tracking and notifying the post office that you have live birds coming and to call. Delivery can be 1-5 days so be sure you are available for the anticipated arrival date.

  • There are several reasons why our pricing may be higher than that of other hatcheries:

    1. We place a strong emphasis on genetics and backgrounds, ensuring that we acquire and raise only the highest quality breeding stock. This entails significant investment in both finances and labor. Unlike larger hatcheries, we prioritize individual care for each bird, which translates into additional cleaning and maintenance efforts.

    2. Our commitment to providing you with a superior quality and holistic experience reflects our belief in the importance of sustainable practices, education, and a comprehensive approach to farming. For more details on our farming practices, sustainability initiatives, and educational resources, we encourage you to explore our Farming Practices, Sustainability, Education, and Wholistic pages on our website.

    3. When you choose to purchase birds from us, you become a valued member of our extended family. We offer ongoing support and expertise to ensure your continued success in raising and caring for your flock. Your support means the world to us, and we sincerely appreciate your trust and partnership.

  • No, this is because each bird is raised differently and the cost to raise them varies.

  • We primarily offer "straight run" chicks, meaning we do not guarantee their sex. While we aim for a balanced mix, there's no assurance of receiving females with straight run orders. Exceptions include specific breeds like Bielefelder and Cream Legbar, clearly indicated as guaranteed females on our website.

    For those seeking guaranteed females, we provide started pullets. However, it's important to note that sexing is not infallible. Certain breeds, such as Silkies, are not sexed when selected for coop readiness.

    When ordering straight run chicks, understand that there's a 50/50 chance of receiving males. To increase your odds of obtaining desired hens, we recommend ordering twice the quantity of chicks as your desired hen count. For example, aiming for four hens? Ordering eight chicks will likely achieve your goal.

  • Yes, we are NPIP certified. Our NPIP number is #13-37

  • Chick Care Guide

    Duckling & Gosling Care Guide

  • We do not represent that every bird we sell is show quality or is flawless. You should receive birds that can be the foundation for a breeding program that with enough time and skill can produce show-quality or breeding quality birds.

    If you want to know any issues or faults with the individual breeds and plan on breeding or showing reach out to us and we can provide some of those details. There are several factors involved with all breeds so to list them out is difficult. Many breeds we raise have no standard of perfection. However, we do strive to meet the Country of origination standard if applicable in the description of the fowl. Do your research on these breeds if you plan on breeding or showing. We can assist with what we know and also point you to reputable sources.

  • We do not sell any of our breeding or laying hens during the hatching season but occasionally we sell a limited number of each of our breeds as adults come October/November. To be in the loop on the sales of adult hens follow us on Instagram and Facebook , sign up here,– the hens tend to sell out fast!

  • We do not have minimums, but we suggest that you order 6 or more for any babies ordered. It is a risk shipping any chicks under 6 and there is no guarantee on them if under that amount.

  • We believe in giving you the strongest babies so they can have a good start to their new life. We don't typically ship newborns unless special requested due to their fragile state in the first week and we can’t guarantee they will survive shipping. For farm pick-up we do offer newborns since they wont be traveling in the mail.

  • This will depend on your location, set up, and even personal preference. The most popular time for shipping chicks is in the spring when egg laying is at its peak. If you live in an area with late freezes, you may want to wait until early summer to have your chicks shipped. Those who live in warmer regions can have chicks safely shipped well into fall.

Health

  • Pasty butt is a thick caking of poop on their rear that can block their ability to pass their poop. It can happen from pressure, temperature changes, and dehydration. This is treatable but could result in fatality if not dealt with. Tenderly eliminate the stuck droppings with a warm, wetted paper towel. Use caution to not pull them down from the chick’s base. You should be patient as it could require some investment to get the vent free from all stuck droppings. Wipe the region off with a spotless paper towel and apply some vegetable or olive oil to the space with a Q-tip to keep more droppings from staying.

  • Our birds are tested by the state NPIP Program twice a year to be free of diseases so we know we are providing our customers with the healthiest birds possible. We also work hard on our breeding program, by selecting birds that have good health and vigor. Any birds who become sick we don’t use for our breeding program. We also believe in good nutrition by providing top-quality feed, vitamins, and supplements, designed and recommended by top nutritionists and Scientists. We breed for health, vigor, and adaptation to our environment here in Vermont. Since we have weather extremes here our birds tend to do good in all climates. We also vaccinate for Marek’s Disease the #1 most contagious disease that has no cure.

  • Regrettably, due to challenges with postal services amidst Covid-19, we are unable to offer a live guarantee for our shipments. USPS no longer provides Priority Express overnight service, resulting in a 1-3 day delivery window. Despite this, we spare no effort in ensuring the well-being of our birds during transit, providing specialized boxes, ample bedding, food, water, and even herbal stress relief.

    To enhance the likelihood of a successful delivery, we recommend contacting your local post office in advance to alert them of the live animal shipment, providing the expected delivery date and tracking information. Being available to promptly receive the birds upon arrival, ensuring fresh air and water, is also crucial. Throughout the order fulfillment process, we communicate extensively via email, offering guidance and tips to facilitate a smooth delivery experience.

    In the unfortunate event of loss during transit, customers have the option to file a claim with USPS. While outcomes are not guaranteed, we endeavor to assist where possible. Depending on the circumstances, we may offer store credit or arrange for a re-shipment, with shipping costs borne by the customer. As we deal with rare breeds, replacements may not always be available due to limited stock.

Shipping

  • Unfortunately we are unable to provide a live guarantee at this time. The challenges posed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic have been considerable. USPS no longer offers Priority Express overnight service, resulting in a transition to 1-3 day delivery, which presents risks to the well-being of live animals during transit.

    Here at the farm, we are committed to ensuring that our birds arrive at their destination in a healthy and thriving condition. To this end, we take meticulous care in preparing them for their journey. This includes utilizing specialized boxes designed for live birds, providing ample bedding, food, water, and, if necessary, supplemental heat. Additionally, we apply an herbal stress reliever to further enhance their comfort during transit.

    In light of these circumstances, we offer the following recommendations to optimize the shipping process for live animals:

    Contact your local post office in advance to notify them of an incoming shipment of live animals. Provide them with the expected day of arrival, tracking information, and ensure you are available to receive the birds promptly upon their arrival.

    Upon receiving notification from the post office, be prepared to collect the birds immediately, providing them with fresh air and access to clean water.

    Throughout the fulfillment process, we communicate detailed guidance via email to assist you in ensuring the safe arrival of your birds.

    In the unfortunate event that issues arise during transit, such as the birds arriving deceased, we encourage you to file a claim with USPS. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of such claims, we are committed to assisting you in this process to the best of our ability. Depending on the circumstances, we may offer store credit or arrange for a reshipment of the birds, with the understanding that shipping costs for reshipments will be the responsibility of the customer. Please note that due to the nature of our rare breed offerings, we may not always have additional stock available for immediate replacement.

    We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in navigating these challenges, and we remain dedicated to providing the highest level of care and service to our valued customers.

  • We can ship anywhere in the US with the exception of Hawaii.

    Currently we are not able to offer shipping to Canada

  • Shipping costs vary depending on the type of fowl or items purchased. Please note that shipping costs are determined by the United States Postal Service (USPS), and as such, we do not have control over these charges. Our pricing does however already include the fees associated with shipping boxes.

  • We use the USPS and they don’t offer shipping date in the checkout area.

  • Our policy is 5-7 weeks to process in season. We are not a hatchery but a farm who takes special care of our fowl. So when a customer places that order we will start to work on that order,  and we typically don’t have stock readily available. So this means for hatching eggs we assess the orders already placed and determine when we can fill it then work on collecting eggs. For babies we set the eggs then it will take at least 22 days till hatch ( quail/20 duck/turkey/guinea 29, goose 34). Then we give them a week to acclimate. If there are orders ahead those will be filled first. For fully feathered it is those days plus the typical 5-8 week growing period , so roughly 3 months. Some products are backordered and we indicate this clearly on the website.

    For Spring (Season March-May)

    All the above apply, however our hens generally start laying in March which means we won’t have chicks until April. We go in the order it was received so if you have pre-ordered yours will be filled among the first . The general timeline above applies but can be extended if there are already orders in place or we have a bird that is in higher demand (Ayam Cemani, Polish, Serama, Icelandic). You can request in the notes section of your order  if you would like your order later, we can  generally accommodate.

  • For chicks orders take 5-7 weeks to process from the time you order. This can fluctuate based on season, higher demand breeds or fowl behavior etc. We are a farm that takes a wholistic approach to our fowl which means we allow them to naturally reproduce.

  • Order adjustments are permitted once, therefore careful consideration is advised regarding additions or removals.

    Adding birds: We try to accommodate requests for adding items if they are available for the same shipping date. Any such requests should be made a few days before Tuesday.

    Removing birds: A 50% forfeiture of the item price is applicable for requests to remove chicks from your order. Requests must be submitted by Tuesday.

Orders

  • Here are some of the most common things to look at as potential causes:

    Temperature: Check that the temperature is not too hot/cold and is it being adjusted appropriately for their age. The area where you have the heat should be 95-99°F for the first day or two after arrival, 95°F for the first week and then lowered 5°F each week following until heat is no longer required. Do not heat the entire brooder, they need to have an area to get away from the heat. We recommend you have food and water on one side and heat on the other. Comfortable babies will move in and out of the warm zone to regulate their temperature. For waterfowl, see their instructions

    Feed: are they on the right feed for their age and fowl type. All types of fowl have different nutritional requirements See our feed line here and we do suggest you start them out on our feed. If not we can help with some ideas. Make sure feeder is kept clean. Coccidiosis is a common issue in young birds and please be aware this can happen.

    Water: Their waterer needs to be kept clean and full of fresh water and away from the heat. You can add the Oregano Oil we carry to this water or electrolytes..

    Brooder: Make sure the chick’s living conditions are kept clean and dry. A dirty, wet, warm environment is prime living conditions for coccidiosis. Be sure that the brooder is well ventilated and free from draft and safe from other potential dogs or cats that could harm them.

  • Yes, we vaccinate for Marek’s Disease, the #1 killer of chickens with no cure. All chickens are vaccinated at birth here on the farm, this is being a responsible farmer. Pricing for the vaccine is included in the chick’s pricing, no need to pay extra for this service. If you don’t want the vaccine we can offer it for baby chicks only. Let us know in the notes section of the order and we will make special accommodations.

  • Marek’s disease is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease in chickens. The disease is characterized by the presence of T-cell lymphoma as well as the infiltration of nerves and organs by lymphocytes. The related herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) causes no apparent disease in turkeys and continues to be used as a vaccine strain for the prevention of Marek’s disease in chickens. One or more syndromes occur after infection: paralysis of one or more limbs, tumors, depression, grey eye, unequal size of the pupils and/or immunosuppression. There are a number of other diseases or conditions that could cause these syndromes and it is very hard to determine if Marek’s is the issue at hand. Vaccination for Marek’s is also not a guarantee that the chicken will not get Marek’s disease but symptoms may not show like an unvaccinated bird. We go into more details in our blog article by The Chicken Doc, also in our educational area we have related articles and information as to the WHY and general questions on the subject.

  • If you think you didn’t receive a ready to ship email for your order, check the spam folder with the email you registered with. Many times the email was entered incorrectly. Also check  your account dashboard to see orders in the orders section on the website. For text messages we auto text if you have provided a number that accepts texts.

    We ship on Tuesdays and the accounts are updated that evening. if by the next day you still do not see a confirmation email, contact us at support@sugar-feather.com

  • Yes, internet orders automatically figure your shipping for you (we don’t control the USPS prices). The shipping charge covers postage to your Post Office, box, padding, heat, food and special grow gel for all live fowl orders. If any additional items are needed we will contact you.

  • If you received a notification that your order was changed it’s likely because something happened to the fowl or something changed at USPS. Contact USPS for more information or contact us support@sugar-feather.com so we can help.

  • Yes, absolutely! Contact us at contact @sugar-feather.com so we can accommodate your request.