Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee

At Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery, we take great care in preparing and shipping your chicks so they arrive healthy, safe, and ready to thrive. We understand how exciting — and nerve-wracking — it can be to receive live animals in the mail, so we want you to know exactly what to expect and how we support you if something goes wrong.

How We Ship

We use the United States Postal Service (USPS), (Express) the only major carrier that allows live poultry shipping. This trusted service has safely delivered chicks for over 100 years.

Here’s what we do to give your chicks the best chance at a safe arrival:

  • USPS-approved live chick boxes with proper ventilation and insulation
  • Grow gel for hydration and nutrients during transit
  • Snug packaging to help chicks stay warm together
  • Optional heat packs in colder weather
  • Shipping on select days only to avoid weekend delays
  • Close monitoring of weather and postal conditions

Most chicks arrive within 1–2 days of shipping, and your local post office will call you when they’re ready for pickup. Please plan to pick them up promptly to get them into a warm brooder.

DOAs (Dead on Arrival)

Although rare, DOAs can occur. Even under ideal conditions, some chicks may not survive the first few hours of life. This is a natural part of chick hatching and not always due to shipping or handling.

We stand behind the health and quality of our chicks. If you experience losses upon arrival, we’re here to help.

Our Live Arrival Guarantee

To qualify for a refund or credit:

  • Report any losses within 24 hours of receiving your chicks
  • Send an email to chicks@chesapeake-hatchery.com
  • Include:
    • Your name and order number
    • A clear photo of the entire group of chicks in the box, showing DOAs
    • Total number received and number and breed that arrived deceased

We will issue a refund for lost chicks (excluding shipping) or offer a credit toward a future order — your choice.

Please note: We do not reship single replacements due to the stress it causes the chicks and shipping risks for small orders.

Order Adjustments Due to Weather or Inventory

We may, on rare occasions, delay a shipment due to weather, postal issues, or hatching inconsistencies. If we cannot fill the majority of your order, you’ll be contacted with options:

  • Reschedule for a future hatch date
  • Receive a refund in accordance with our cancellation policy

Minor substitutions or omissions may occur to ensure your chicks arrive safely and in good condition.

Our Promise

We raise every chick with hands-on care and attention — the same way we’d want them treated if we were the customer. While nature doesn’t always cooperate, we do everything we can to ensure your experience is a great one.

Thank you for choosing Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery! If you have questions, feel free to reach out anytime.