Welsummer — Hatching Eggs
Welsummer — Hatching EggsNPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770
- 160–200 Eggs/Year
- Large Brown Eggs
- 20–24 Weeks to Lay
- Minimum 6 eggs per shipped order. Mix any breeds.
- Shipping: $19.99 for 6–23 eggs · FREE on 24+ eggs
- Free local pickup in Preston, MD
Checking ship weeks…
Orders close Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern before each Tuesday ship week. After that, that week is no longer available, so please choose another week from the dates still open.
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Start your next flock with Welsummer hatching eggs from Chesapeake Hatchery and experience the journey from egg to chick.
Ordering: Priced per egg at $10.99. Minimum order: 6 eggs total. Mix and match any available hatching egg breeds to reach your six-egg minimum.
Before you hatch: Prepare your incubator before your eggs arrive and follow its operating instructions. Hatch results vary with fertility, handling, and incubation conditions.
These are hatching eggs, not day-old chicks.
Common questions about Welsummer hatching eggs
What will Welsummer chicks grow into?
Welsummer hens lay large brown eggs, about 160–200 a year. Expect birds that are alert, curious, and active.
Can I choose hens or roosters?
No. Hatching eggs can't be sexed, so expect a natural mix of males and females.
What incubator settings should I use?
Hold 99.5°F and 45–55% humidity, and candle at days 7 and 14. At day 18, stop turning (lockdown) and raise humidity to 65–70%. Chicks usually hatch around day 21.
Should I let shipped eggs rest before incubating?
Yes. Let them rest at least 12 hours at room temperature so the air cells can settle after shipping.
Are hatch rates guaranteed?
We guarantee your eggs arrive unbroken. Please report any breakage when they arrive. Hatch rates can't be guaranteed because shipping, incubator accuracy and incubation practices all affect results.
When do hatching eggs ship?
Every Tuesday by USPS Priority Mail (usually 2–3 days). You choose your ship week on this page or in your cart, and free local pickup is also available.
Pairs well with:
- French Black Copper Marans hatching eggs: dark chocolate eggs
- Cream Legbar hatching eggs: blue eggs to go with your terracotta ones
Breed specifications
Breed specifications
Production
Maturity
Temperament
Appearance
Adaptability
Chick care overview
Chick care overview
Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.
Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.
Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.
Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.
Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.
For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.
Shipping
Shipping
Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.
We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.
Day-old chicks ship by USPS Priority Mail with live-animal handling, the same day they hatch. Most orders reach your local post office in 1–2 days; some rural areas take up to 3. Started pullets ship by USPS Priority Mail Express, as USPS requires for older birds.
LIVE CHICK SHIPPING
USPS Priority Mail:
6–25 chicks — $34.95
26–50 chicks — $49.95
51–100 chicks — $59.95
Optional Priority Mail Express at checkout: $69.95 for 6–14 chicks, $74.95 for 15–25, $79.95 for 26–50, $99.95 for 51–100.
Shipping farther than a day's drive from Maryland, such as south of the Carolinas or west of Ohio? We recommend Priority Mail Express. Express chicks are loaded first and usually arrive sooner, but USPS does not guarantee delivery times for live animals.
Ordering more than 100 chicks? Call us at (410) 635-1970.
Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds
Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order
Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.
