Questions we get asked

Our Gumtree listing has the current breeds, hatch dates or ages, prices and quantities. Availability changes quickly. If you're looking for a particular breed or a mix, send me the number and age you're after and I'll tell you what's possible.

Some specific matings produce chicks we can identify as pullets at hatch. Others are sold unsexed, which means they may be pullets or cockerels. Each listing says which applies. If the markings on an individual chick aren't clear, I won't list that chick as sexed. For an older bird, ask how its sex has been assessed before collection.

Day-old chicks need a suitable brooder and heat. The time they need it depends on their age, feathering and the conditions where you keep them; four-week-old chicks may still need supplementary warmth, particularly in cool weather. Tell me your setup and the age you want, and I'll help you choose an appropriate batch. Started pullets suit people who want to skip early brooding.

Usually, depending on what has hatched and what's available at the ages you want. Tell me how many birds you're after and whether you need confirmed pullets; I'll suggest a mix from the current batches. Photos show the parent birds or particular birds as labelled, not a guarantee that every chick will grow into the same colour.

Ask what the hens are laying and which pens currently have eggs available for incubation. A mixed dozen can include several breeds, but its contents depend on that week's collection. Fertile eggs are intended for hatching; no individual egg or hatch rate can be guaranteed. Confirm the exact mix, collection date and price before ordering.

Collection near Monbulk is the usual arrangement. Please ask about postage or delivery for the specific order before making plans; availability and arrangements need to be confirmed individually.

We do not currently vaccinate the chicks we raise against Marek's disease or coccidiosis. We practise strict biosecurity and use grow-out tractors on pasture for birds as they mature. Gradual exposure to their environment can help them develop natural immunity to the coccidia they encounter, but it does not guarantee protection from coccidiosis or protect against Marek's. If vaccination is important for your flock, please ask about the particular batch before ordering.

Collection is arranged near Monbulk after we've confirmed the birds or eggs, total price and a time. We'll let you know what to bring.

If a bird I sold to you as a pullet turns out to be a rooster, please contact me with a clear photo and your collection details. You can return the bird for a full refund, or choose a replacement pullet if one is available. This applies to birds sold as pullets; chicks sold as unsexed may be male or female.

A pure-breed bird is bred within that breed. Marpington is a named cross, and its page explains its parent birds. A sex-linked result belongs to a particular parent pairing; it does not automatically carry through when its offspring are bred again. Egg colour and adult appearance can vary, especially in crosses.

Egg shade varies by hen and across the laying season, so we can't promise an exact shade for an individual pullet.