CAN MY CHICKENS BE COURIERED TO ME?

I can arrange for a specialist poultry courier to deliver the chickens to you directly unless there are avian flu restrictions preventing the movement of poultry.  The cost is normally around £70 but varies depending on location.

CAN I PURCHASE CHICKENS TO BE COLLECTED AT A LATER DATE?

Yes of course.  I do however require a 50% non refundable deposit to hold the birds.  Birds will be kept for a maximum period of 14 days unless it is agreed otherwise.

WHAT DO YOU FEED THE CHICKENS?

My bantams are initially fed medicated chick crumb up to about 5/6 weeks of age followed by growers pellets.  They are then moved onto layers pellets from about 18 weeks old once I see evidence of them starting to lay.  I tend to only add corn or wheat in the winter months. Mixed grit is always available. 

ARE YOUR BIRDS FULLY VACCINATED? 

Generally, pure bred bantams do not tend to be vaccinated in the same way as Hybrids.  However, I vaccinate against Mareks disease within the first 24 hours of the chicks life and give medicated chick crumb for Coccidiosis, to help protect my birds from two of the most common diseases,  I also worm my bantams to ensure they are in good health. 

WHEN DO YOU WORM? 

I worm all my bantams quarterly, in October, January, April and July.  

SOME OF MY FERTILE HATCHING EGGS DID NOT HATCH

Fresh fertile eggs that have not been posted have an average hatch rate of 80%.  If they have been sent through the post the average hatch rate is 50%, even if they have been handled carefully.  No supplier of hatching eggs can guarantee a hatch rate - that goes for my own hatches too!  Those hatch rates are average, some incubations will see a better percentage and some will sadly see less.  In addition to hatch rates being affected by the postal system, the most common reason for fertile eggs not hatching is down to improper control of temperature or humidity.  If you are inexperienced at hatching in an incubator, it really is worthwhile doing some research online.

Eggs are most fertile in the first 10 days from being laid.  I collect the eggs daily and store them pointy end down in a cool place out of direct sunlight.  Eggs are collected and dispatched to customers as quickly as possible in specially made polystyrene boxes.  Fertility is checked regularly.  If eggs are candled at day 5 and less than 50% are fertile, please contact me and I will happily replace them, provided the eggs are returned to me.  Additional postal costs will be at your own expense.