Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer pullets and/or hens? What do you have available now? We are seasonal and do not have any birds available unless otherwise posted. We sell off-heat, coop-ready pullets (young hens) on designated sale release days each spring (april-june). Our sale release dates for the season are posted on our Chick Sales page and are announced early in the year, so be sure to mark down the dates in advance so that you can be prepared. All sales are strictly first-come first serve. We do not take pre-order requests or keep a waitlist.
Can I waitlist or pre-order specific breed(s)/quantities of chicks in advance? Due to the variable nature of hatching and the high volume of inquiries and demand, we cannot accommodate requests for specific breeds or quantities in advance. They are available first-come, first-serve on sale release dates. Please kindly note that this project is our hobby, not a commercial company - and we work full-time professional careers away from the farm. Our chickens tend to sell out quickly on sale release days, so we suggest marking down your desired date (once they are posted on our Chick Sales page) so that you don't miss out on your opportunity to purchase.
How accurately are your chicks sexed? For the coming season, we will be offering sexed female pullets (young hens) that are approximately 10-12 weeks old. They are sexed 99.9% accurately. We do not offer male birds.
Can I get chicks shipped or delivered? Sorry, we do not ship or deliver live birds. We offer local pickup at the farm gate in Victoria BC only. Be sure that you or someone you know are able to be there to pick up your birds on our designated pickup days.
Can I return an unwanted rooster to the farm? Even with sexed chickens, mistakes can still happen -although this is extremely rare. As a buyer and poultry keeper, it is important to understand and accept that although the occurrence is highly unlikely, nature is variable and there is always a small chance risk of a sexed female chick later proving to be a rooster. If we sell you a sexed female bird that later turns out to be a rooster, you may request to return the rooster to Harvest Moon Farm to a bio-secure separate area of our facility, only if it is under 14 weeks of age. Please understand that returned roosters will be humanely dispatched. Otherwise, we suggest that you re-home your rooster through online groups or listing websites. You must be able to provide proof that the bird came from us.
What breeds do you offer? We breed Heritage Welsummers, Mauve and Chocolate Ameraucanas, Silverudd's Blue (classic and fibro variety), F1 Olive Eggers, and Chocolate Copper Marans.
Do you sell hatching eggs? We do not sell or take requests for hatching eggs, either by local pickup or shipped.
I have a chicken health/care question - can I ask for advice? We kindly ask that you please refrain from doing this. We are not veterinarians and are not qualified to provide health advice. If you have a health-related question about your birds, please seek the advice of a qualified professional resource. It is expected that you have taken time to research and learn about the care requirements of chickens on your own accord prior to purchase. Due to the high volume of inquiries and responsibilities, we are unable to take the time to provide ongoing education or support outside what we have offered on this website. We suggest seeking more outside alternative resources if desired. Thank you for understanding.
What bio-security practices does Harvest Moon Farm have in place? Our farm is committed to a variety of bio-security measures to ensure that our flocks and the birds that we sell are healthy and free of disease. We don't allow farm visits or access to our flocks, and instead all orders are picked up at the farm gate. Our breeding flocks are closed flocks that are kept in a fully gated area that is segregated from the rest of the acreage. Our breeding flocks are housed in large, fully-roofed enclosures with fully covered and sanitary hanging feeders and waterers. There is no exposure to wild animals. Birds of different age groups are kept in separate areas of the property with no contact. Upon being removed from the incubator and before being picked up by you, chicks have never been exposed to anything outside of their separate, sanitary brooder outbuilding.
Can I order a sexed male chick or a rooster? All of the birds that we offer will be females only. We do not offer cockerel (male) chicks or roosters.
Are the chicks vaccinated? As a small hobby farm, we do not offer this service. Our farm practices bio-security to ensure the health of the livestock.
What do I need to know about pickup day? Please respect and honour your pickup time as if you would any other appointment. Please do not be late - it is unfair to leave your live birds waiting, and unfair to leave us waiting standing at the gate for you. We allow a grace period of up to 15 minutes of lateness (with communication) to allow for traffic variables, but after that point your birds will be returned to their coop and the order cancelled. Any no-shows without communication will be denied future sales. All pickups are held at the farm gate, and we ask that guests do not enter the property for bio-security reasons. When you arrive, we will bring your new chickens up to you. *Please bring your own box or crate to transport them in. We do not have extra boxes or crates to provide to you.* Young chickens are susceptible to stress, so we suggest heading home right away and avoiding too much handling on the way home or on their first day. Be sure to have your set-up ready at home before the chickens come home.
Which breeds are the friendliest and can all of the breeds offered live together? All of the breeds that we are are friendly and gentle in temperament by nature, but will of course be influenced by how they are raised in their new homes. Any of the breeds that we offer are compatible to live together harmoniously.
Can you mix chicks and chickens of different ages? Chicks should only be housed in their brooder with those up to 1.5 weeks difference to avoid issues such as trampling and bullying. Most pullets will be ready to be carefully integrated with the adult flock by around 10-12 weeks old age.
When will my chickens start laying? Most breeds will begin to lay between 5-8 months old, depending on breed and the season in which they hatched.
What health guarantees do the chicks have? We guarantee that our chicks have been raised in a strictly bio-secure environment and have not had exposure to disease on our property. They have been started vitamin and electrolyte formula and have been examined for any visible defects prior to sale. We cannot guarantee the health of chicks once they have left our property and we cannot control what they have been exposed to or what type of care they have received or stressors they have been exposed to once they are no longer on the farm. We do not offer refunds or returns on any chicks. Once they have left our care, their health, well-being, and survival is 100% the responsibility of the buyer. All chicks are examined and evaluated for health or any visible defects prior to sale and are confirmed healthy to the best of our knowledge.
What should I feed my chicks and chickens? We suggest providing chick starter feed from 0-6 weeks of age, grower feed from 6-16 weeks of age, and layer pellets from age 16 weeks and up. Adults hens can also be given grit and/or oyster shells. Adult chickens may be provided with all kinds of fresh produce or mealworms to accent their diet. Be sure to ask Google if the food item is safe for chickens before providing if you aren't sure.
Where are Harvest Moon Farm chickens genetics from? All of the chicks that we sell have been bred by us on the farm, from our thoughtfully bred flocks. We never import and resell from large hatcheries - all are hatched with us. Our original adult breeding flocks originated from over 40 distinct quality heritage bloodlines from a variety of fellow breeders across Canada and the USA.
Is Harvest Moon Farm a commercial hatchery? No. Breeding chickens and organic gardening is a casual hobby - and we work full time careers away from the farm. We have four groups; each of which holds approximately 10-15 hens and 2 roosters.
What does life look like for the flocks on Harvest Moon Farm? Our small breeding flocks live in spacious, fully enclosed runs with large nesting houses in designated family units. Different breeds are completely separate year-round and there is zero chance of cross exposure or accidental cross breeding. We have four groups, each of which consists of 10-15 hens and 2 roosters. Our breeding pens are located in a fully fenced bio-secure area surrounded by beautiful gardens. Our predator-proof runs are kept very clean with a thick, soft layer of pine shavings, and fully off-ground sanitary feeders and waterers. We have fully closed flocks.
Can I come for a farm visit? We do not allow any farm tours or access to the property beyond the farm gate. This policy is for bio-security reasons. Pick-ups are strictly by appointment only, and are held at the farm gate. We ask that guests arriving for a pickup respectfully to not pass the gate or enter the property and kindly wait at the farm gate in or beside your vehicle for us to bring your birds to you.