As part of my commitment to providing an alternative to shipping chicks in from afar, I hatch year-round; there are always chicks available for your broody hen or to grow your flock.

In addition, I try to work with breeds that are not already readily available in our chicken community — there are so many wonderful breeds available, no need for us to double up. I maintain a list of local Chicken Peeps so that if I don’t have what you want you can find someone else locally who does.

My hatch schedule is kept current so you can plan ahead, and I keep a Notification List to let you know when the chicks you are waiting for are available.

If there is a breed you desire and can’t find any locally, consider using our Chick Hatching Service whereby we hatch for you. If you bring the eggs, all the hatchlings are yours. If you end up with roos you don’t want I will help you find a solution, but I will not issue a refund for the hatching and nurturing fees.

If I bring the eggs, that is, if I order them in, I will charge you actual per egg and shipping cost plus $2.00 per egg rooster absorption fees plus hatching and nurturing fees — the hatchlings belong to me and you get first pick. If you accidentally pick a rooster, I will help you find a solution, but I will not issue a refund.

• Hatching: $5 per live chick hatched.

If there is any other way I can encourage and support you in buying your chicks from local farms rather than from feed stores who buy from distant hatcheries, please let me know.