Policies

By visiting our site or purchasing from Hoover’s Hatchery, you engage in our “Service” and agree to the policies below, including any additional terms referenced here or available via hyperlink. These policies apply to all users of our site, including browsers, customers, wholesalers, brokers, and content contributors.

We strive to provide accurate product descriptions, breed information, pricing, images, and availability across our website and catalog. However, errors or omissions may occasionally occur. Hoover's Hatchery reserves the right to correct any typographical, pricing, product, or technical errors at any time without prior notice. Orders placed using incorrect pricing or inaccurate product information are subject to review before fulfillment. If an error is identified after an order is placed, Hoover's Hatchery reserves the right to cancel the order, contact the customer to obtain approval for the correct price or product information, or issue a full refund if the customer chooses not to proceed.

Hoover's Hatchery will never issue a refund, credit, replacement, or other compensation exceeding the original purchase price of the applicable product(s).

Placing an Order

Orders may be placed directly on our website or through our Customer Service Team via chat or phone.
Your ship date is determined by the common hatch/ship date of the breeds you selected.

Inventory for live products (chicks, ducks, eggs, etc.) is based on estimated hatch rates and may change due to natural or unforeseen factors.

Payment Information

Payment is taken at the time of ordering. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and PayPal (website only).

Poultry Shipping & Arrival

We ship live poultry Monday–Wednesday, depending on poultry type and season:

January–August: 3 days per week
September–December: 1–2 days per week

All orders ship via USPS Priority Mail. Most orders arrive within 72 hours.

Your chicks are typically held at your local Post Office, and they should call you upon arrival. We strongly recommend contacting your Post Office ahead of time to notify them of the shipment.

Important:

Poultry must be picked up promptly.
Orders not picked up within 8 hours forfeit our 48-Hour Livability Policy.
The Post Office may rehome live poultry left overnight. No refund or reshipment will be issued in such cases.

Local Pickup

Local pickup is available in Quakertown, PA and Mason City, IA.
Pickup orders must be placed by phone at 641-323-6100.

Changes to an Order

Customers may make one complimentary order change prior to 9:00 AM CST on the Friday before their hatch/ship date.
Additional changes may incur a $10 order change fee, applied at Hoover’s discretion.

Poultry Returns

Due to the perishable nature of live animals and for biosecurity reasons, returns are not accepted for any reason.

Gender Accuracy Policy

We strive for 100% accuracy when sexing chicks, but errors may occur. Hoover’s Hatchery offers a 90% Gender Accuracy Policy on hatched birds.

If the accuracy of sexed birds in an order falls below 90%, we will refund the price of the chicks outside of the 90% accuracy threshold that were sent in the incorrect gender.
For meat birds, we will refund the price difference.
Errors must be reported no later than 22 weeks of age.
- A photo may be required.

48-Hour Guarantee (Day-Old Poultry)

Hoover’s Hatchery guarantees day-old poultry for 48 hours after arrival in your care.

Losses sustained within 48 hours of arrival in your care can be reported by phone, email to sales@hoovershatchery.com, or at www.hoovershatchery.com.
- Losses reported by phone or email must be submitted within 48 hours of arrival in your care.
Losses reported through our website must be submitted within 6 days of the ship date.
Credits will never exceed the original purchase price.
All orders, including replacement shipments, must meet established shipping minimum requirements. Shipping minimums exist to protect the health and safety of the birds during transit. If issues occur on a replacement order, we will issue a refund instead of reshipping.
Hoover’s Hatchery is not responsible for losses due to incorrect addresses, phone numbers, or email information.
Physical defects must be reported within 48 hours of arrival, and photos may be required.

Substitution Policy

If a breed does not hatch as expected, we will follow your substitution preferences.
If substitutions are declined, your order may be rescheduled at our discretion. If rescheduling is not possible, we will cancel and refund the order.

Accepting substitutions means breeds received are not guaranteed.

Accepting Orders Earlier

If you opt to receive your order earlier, it may ship before your selected hatch date without prior notice. Early shipment is not guaranteed.

Vaccinations

Marek’s Vaccination

Optional for standard chicks.
Helps build resistance but is not a cure.
Hoover’s Hatchery is not responsible for loss or damages due to Marek’s Disease, regardless of vaccination.

Coccidiosis Vaccination

Optional for standard chicks.
Prevents coccidiosis (intestinal disease).
Do not feed medicated starter if choosing the Cocci vaccine, as it counteracts the vaccine.
Coccidiosis can also be treated with Corid in the water for 3–5 days.

Vaccinations are not automatically added. To request them, call 641-323-6100 with your order number. Additional fees apply.

Started Pullet Policy

Started pullets must be picked up on the scheduled pickup date.
Failure to pick up birds as scheduled may result in additional boarding, care, or rescheduling fees.
Missed pickups may result in order cancellation without refund.
All cancellations are subject to Hoover's Hatchery's discretion and may be non-refundable.
Gender is guaranteed.
Started pullets are guaranteed for live pickup only. Once birds leave our care, no health, quality, performance, or livability guarantees apply.
Any health concerns arising after pickup should be addressed with a qualified veterinarian.

NPIP Certificates

We are a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).
Status: U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean with added classifications: H5/H7 AI Clean and Salmonella Monitored.

NPIP paperwork is automatically included with your shipment notification email once your order ships.

Merchandise (Non-Live Products)

Merchandise ships within 7 business days and typically arrives within 5–7 business days after shipment.

If an item arrives damaged or missing parts, contact Customer Service within 15 days for refund or exchange eligibility.

Returns must be authorized by Customer Service.
Gift cards are non-returnable.

Assortment Notice

Breed availability varies by hatch. Breed lists are intended to represent the assortment but may not include every possible breed. Customers seeking specific breeds should purchase those breeds individually rather than an assortment.

Pricing and Product Information:

We make every effort to ensure our product descriptions, photos, breed lists, and pricing are accurate. However, occasional errors or omissions may occur. Hoover's Hatchery reserves the right to correct inaccuracies and update product information at any time without prior notice.

Content Copyright

All content—photos, descriptions, blogs, articles, website content, social media posts, and catalog materials—is the exclusive property of Hoover’s Hatchery and protected by U.S. and international copyright law.
Reproduction is prohibited without written consent.

Local Regulations

Customers are responsible for checking local regulations regarding poultry.
If your order cannot ship due to state restrictions, it will be canceled prior to shipment.

Shipping Regulations

We ship to all U.S. states except Hawaii, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.