Refund policy

Hatching Egg Sales, Shipping & Incubation Policy

By purchasing hatching eggs from Rustic Roots Farm, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to the following terms.

1. Nature of Hatching Eggs (Important)

Hatching eggs are not the same as table eggs. They are fragile, time-sensitive biological material and their hatchability is influenced by many factors outside the seller’s control.

While our breeding stock is healthy, fertile, and carefully managed, we cannot guarantee hatch rates or live chicks.

Factors that affect hatch success after eggs leave our farm include (but are not limited to):

Postal handling and vibration
Temperature exposure (heat or cold)
X-ray scanning
Delays in transit
Incubator accuracy (temperature & humidity)
Incubation technique and experience
Power outages
Altitude and local climate

For this reason, all hatching egg sales are final.

2. Fertility

Our breeders are actively paired, and eggs are collected fresh daily. We candle and monitor fertility within our own incubations to verify breeding pens.

However:

We guarantee fertility in our breeding pens — not hatchability in your incubator.

We typically see strong fertility on our farm, but once eggs leave our possession, we have no control over handling or incubation conditions, therefore we cannot replace or refund eggs due to poor hatch rates.

3. Shipping Policy

We ship hatching eggs at the buyer’s risk.

We package eggs carefully using proven breeder shipping methods:

Individually cushioned eggs
Double boxed when necessary
Marked FRAGILE / HATCHING EGGS / DO NOT X-RAY

Despite proper packing, the postal service is not gentle. Shipped eggs may arrive:

Scrambled
Detached air cells
Cracked
With reduced hatchability

These are common risks associated with shipped hatching eggs.

We are not responsible for:

USPS handling
Delivery delays
Lost packages
Weather exposure
Rough transit damage

No refunds or replacements will be issued for shipping damage or low hatch rates.

4. Shipping Conditions

Eggs ship Monday–Wednesday only (to avoid weekend holds).
Tracking will be provided.
Buyer must ensure someone can receive the package promptly.

We strongly recommend you:

Allow eggs to rest 12–24 hours pointy side down before incubation.
Do not immediately incubate shipped eggs.

5. Local Pickup Eggs

Local pickup eggs generally hatch at a higher rate because they are not subjected to postal handling.

However, incubation results still vary, therefore:
Local pickup eggs are also sold as-is with no hatch guarantee.

6. Incubation Responsibility (Buyer Responsibility)

Once eggs leave our farm, incubation success depends entirely on the buyer’s equipment and experience.

We are not responsible for losses caused by:

Improper temperature (should remain stable ~99.5°F forced air)
Incorrect humidity
Automatic turner failures
Hand turning errors
Opening incubator excessively
Power outages

We are happy to offer incubation advice, but we cannot be held liable for incubation outcomes.

7. NPIP & Flock Health

Rustic Roots Farm is NPIP and AI/ PT certified.
Our birds are monitored and maintained in a clean, biosecurity environment.

While we take every precaution to provide clean eggs, hatching eggs are an agricultural product and cannot be guaranteed sterile. Proper incubation sanitation is the buyer’s responsibility.

8. Returns, Refunds & Cancellations

Because hatching eggs are perishable:

No returns
No refunds
No exchanges

Orders cannot be canceled once eggs are packed or shipped.

9. Cracked Eggs

If eggs arrive cracked, you may attempt the common breeder practice of sealing cracks with candle wax or nail polish. Some may still hatch, but success varies.

We do not replace cracked eggs.