Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you guarantee the live delivery of your birds?
A: Yes! Assuming you order at least six day-old chicks, Elite Poultrys'
Live Guarantee extends through delivery and up to 72 hours
after you receive the birds. If you end up with fewer birds than you paid for,
we will immediately reimburse you the value of the lost birds if you
notify us of the loss within 72 hours of receiving the chicks. We do
not send replacement birds. You should know that, unfortunately, traveling
through the postal system takes its toll on birds, especially day-old chicks. We
take every precaution to minimize mortality, but it is fairly common to lose one
or more chicks during shipment, especially if it takes more than 24 hours
between shipment and delivery. We use heat packs when shipping small quantities
of chicks in cool weather, and we make Gro-gel available to them to provide a
source of nutrients and hydration during shipment. Even so, unfortunately,
losses happen. If you want to decrease the chance of having a bird die in
shipment, we can usually arrange to have them shipped to arrive the same day
through Delta Airlines, although this method usually at least doubles the
shipping costs. If you order expensive chicks or if you’re simply the nervous
type, these additional shipping costs are often warranted.
Q: What can I reasonably expect when I buy chickens from Elite Poultry
A: The chickens sold by Elite Poultry are expensive
because they are rare and costly to import. When you buy from us you can be
confident that you are buying some of the rarest and most exotic poultry on the
planet. But, “rare” does not equate to “perfect,” and the birds you buy may not
be flawless physical specimens. Just as only a few children are destined to grow
into supermodels, only a few chickens are destined to win ribbons at shows.
Chickens, like all living things, show much individual variation, and frequently
those variations are imperfections. Also, know that most of the chicken breeds
we sell are so rare that there is no written standard for the breed against
which an individual bird can be measured. You should also realize that the rarer
the breed, the more likely you are to encounter problems related to inbreeding.
For some breeds and varieties that we sell, the global breeding population
consists of fewer than a hundred hens. Elite Poultry does not sell birds with
obvious, significant defects from inbreeding like crooked toes. But
unfortunately less obvious flaws like low fertility, low disease resistance, and
other challenges are not uncommon with extremely rare breeds. If you encounter
these challenges when the birds become adults, you will need to address them
with your own breeding plan. We cannot offer refunds or replacements at
a later date if a defect becomes evident in your birds.
Q: Do you vaccinate the chickens you sell?
A: Yes, unless you specifically request otherwise we
vaccinate our chicks for Marek’s disease. We do not vaccinate for other
diseases. A few facts about Marek’s may be useful. Marek’s is a form of avian
herpes virus that can cause severe nerve damage and tumors in chickens. A
common symptom is partial paralysis. Once it manifests symptoms in a bird the
bird will eventually die of the disease. It is not harmful to humans or other
mammals. Other poultry diseases and some nutritional deficiencies cause
symptoms similar to Marek’s, and it requires a necropsy to definitively diagnose
Marek’s. Marek’s disease is very common in the United States—particularly in
warm regions—and if your flock is not exhibiting symptoms it does mean that
Marek’s is absent in the area or your flock. Many flocks have developed a
resistance to Marek’s, and the disease is often present but hidden.
Marek’s-resistant chickens can live normal lives without becoming symptomatic.
The Marek’s vaccine we administer is based on a turkey herpes virus and does not
pose a risk to any chickens in your flock if you mix our vaccinated birds with
your unvaccinated birds. The vaccine is usually about 90% effective in
preventing Marek’s disease in vaccinated chicks. It’s possible that despite the
vaccination a bird that you purchase can later become infected with Marek’s.
It’s also possible that a different strain of Marek’s could be on your property
that is not easily defeated by the Marek’s vaccine that we administer. There
are several strains of Marek’s and the vaccination is not effective against all.
For these reasons we do not guarantee the birds we sell will not be susceptible
to Marek’s, and we do not replace birds that become infected with Marek’s. But,
we vaccinate the chicks at no cost to you to reduce the probability that your
birds will become ill with Marek’s. Chickens imported from Europe often have an
increased vulnerability to the strains of Marek’s in the United States. Some
breeds like hedemora are very susceptible to Marek’s. Other breeds like
American Bresse and Swedish flower hens show significant resistance to Marek’s.
But, no matter which breed you raise, we recommend that you vaccinate for
Marek’s if you hatch chicks from our stock.
Q: Can I place a deposit on some chickens so you’ll hold my place in line
until they’re available?
A: Yes! On any order for birds over $100, you can send
Elite Poultry a %50 deposit and we will hold your place in line. Shortly
before the birds become available to ship we will notify you, and you can pay
the balance owed. If you cancel your order for any reason other than the birds
have been delayed beyond the estimated ship date, your deposit or 50% of the
cost of your order will be forfeited, whichever is greater. If we are unable to
ship the birds by the estimated ship date and you cancel your order, your
deposit will be refunded in full.
Q: Will you sell me a trio of birds or just a few females?
A: Yes! We will sell Started pairs trios and quads. If you want to place
an order for started birds, We require a %50 deposit upon placing the order. And the
remaining balance due before shipment of birds.
ext. There is no exsisting stock of started birds. Once you make your deposit, we will grow out your birds.
Q: Do you have a print catalog?
A: Sorry, no. But if you’re reading this online, you’re
viewing our online catalog.
Q: How much do you charge for shipping birds? Do you ship
internationally?
A: We ship only within the United States and Canada. Within
the United States we charge $35 for shipping a box of up to 20 chicks and $80
for shipping a pair of juvenile chickens via the United States Postal Service.
We can ship chicks via Delta Airlines for about $150 per box. Shipping to
Canada costs more and requires a veterinary inspection. Please contact us if
you want birds shipped to Canada.
Q: Do the listed prices for birds include shipping?
A: No. Shipping is an additional charge.
Q: How do you set the prices for your birds?
A: The short answer: The prices we charge reflect the
increased costs we incur to make our chickens available to you.
Many of our birds are from imported stock, and it is very expensive to import
birds.
You should also know that all breeders do not treat their stock in the same
manner. At Elite Poultry we house our birds in large (expensive) pens and pay
good people to clean up after them, feed them, and care for them. We are proud
of the way we treat our animals
Q: What are your terms and
policies for ordering?
A: When our customers order from us, we ask that they read,
understand and agree to these terms and policies:
72-Hour Live Guarantee. If you place the minimum order
Elite Poultry guarantees you will receive the number of birds you ordered and
that they will live for 72 hours after you receive them. If after 72 hours you
have fewer live birds than you ordered, we will reimburse you the value of the
lost birds. We do not send replacement birds. To get your refund you
must notify us of the loss within 72 hours after you receive the
birds.
Minimum Order. The minimum order is six day-old
chicks. You may order fewer than six chicks but it is not a practice we
recommend, and the 72-Hour Live Guarantee will not apply in these cases. We
believe a half-dozen chicks is the minimum number of necessary to provide warmth
and cushioning for safe shipment. You, the buyer, assume the risk of loss if
you order fewer than six chicks. You can order any combination of breeds or
varieties to meet the minimum. We strongly encourage you to order the minimum to
increase the health and safety of the chicks during shipping.
Vaccinations. Unless you specifically request otherwise
your birds will be vaccinated for Marek’s disease.
Shipping. Orders are usually shipped on Monday, Tuesday, or
Wednesday each week and are delivered by the United States Postal Service. Up to
20 day-old chicks can be placed in a box. We charge $35 for sending a box of
chicks via overnight express mail and $80 for shipping a pair of juvenile birds.
We will email you the tracking number when the birds ship. We do not ship via
two-day priority mail. We can arrange to ship birds for same-day delivery via
Delta Airlines. This usually costs about $150 for a box of chicks. To safeguard
valuable chicks the additional shipping costs are often warranted.
Payment. Full payment is due before the birds are shipped.
You may book your order with a $100 deposit, and we will notify you shortly
before shipping for payment of the balance. We accept Paypal, money orders, and
Paypal is [email protected].
Timing of Shipment and Order Cancellation. It is difficult
to precisely predict laying rates, fertility rates, and hatch rates, especially
when dealing with very small numbers of very rare animals. We do our best to
accurately estimate delivery dates, but it is only an estimate, and we
can be wrong. You will be placed on a waiting list when you pay for your order
or make a %50 deposit, and nobody will be allowed to jump ahead of you in line.
If you order more than one breed of chick, the delivery date will be determined
by the latest delivery date for the breeds you ordered. You should know that
when you buy rare birds it is common to wait several months for delivery.
Elite Poultry is not a commercial hatchery, and frequently the ‘factory’ that
will produce your order consists of two or three hens that will quit laying for
the most trivial reason or for no reason at all. Please be patient. If we do not
deliver the birds on or before the estimated ship date, you may cancel your
order and immediately receive a full refund. If you cancel your order
for any reason other than our inability to timely ship you will forfeit your
deposit or 50% of the cost of your order, whichever is greater.
There are no exceptions to this policy.
What You Should Expect. You should expect birds that are
healthy when you receive them and on the average are higher quality than birds
you would buy from a large commercial hatchery. Just as every child is not
destined to become a supermodel, every bird is not destined to win ribbons at
shows. 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 birds. You
should also realize that the rarer the breed, the more likely you are to
encounter problems related to inbreeding. For some breeds and varieties that we
sell, the global breeding population consists of fewer than a dozen hens. We
cull for obvious defects like crooked toes, but low fertility, low egg
production, low disease resistance, and other challenges are not uncommon with
extremely rare breeds. If you encounter these challenges when the birds become
adults, you will need to address them with your own breeding plan. We do not
offer refunds beyond the 72-Hour Live Guarantee.
A: Yes! Assuming you order at least six day-old chicks, Elite Poultrys'
Live Guarantee extends through delivery and up to 72 hours
after you receive the birds. If you end up with fewer birds than you paid for,
we will immediately reimburse you the value of the lost birds if you
notify us of the loss within 72 hours of receiving the chicks. We do
not send replacement birds. You should know that, unfortunately, traveling
through the postal system takes its toll on birds, especially day-old chicks. We
take every precaution to minimize mortality, but it is fairly common to lose one
or more chicks during shipment, especially if it takes more than 24 hours
between shipment and delivery. We use heat packs when shipping small quantities
of chicks in cool weather, and we make Gro-gel available to them to provide a
source of nutrients and hydration during shipment. Even so, unfortunately,
losses happen. If you want to decrease the chance of having a bird die in
shipment, we can usually arrange to have them shipped to arrive the same day
through Delta Airlines, although this method usually at least doubles the
shipping costs. If you order expensive chicks or if you’re simply the nervous
type, these additional shipping costs are often warranted.
Q: What can I reasonably expect when I buy chickens from Elite Poultry
A: The chickens sold by Elite Poultry are expensive
because they are rare and costly to import. When you buy from us you can be
confident that you are buying some of the rarest and most exotic poultry on the
planet. But, “rare” does not equate to “perfect,” and the birds you buy may not
be flawless physical specimens. Just as only a few children are destined to grow
into supermodels, only a few chickens are destined to win ribbons at shows.
Chickens, like all living things, show much individual variation, and frequently
those variations are imperfections. Also, know that most of the chicken breeds
we sell are so rare that there is no written standard for the breed against
which an individual bird can be measured. You should also realize that the rarer
the breed, the more likely you are to encounter problems related to inbreeding.
For some breeds and varieties that we sell, the global breeding population
consists of fewer than a hundred hens. Elite Poultry does not sell birds with
obvious, significant defects from inbreeding like crooked toes. But
unfortunately less obvious flaws like low fertility, low disease resistance, and
other challenges are not uncommon with extremely rare breeds. If you encounter
these challenges when the birds become adults, you will need to address them
with your own breeding plan. We cannot offer refunds or replacements at
a later date if a defect becomes evident in your birds.
Q: Do you vaccinate the chickens you sell?
A: Yes, unless you specifically request otherwise we
vaccinate our chicks for Marek’s disease. We do not vaccinate for other
diseases. A few facts about Marek’s may be useful. Marek’s is a form of avian
herpes virus that can cause severe nerve damage and tumors in chickens. A
common symptom is partial paralysis. Once it manifests symptoms in a bird the
bird will eventually die of the disease. It is not harmful to humans or other
mammals. Other poultry diseases and some nutritional deficiencies cause
symptoms similar to Marek’s, and it requires a necropsy to definitively diagnose
Marek’s. Marek’s disease is very common in the United States—particularly in
warm regions—and if your flock is not exhibiting symptoms it does mean that
Marek’s is absent in the area or your flock. Many flocks have developed a
resistance to Marek’s, and the disease is often present but hidden.
Marek’s-resistant chickens can live normal lives without becoming symptomatic.
The Marek’s vaccine we administer is based on a turkey herpes virus and does not
pose a risk to any chickens in your flock if you mix our vaccinated birds with
your unvaccinated birds. The vaccine is usually about 90% effective in
preventing Marek’s disease in vaccinated chicks. It’s possible that despite the
vaccination a bird that you purchase can later become infected with Marek’s.
It’s also possible that a different strain of Marek’s could be on your property
that is not easily defeated by the Marek’s vaccine that we administer. There
are several strains of Marek’s and the vaccination is not effective against all.
For these reasons we do not guarantee the birds we sell will not be susceptible
to Marek’s, and we do not replace birds that become infected with Marek’s. But,
we vaccinate the chicks at no cost to you to reduce the probability that your
birds will become ill with Marek’s. Chickens imported from Europe often have an
increased vulnerability to the strains of Marek’s in the United States. Some
breeds like hedemora are very susceptible to Marek’s. Other breeds like
American Bresse and Swedish flower hens show significant resistance to Marek’s.
But, no matter which breed you raise, we recommend that you vaccinate for
Marek’s if you hatch chicks from our stock.
Q: Can I place a deposit on some chickens so you’ll hold my place in line
until they’re available?
A: Yes! On any order for birds over $100, you can send
Elite Poultry a %50 deposit and we will hold your place in line. Shortly
before the birds become available to ship we will notify you, and you can pay
the balance owed. If you cancel your order for any reason other than the birds
have been delayed beyond the estimated ship date, your deposit or 50% of the
cost of your order will be forfeited, whichever is greater. If we are unable to
ship the birds by the estimated ship date and you cancel your order, your
deposit will be refunded in full.
Q: Will you sell me a trio of birds or just a few females?
A: Yes! We will sell Started pairs trios and quads. If you want to place
an order for started birds, We require a %50 deposit upon placing the order. And the
remaining balance due before shipment of birds.
ext. There is no exsisting stock of started birds. Once you make your deposit, we will grow out your birds.
Q: Do you have a print catalog?
A: Sorry, no. But if you’re reading this online, you’re
viewing our online catalog.
Q: How much do you charge for shipping birds? Do you ship
internationally?
A: We ship only within the United States and Canada. Within
the United States we charge $35 for shipping a box of up to 20 chicks and $80
for shipping a pair of juvenile chickens via the United States Postal Service.
We can ship chicks via Delta Airlines for about $150 per box. Shipping to
Canada costs more and requires a veterinary inspection. Please contact us if
you want birds shipped to Canada.
Q: Do the listed prices for birds include shipping?
A: No. Shipping is an additional charge.
Q: How do you set the prices for your birds?
A: The short answer: The prices we charge reflect the
increased costs we incur to make our chickens available to you.
Many of our birds are from imported stock, and it is very expensive to import
birds.
You should also know that all breeders do not treat their stock in the same
manner. At Elite Poultry we house our birds in large (expensive) pens and pay
good people to clean up after them, feed them, and care for them. We are proud
of the way we treat our animals
Q: What are your terms and
policies for ordering?
A: When our customers order from us, we ask that they read,
understand and agree to these terms and policies:
72-Hour Live Guarantee. If you place the minimum order
Elite Poultry guarantees you will receive the number of birds you ordered and
that they will live for 72 hours after you receive them. If after 72 hours you
have fewer live birds than you ordered, we will reimburse you the value of the
lost birds. We do not send replacement birds. To get your refund you
must notify us of the loss within 72 hours after you receive the
birds.
Minimum Order. The minimum order is six day-old
chicks. You may order fewer than six chicks but it is not a practice we
recommend, and the 72-Hour Live Guarantee will not apply in these cases. We
believe a half-dozen chicks is the minimum number of necessary to provide warmth
and cushioning for safe shipment. You, the buyer, assume the risk of loss if
you order fewer than six chicks. You can order any combination of breeds or
varieties to meet the minimum. We strongly encourage you to order the minimum to
increase the health and safety of the chicks during shipping.
Vaccinations. Unless you specifically request otherwise
your birds will be vaccinated for Marek’s disease.
Shipping. Orders are usually shipped on Monday, Tuesday, or
Wednesday each week and are delivered by the United States Postal Service. Up to
20 day-old chicks can be placed in a box. We charge $35 for sending a box of
chicks via overnight express mail and $80 for shipping a pair of juvenile birds.
We will email you the tracking number when the birds ship. We do not ship via
two-day priority mail. We can arrange to ship birds for same-day delivery via
Delta Airlines. This usually costs about $150 for a box of chicks. To safeguard
valuable chicks the additional shipping costs are often warranted.
Payment. Full payment is due before the birds are shipped.
You may book your order with a $100 deposit, and we will notify you shortly
before shipping for payment of the balance. We accept Paypal, money orders, and
Paypal is [email protected].
Timing of Shipment and Order Cancellation. It is difficult
to precisely predict laying rates, fertility rates, and hatch rates, especially
when dealing with very small numbers of very rare animals. We do our best to
accurately estimate delivery dates, but it is only an estimate, and we
can be wrong. You will be placed on a waiting list when you pay for your order
or make a %50 deposit, and nobody will be allowed to jump ahead of you in line.
If you order more than one breed of chick, the delivery date will be determined
by the latest delivery date for the breeds you ordered. You should know that
when you buy rare birds it is common to wait several months for delivery.
Elite Poultry is not a commercial hatchery, and frequently the ‘factory’ that
will produce your order consists of two or three hens that will quit laying for
the most trivial reason or for no reason at all. Please be patient. If we do not
deliver the birds on or before the estimated ship date, you may cancel your
order and immediately receive a full refund. If you cancel your order
for any reason other than our inability to timely ship you will forfeit your
deposit or 50% of the cost of your order, whichever is greater.
There are no exceptions to this policy.
What You Should Expect. You should expect birds that are
healthy when you receive them and on the average are higher quality than birds
you would buy from a large commercial hatchery. Just as every child is not
destined to become a supermodel, every bird is not destined to win ribbons at
shows. 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 birds. You
should also realize that the rarer the breed, the more likely you are to
encounter problems related to inbreeding. For some breeds and varieties that we
sell, the global breeding population consists of fewer than a dozen hens. We
cull for obvious defects like crooked toes, but low fertility, low egg
production, low disease resistance, and other challenges are not uncommon with
extremely rare breeds. If you encounter these challenges when the birds become
adults, you will need to address them with your own breeding plan. We do not
offer refunds beyond the 72-Hour Live Guarantee.