Chick Policy
Chick Reservations: Chicks are typically 5 days old on Chick Day. Chicks may only be reserved through our online reservation system. If you need assistance, you may call the store any time or come in during our retail hours to speak to a sales associate. Reservations cannot be accepted through text messages, emails, Facebook messages or voicemails.
Online chick reservations will close 24 hours prior to the start of each Chick Day. Call or come in to the store to check availability and place a reservation once a Chick Day has passed.
Reserved chicks must be picked up within one week, unless other arrangements are made. After one week, reserved chicks that have not been picked up will be released for sale.
We are not able to call everyone with a reservation when the chicks come in. We will only call if there is a problem with the shipment and we are unable to fulfill your order. Please mark the pick-up date on your calendar at the time of your reservation, and call the store if you want to confirm that your chicks have arrived.
Orders are always subject to change based on hatching issues, shipping delays, etc. If there is a chick shortage, priority for fulfillment will be based on the order in which the reservations were originally made.
All chick sales are final. If a chick dies within 48 hours of being picked up, we will provide a refund or a replacement chick, if one is available. Chicks cannot be returned to the store in the interest of biosecurity.
Marek’s Vaccination: All chicks are vaccinated for Marek's Disease at the hatchery. Please note that the vaccine does not convey 100% immunity to Marek’s. A vaccinated bird exposed to Marek’s Disease can still potentially carry and spread the virus. The vaccine does greatly reduce mortality and the development of symptoms, so if a vaccinated flock is exposed to Marek’s Disease, most birds will remain healthy and loss is typically minimal. In an unvaccinated flock, Marek’s exposure can cause loss rates as high as 90 – 100%.
Rooster Insurance: All standard chicks are sexed at the hatchery with 90% certainty, but the occasional rooster does slip through. Rooster insurance is available for $.50 per chick. If an insured chick turns out to be a rooster, customers may take advantage of our rooster return services at no additional charge. Complete information on this service is available here. Customers with uninsured roosters or those not purchased at Agrarian can use this service for a $20 handling fee per bird. Please note that rooster insurance only waives our handling fee, it does not cover a refund or replacement bird.
Roosters may be returned to the store by appointment only; we will not take roosters without advanced notice. Proof of rooster insurance is required to waive the handling fee. In the interest of biosecurity, our staff will not handle roosters directly. Please bring your bird to the store in a cardboard box or other closed container with proper ventilation that can be left at the store and is suitable for transport. If you bring your rooster to the store in a pet carrier or similar transport container, we may be able to provide a box, but will ask you to transfer the bird yourself, outside the store.
Biosecurity: Marek's Disease and other illnesses can be spread through the dander that chickens naturally shed. This can be carried very easily on the clothes and shoes you wear in your coop and when handling your birds. When visiting the store, we ask that you wear clothes and shoes that have NOT been worn around your own coop or flock. Our staff also work in clothing and footwear that they do not wear when tending their own flocks. In the interest of biosecurity, customers are not able to handle chicks in the store and we ask that you respect any physical barriers that may be set up or verbal guidance provided by our staff during your visit. Further literature on chicken health and biosecurity is available at the store.
Come in, call, or email any time for advice on flock care and coop maintenance. We are happy to assist in any way we can! Please note that we do not have a veterinary specialist on staff and are not able to provide health care advice. We are happy to connect you with a veterinarian should you require medical consultation for your flock. You can reach us at 317-493-1166 or by email at agrarianindy@gmail.com.