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SHIPPING, PICKUP & RETURNS

Shipping, Pickup & Order Policies

 

 

Effective Date: March 25, 2026

 

At Parcell Farms, we believe in being transparent about the realities of shipping live animals and hatching eggs while also doing everything we reasonably can on our end to prepare each order with care.

 

The policies below are designed to help set clear expectations regarding shipping, pickup, claims, cancellations, and order handling.

 

By placing an order with Parcell Farms, you acknowledge and agree to the policies outlined below.

 

 

1. Hatching Egg Shipping

 

 

We take great care in collecting, handling, and packaging hatching eggs to help support the best possible condition during transit.

 

 

Shipping Details

 

 

  • Free shipping is included on all hatching egg orders

  • Hatching eggs are packed in premium foam shipping containers

  • Orders are shipped as fresh as reasonably possible based on availability and fulfillment timing

 

 

 

Important

 

 

Hatching eggs are fragile, perishable, and highly variable by nature.

 

Because hatch success is influenced by many factors outside our control, Parcell Farms does not guarantee:

 

  • Hatch rate

  • Fertility

  • Viability

  • Development success

 

 

Factors that can affect hatch outcomes include:

 

  • Transit vibration or handling

  • Incubation methods

  • Temperature and humidity control

  • Storage after arrival

  • Incubator accuracy

  • Environmental conditions

 

 

An incubation guide is included with orders to help support your success.

 

 

 

 

2. Live Poultry Shipping

 

 

We ship live chicks and other eligible live poultry using thoughtful, industry-standard practices designed to support safe transit.

 

 

Shipping Details

 

 

  • Live chick shipping is free for orders of 12 or more chicks

  • Orders under 12 chicks ship for a flat $60 shipping fee

  • Shipped chick orders require a minimum of 6 birds

  • Chicks may be mixed by breed, provided they are available within the same fulfillment window

 

 

 

What We Include

 

 

Depending on season, temperature, and shipment conditions, orders may include supportive shipping materials such as:

 

  • Hydration support (such as GroGel)

  • Feed support

  • Seasonal temperature support when needed

  • Appropriate live poultry shipping boxes

 

 

Parcell Farms determines packing methods based on weather, bird age, quantity, and transit considerations.

 

 

 

 

3. Shipping Schedule

 

 

 

Live Poultry

 

 

Live poultry shipments are typically sent:

 

  • Monday

  • Tuesday

  • Wednesday

 

 

This schedule helps reduce the risk of birds being delayed in transit over weekends.

 

 

Hatching Eggs

 

 

Hatching eggs are generally shipped based on collection timing, order queue, and weather conditions.

 

Parcell Farms reserves the right to delay, hold, or reschedule shipments if necessary due to:

 

  • Severe weather

  • Carrier disruptions

  • Animal welfare concerns

  • Order readiness

  • Flock or availability conditions

 

 

 

 

 

4. Hold for Pickup Requirement

 

 

All live poultry shipments are sent Hold for Pickup unless otherwise stated.

 

This means your local post office should contact you once your shipment arrives and is ready for pickup.

 

 

Customer Responsibilities

 

 

Customers are responsible for:

 

  • Monitoring tracking

  • Watching for postal updates

  • Picking up chicks the same day they arrive

  • Ensuring the phone number provided at checkout is accurate

 

 

 

Important

 

 

Failure to pick up a live shipment on the day of arrival may:

 

  • affect chick condition

  • limit support eligibility

  • void Live Arrival claim review

 

 

This requirement is in place for the health and safety of the animals.

 

 

 

 

5. Transfer of Risk During Shipping

 

 

Parcell Farms prepares every order using commercially reasonable care and established live poultry shipping practices.

 

Once a shipment has been accepted by the carrier (including USPS), transit conditions and handling are outside of our direct control.

 

Parcell Farms is not responsible for carrier-related issues including, but not limited to:

 

  • Delays

  • Rerouting

  • Mishandling

  • Delivery timing

  • Transit-related stress or decline

 

 

Customers acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with shipping live animals and hatching eggs.

 

 

 

 

6. Live Arrival (DOA) Claims

 

 

We understand that, despite careful preparation, shipping live animals carries risk. If an issue occurs during transit, we will review eligible claims fairly and case by case.

 

 

To qualify for review:

 

 

Claims must be submitted:

 

 

 

 

Required Documentation

 

 

Please include clear photos of:

 

  • the original shipping box

  • the shipping label

  • the affected chick(s) or bird(s)

 

 

 

Important

 

 

Claims may not be eligible for review if:

 

  • the shipment was not picked up on the day of arrival

  • required documentation is missing

  • the claim is submitted outside the required timeframe

 

 

If approved, eligible claims may be resolved at Parcell Farms’ discretion through one of the following:

 

  • Store credit

  • Replacement (if available)

  • Partial refund

  • Full refund

 

 

 

 

 

7. Local Pickup Orders

 

 

Customers selecting local pickup are responsible for arriving during the agreed pickup window.

 

 

Minimum

 

 

  • Local pickup chick orders require a minimum of 3 birds

 

 

 

Pickup Expectations

 

 

Customers must:

 

  • arrive at the scheduled pickup time

  • retrieve animals promptly

  • communicate in advance if a delay occurs

 

 

If a pickup order is not collected within 7 days of the agreed pickup date, Parcell Farms reserves the right to:

 

  • cancel the order

  • rehome or reallocate the animals

  • retain some or all payment associated with the order

 

 

 

 

 

8. Cancellations, Returns & Refunds

 

 

Because many of our products are live, perishable, limited, or reserved in advance, all sales are generally considered final.

 

 

Returns

 

 

For biosecurity and animal welfare reasons:

 

  • Live poultry and waterfowl may not be returned

  • Hatching eggs may not be returned

 

 

 

Cancellations

 

 

Orders may not be canceled once:

 

  • eggs have been packaged

  • live animals have been prepared for shipment

  • reserved inventory has been allocated to your order

 

 

 

Refund Requests

 

 

Refunds requested prior to fulfillment may be considered on a case-by-case basis but are not guaranteed.

 

Approved refunds, if any, may be issued in the form of:

 

  • original payment refund

  • store credit

  • transfer to future fulfillment (if applicable)

 

 

 

 

 

9. Deposits, Preorders & Waitlist Orders

 

 

Some Parcell Farms products may be sold as:

 

  • deposits

  • preorders

  • reservation-based availability

  • waitlist fulfillment

 

 

These orders are often tied to future hatch timing, breeder output, or limited availability.

 

 

Important

 

 

Unless otherwise stated in writing:

 

  • Deposits are non-refundable

  • Preorder and waitlist payments are non-refundable

  • Estimated fulfillment timing is subject to change based on natural production and flock conditions

 

 

Parcell Farms will make reasonable efforts to communicate timing updates when applicable.

 

 

 

 

10. Weather, Delays & Welfare Holds

 

 

Animal welfare comes first.

 

Parcell Farms reserves the right to delay, hold, or reschedule any shipment or pickup if conditions are not appropriate for safe fulfillment.

 

This may include:

 

  • heat waves

  • cold snaps

  • storms

  • regional postal disruption

  • flock or hatch timing concerns

  • other welfare-related concerns

 

 

These decisions are made to prioritize the health and safety of the animals.

 

 

 

 

11. Customer Responsibilities

 

 

By placing an order, the customer agrees to:

 

  • provide accurate shipping and contact information

  • monitor shipment tracking

  • retrieve live shipments promptly

  • provide appropriate housing, heat, feed, water, and care

  • follow reasonable quarantine and integration practices

 

 

Failure to meet these responsibilities may affect claim eligibility or order support.

 

 

 

 

12. Questions

 

 

If you have questions about an order or these policies, please contact:

 

Parcell Farms LLC

📧 contactus@parcellfarms.com

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