Terms of service
Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery
Last Updated: March 2026
By placing an order or using this website, you agree to the following Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before purchasing.
1. About Our Products
All chick orders placed through Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery are pre-orders for live animals. By ordering, you acknowledge that:
Chicks are living creatures subject to natural variability
Hatch rates, availability, and ship dates may be affected by factors outside our control
You are responsible for having appropriate housing, equipment, and care in place before your chicks arrive
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at our discretion.
2. Order Acceptance
Orders are not confirmed until you receive an order confirmation email. We reserve the right to cancel or decline any order due to inventory limitations, pricing errors, or other circumstances. In the event we cancel your order, a full refund will be issued to your original payment method.
3. Pricing & Payment
All prices are listed in U.S. dollars. We accept all major credit cards and payment methods available at checkout. Payment is collected at the time of order placement.
Pricing is subject to change without notice. Orders placed before a price change will be honored at the price shown at checkout.
4. Pre-Order & Inventory
Because all orders are pre-orders tied to specific hatch dates:
Your selected hatch date and breed(s) are reserved exclusively for you upon purchase
Availability is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
We cannot guarantee breed availability beyond what is shown at checkout
5. Cancellations & Refunds
Please refer to our full [Cancellation & Refund Policy] for complete details. Key terms:
Orders may be canceled within 14 days of purchase for a full refund
After 14 days, cancellations are not eligible for a refund
Shipping fees are non-refundable once shipping preparations begin
We are unable to make changes or additions to existing orders — the original order must be canceled and a new order placed
6. Shipping
Please refer to our full [Shipping Policy] for complete details. Key terms:
All chicks ship via USPS Priority Express
A minimum of 6 chicks is required for all shipped orders
We ship on select weekdays only
You are responsible for picking up your chicks promptly upon arrival at your local post office
Shipping costs include USPS surcharges and all packaging materials
7. Live Arrival Guarantee
We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee on all shipped orders. Full terms are available on our [Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee page]. To qualify for a refund or credit on DOA chicks:
Losses must be reported within 24 hours of delivery
A clear photo of the full group of chicks in the box (showing DOAs) must be submitted
Claims must be emailed to chicks@chesapeake-hatchery.com with your name, order number, total received, total losses, and breeds affected
We do not reship individual replacement chicks.
8. Substitutions & Omissions
On rare occasions, breed availability may change between the time of ordering and your hatch date. Please review our [Substitutions & Omissions Policy] for details on how we handle these situations.
9. Animal Welfare Responsibility
By purchasing from Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery, you agree that:
You have the legal right to own poultry in your city, county, and/or HOA
You will provide appropriate housing, food, water, and veterinary care
You understand the responsibilities involved in raising live animals
Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery is not responsible for chick health or survival after delivery has been accepted and chicks have left the care of USPS.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery shall not be liable for:
Loss or death of chicks after delivery
Delays caused by USPS or weather conditions
Incidental or consequential damages arising from the purchase of live animals
Losses resulting from failure to prepare appropriate brooding equipment
Our liability in any case shall not exceed the original purchase price of your order.
11. Accuracy of Information
We make every effort to ensure product descriptions, breed information, and availability are accurate. However, we do not warrant that all content is error-free. Images are representative and individual chick appearance may vary.
12. Privacy
We collect and use your personal information (name, address, phone number, email) solely to process and fulfill your order and communicate with you about it. We do not sell your information to third parties. For more details, please see our [Privacy Policy].
13. Governing Law
These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Maryland.
14. Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service at any time. Changes take effect upon posting to this page. Continued use of the site or placement of an order after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
Contact Us
If you have questions about these terms, please contact us:
📧 chicks@chesapeake-hatchery.com
📞 410-635-1870
🌐 chesapeake-hatchery.com