FAQ

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Roslin Poultry Ranch specializes in laying hens and backyard egg production. We offer hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, poultry wellness products, and educational resources to help you build a healthy, productive flock.

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Below are answers to some of the questions we receive most often.

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Please note: We do not raise or sell meat birds (broilers).

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🐣 Day-Old Chicks

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Q. What do you feed your chicks?

A. Our chicks are started on medicated starter feed from day one.

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Medicated starter feed contains amprolium, which helps protect young chicks against coccidiosis, a common intestinal disease caused by Eimeria parasites. Coccidiosis can be particularly serious in young chicks, so providing appropriate feed and maintaining good sanitation are important parts of early chick care.

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Q. Is there a minimum chick order?

A. Yes. Our minimum order is two chicks.

Chickens are social flock animals, and we recommend that chicks have a companion from the same hatch rather than being raised alone.

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Q. Do you ship day-old chicks?

A. No. We do not ship day-old chicks.

Our day-old chicks are available for farm pickup only. We do, however, ship hatching eggs.

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Q. Do you vaccinate your chicks?

A. No. Our chicks are not vaccinated.

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Many poultry vaccines have specific storage requirements, short shelf lives, and minimum quantities that are not practical for a small-scale farm. Instead, we focus on healthy breeding stock, good nutrition, appropriate chick care, and strong biosecurity practices.

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Q. How do I introduce chicks or new chickens to my existing flock?

A. We recommend using a gradual introduction method, such as the Play Pen Method.

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New birds and your existing flock are initially kept separate while still being able to see and become familiar with one another. This gives the new birds a safe space while allowing the flock to gradually adjust to their presence.

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Introductions should be done slowly and carefully. The amount of time required can vary depending on the age, size, flock dynamics, and individual personalities of the birds involved.

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For a more detailed guide, read our Chicken Topics article:

How to Seamlessly Introduce New Chickens to Your Flock

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Q. At what age can chicks go outside?

A. There is no single age that is right for every situation.

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Temperature, weather conditions, feather development, housing, and whether supplemental heat is still required all need to be considered. In general, chicks are usually fully feathered at around 6 weeks of age, but this does not automatically mean they are ready to transition outdoors in every season or climate.

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🐔 Started Pullets

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Q. How can I find out when started pullets become available?

A. We do not take reservations or orders for started pullets in advance. Availability is limited and depends on our breeding and grow-out schedule.

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If you are interested in purchasing started pullets, you can sign up for our Pullet Availability Alert to be notified when new birds become available. 

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Pullet Availability Alert sign-up will open January 1, 2027.

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Q. What should I feed my started pullets?

A. Our started pullets remain on medicated starter/grower feed for as long as practical, ideally until approximately 18 weeks of age. They are then transitioned to layer feed with oyster shell offered separately.

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If you already have an established flock, feeding can require some planning. Starter/grower feed can be used for the younger birds while providing free-choice oyster shell separately for adult laying hens.

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Q. Do you sell laying hens?

A. Only occasionally.

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When available, laying hens are generally birds that are being replaced as part of our breeding program and are typically over one year old.

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Availability, when offered, is usually in late summer. Any available laying hens will be listed at the bottom of our Started Pullet page.

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🥚 Hatching Eggs

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Q. Why do you limit the number of hatching eggs available from each breed?

A. We are a small family farm with a limited number of breeding birds, so we carefully manage the number of eggs available from each breeding group.

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Our goal is to have eggs collected, picked up, or shipped within approximately one week so that they remain as fresh as possible for incubation.

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We generally offer up to one dozen hatching eggs per breed, with our Rainbow Hatching Egg option available in quantities of up to 18 eggs.

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Q. How many hatching eggs can I order?

A. Our minimum hatching egg order is 6 eggs.

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Availability and maximum quantities can vary by breed and season. Please see our Hatching Eggs page for current availability and ordering information.

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Q. Do you ship hatching eggs?

Yes. We ship hatching eggs using Purolator.

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A. Because hatching eggs are a delicate product, we take care to package them specifically for shipment. However, shipping is always a risk with hatching eggs, and handling during transportation can affect hatch results.

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Q. Do you guarantee fertility or hatch rates?

A. No. Hatching eggs are a natural product, and fertility and hatch rates cannot be guaranteed.

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Hatch results can be affected by many factors, including egg handling, shipping, storage, incubation conditions, and the individual hen. We ship only fresh, carefully selected eggs from our breeding flocks, but once eggs leave the Ranch, we cannot control the conditions they experience during transportation or incubation.

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For more information, please see our Hatching Eggs page.

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Q. How should I handle my hatching eggs when they arrive?

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A. Carefully unpack your eggs as soon as they arrive and follow the Hatching Egg Care Instructions included in your package.

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Because shipped hatching eggs can be affected by handling and transportation, it is important to allow them to settle before placing them in your incubator.

For detailed instructions on handling your eggs, resting them before incubation, and preparing your incubator, please read our Shipped Hatching Egg Care Guide

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📦 Orders & Shipping

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Q. Do you offer shipping across Canada?

A. Yes! We ship hatching eggs across Canada.

Shipping charges vary depending on your location. Because hatching egg requests are filled in the order they are received, we confirm the shipping cost once your request reaches the front of the queue and you provide your shipping address.

We will let you know the applicable shipping charges before finalizing your order.

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Q. How will my order be shipped?

A. Orders may be shipped using Canada Post or a courier service, depending on the order and destination.

A tracking number will be provided for shipped orders so you can follow your package.

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Q. Do you offer local pickup?

A. Yes. Free local pickup is available from Roslin Poultry Ranch.

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Q. How do I place an order?

A. Products available for online purchase can be ordered directly through our website.

For seasonal items such as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and started pullets, please follow the ordering or request instructions provided on the appropriate page.

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Q. Do I need to pay a deposit to reserve chicks?

A. Yes. A $20 deposit per order is required to secure your chick reservation.

The deposit is applied toward the total cost of your order.

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🛍️ Chick’ N Wellness Shop

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Q. What poultry wellness products do you offer?

A. Our Chick’ N Wellness Shop carries a selection of poultry wellness and care products designed to help backyard chicken keepers care for their flocks.

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Our selection includes products for nutrition, hydration, digestive support, respiratory support, wound care, parasite management, and general flock care.

For detailed information about individual products, please visit our Chick’ N Wellness Shop.

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🏡 Farm Store

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Our Roslin Poultry Ranch Farm Store is an on-farm retail space where local chicken keepers can shop for our Chick’ N Wellness products along with a selection of poultry supplies and other farm-made and handmade items.

The Farm Store offers a convenient option for local customers who prefer to shop in person rather than order online.

 

Q. Where is the Farm Store and when is it open?

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A. You can find our location, current store hours, and additional information on our Farm Store page.

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📚 Education & Resources

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Q. Do you offer educational resources for chicken keepers?

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A. Yes. We regularly share educational information to help backyard chicken keepers better understand flock health, nutrition, parasites, egg production, and everyday chicken care.

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Visit our Chicken Topics page to explore our collection of articles and practical resources for keeping a healthy, productive flock.

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