FAQ

You want to buy day old chicks, hatching eggs or other stuff from us but have questions. Here are our most frequently asked questions about our hatchery.

When do I get my hatching eggs?

We sell our hatching eggs all year on a first come first serve basis. Typically, when you buy our eggs they are backordered. This is likely all year. Our small farm is trying to grow fast. Right now our most popular breeds, like Indio Gigante’s ship about three weeks after you order them. We ship Monday-Wednesday USPS.

Do you ship day-old chicks?

Yes, we ship day old chicks but only when the USPS allows. This is in the late spring through summer. Typically from May 15-Sept 15.

Where did your flock come from?

When we began our farm, we worked with Greenfire Farms to purchase approximately 700 hatching eggs to begin our flock. All of our birds come from a Greenfire Farms egg that was hatched at our farm. We are a single origin flock.

Can we visit the farm?

Yes! We are open for visitors. We also have a farm-stand in the summer months.

Do backyard chickens smell?

No, backyard chickens do not smell. Chickens are beautiful and soft and cuddly. Of course, they’re animals and they poop and pee like any pet. You wouldn’t have a kitty cat and not change the litter box twice a week, right? Your Golden Doodle has to be picked up after twice a day. A baby needs his diaper changed. This is the common sense approach we take at Graywhale Farms.

Controlling the smell also keeps backyard chickens clean. You stay happy and healthy — and not smelly — by adding flake on a regular basis. We use Tractor Supply’s premium pine shavings. If your chicken coop or run is on wheels, then you move it regularly. And the good news is that backyard chickens make great organic fertilizer. Your prize-winning tulips will thank you.

“A forty-pound dog generates more solid waste than ten chickens. To be more specific, one 40-pound dog generates about ¾ (.75 pounds) of poo every day. Ten chickens generate about two-thirds (.66 pounds) daily poop.” Patricia Foreman

Are backyard chickens loud?

No, backyard chickens are not loud. Roosters crow, that’s true. Dogs bark. Tomato, to-mah-to. Speaking of dogs, their bark is about as loud as a rooster’s crow at 90 DB. When is your dog loud? Generally when he wants to go potty, eat, drink, sees a threat, or when he wants to cuddle. It’s the same with pet chickens.

As long as you give your chickens plenty of quality food and water and spend time with them, they’re no louder than a couple of people having a conversation. It’s quite pleasant to hear them coo and chirp — they’re birds after all.

“Hens make a lot of sounds, but most of them are quiet and gentle. The only time they get really loud are when they have laid an egg.” Omlet

Are egg-laying chickens mean?

No, egg-laying chickens aren’t mean. They are quite gentle and all of our pure breeds allow you to get eggs from them and pick them up. They’re not broody. In fact, most people we meet are amazed at how cuddly and huggable chickens are.

My child is allergic to cats. Is a chicken a good pet?

Approximately 10-20% of the population is allergic to cats or dogs while allergies to live chickens are rare. This makes backyard chickens the perfect pets for those with cat and dog allergies.

Where do you source your chicken breeds?

All of our rare breed chickens are sourced from Greenfire Farms. We believe in their mission to conserve and preserve these beautiful bird species.