Hilltop Farms Policies
If you place an order with Hilltop Farms you hereby agree to our Company Policies stated below:
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
Purchases on chicks, birds, hatching eggs, shipping costs, and delivery costs are non-refundable.
Minimum Order
Minimum Order for chicks (Local Pickup): 4 birds
Minimum Order for chicks (Shipping): 5 birds
No Minimum on Coop Ready birds but we do recommend buying at least 2-3
Minimum Order for hatching eggs: 6 eggs
PICK UP
Birds ordered must be picked up within 3 days of hatching to avoid additional fees associated with caring for the birds.
Price of the age of birds goes up $2 every week.
HEALTH GUARANTEE
Hilltop Farm guarantees the health/life of chicks for 48 hours after the date of pick up. Hilltop Farm guarantees the health/life of birds 6 weeks and older for one week after the date of pick up.
Chicks with “failure to thrive” after the 48 hour guarantee are non-replaceable and non-refundable. Many external factors contribute to the “failure to thrive” with chicks after they have left the facility.
BUYER’s RESPONSIBLITY
The buyer is responsible to maintain the birds’ health and care after the purchase and transfer of possession. Hilltop Farms is not liable for anything that happens to the birds or costs associated after they have left the facility. Should the birds become ill or unsound, any and all costs of treatment will be the responsibility of the buyer. Hilltop Farms does not reimburse veterinary or delivery costs.
Common and Easily correctable conditions
The buyer assumes all responsibility for all minor conditions that are “common and easily-correctable”. If any common and easily-correctable conditions are to arise, it is the buyer’s responsibility and the birds are non-refundable and not covered by the replacement policy.
“Pasty butt” is considered a common and easily-correctable condition. It is the customers responsibility to look out for “pasty butt” and to clean accordingly.
Buyer assumes responsibility of any losses after the 48 hour guarantee, and understands that the birds will not be covered for a replacement.
REPLACEMENT POLICY
Any deceased chicks within 48 hours will be given a credit toward a replacement if they are properly cared for and to those that are eligible. Contact Hilltop Farms through the “Incident Report” page within 48 hours from the date of pickup.
This guarantee does not cover shipped birds. Shipped birds are covered by postal insurance.
Replacement birds will be the same value as the birds originally purchased. Customers will be responsible to pay if there is any price difference.
All replacements are required to be picked up within one month of the initial order unless specified otherwise. Failure to pick up within a month will void the replacement/credit.
ELIGIBILITY FOR REPLACEMENTS
Replacements on chicks/birds are eligible to customers that abide by the policies below:
RECEIPT OR ORDER NUMBER. The buyer must be able to present at least one of these in order to receive a credit. We will not be able to do anything with out a receipt or order number.
FOUR CHICK MINIMUM. The buyer must have purchased four or more chicks. Chicks are flock animals and need other chicks for the chance of survival. Hilltop Farms does not guarantee replacements for any purchases of less than four chicks.
ISOLATION FROM OTHER CHICKS/BIRDS/ANIMALS. The buyer agrees to keep the chicks/birds apart from other flocks that are not from Hilltop Farms. Hilltop Farms only guarantees the health and handling of the birds until they transfer into the possession of the buyer. Merging Hilltop Farms birds into a pre-existing flock is the risk and responsibility of the buyer. If one chooses to do so, it is not covered by the replacement policy if an issue were to arise.
VITAMINS/ELECTROLYTES/PROBIOTICS. The buyer agrees to maintain the chicks/birds health with Vitamins/Electrolytes and Probiotics as specified after transporting. Failure to do so voids Hilltop Farm’s guarantee.
MAINTAINING THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE REQUIRED FOR THE AGE OF THE BIRDS. Day old chicks up-to 1 week require at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature goes down 5 degrees every week. The best heating source is a heat lamp at 250 watts. Using a HEATING PAD/PLATE will void replacements. They’re not as reliable the and have a higher mortality rate.
MIXING VACCINATED CHICKS/BIRDS WITH UNVACCINATED. The buyer agrees to not mix vaccinated chicks/birds with unvaccinated chicks/birds. It is the risk and responsibility of the buyer if they chooses to do so. If one choose to do so, it is not covered by the replacement policy if an issue were to arise.
Sexing guarantee/ROOSTERS
Hilltop Farms does not give a credit, a replacement or exchange for roosters that come from the purchase of “straight-run” chicks.
Hilltop Farm offers a 75% guarantee when purchasing “sexed pullets” on all sexed breeds. Hilltop Farms does not offer exchanges on roosters. If one is to get a rooster outside of the 75% guarantee, a credit will be given to put towards another bird or supplies.
Hilltop farms must be contacted within two months after the point of pick up for identified roosters through the “Incident Report” page. No credit will be issued if contacted past this time frame.
If you buy less then the minimum requirements the sexing guarantee is void.
WRoNg breed
If by mistake the wrong breed was given we must be notified within 2 months of pick up/delivery and we will issue a credit or a refund at the original purchase price. The credit can be applied to supplies or another bird but must be used by the end of the year. We will not be able to offer replacements or exchanges on birds.
HATCHING EGGS
Hilltop Farms does not guarantee any hatch rate. Many variables outside of our control can contribute to a poor hatch. Hilltop Farms checks fertility often and gets a hatch rate of around 80-90%. We do not promise that buyers will have the same outcome. Eggs are not held at the post office or marked hatching eggs. If you have special instructions please include in your order under “special requests”. We breed true to the breed listed and always breed for quality, but the egg color may vary then what is pictured on the website. We do not wash the eggs and leave that up to the customer to decide. Eggs may have dirt or feces on them but still be viable.
Shipping is $30.95 per dozen being shipped ( if you purchase more than 1 dozen you will receive an invoice for additional shipping).
If you have a problem with your egg order please contact Hilltop Farms through the “Incident Report” page within 48 hours from the date of pickup or delivery. Anything outside of this window will not be credited or replaced.
Shipping
SHIPPING CHICKS
NON-REFUNDABLE. Shipping costs and supplies are non-refundable.
MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT. The minimum age required on shipping chicks/birds is two weeks or older. Chicks will be shipped with feed and grow gel. Extra feed and grow gel can be added to the order in the store. You will also be able to add a heat pack for your order which is recommended for orders of 15 or less birds.
MINIMUM QUANTITY REQUIREMENT. The minimum quantity required for shipping chicks/birds is FIVE. Shipping less than five birds diminishes the chances of survival. If your order has less then the minimum required to ship, the order therefore cannot be filled and will be cancelled minus the cancellation fee. There is no minimum for shipping birds over 8 weeks of age.
THIRD PARTY SHIPPING and insurance
If one chooses to purchase shipping for their order, Hilltop farms partners with third-party vendors. Once birds/eggs leave Hilltop Farms facility, the USPS is liable for during transit. All shipments are automatically insured up to $100. If your order total exceeds that amount you will have to purchase additional shipping after check out.
Once the birds/eggs are accepted by the third party shipper (USPS), they are liable for losses. If the babies have been shipped by the U.S. Postal Service, examination is required by customers at the point of pickup to guarantee the arrival in good condition.
INSURANCE Claim - shipping
If the poultry/eggs arrives in poor condition, customers are to have a postal employee examine the shipment before leaving the post office. All refunds for the chicks will be made through the USPS. Postal regulations require that a postal employee certifies the shipment arrival conditions when an Insurance Claim is being made. Failure to do so could jeopardize the refund.
Cancellations
Orders are not 100% refundable
If you decide to cancel your order, please contact us by completing the form through our “cancellation” page.
All orders are subject to a 20% cancellation fee or a flat $20 fee, whichever is greater.
Cancellations or changes will not be accepted within 14 days of the scheduled shipping date or pick up for birds.
Cancellations or changes will not be accepted within 7 days of the scheduled shipping date for hatching eggs.
Cancellations within 21 days of the scheduled shipping/pick up will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee.
If Hilltop Farms has to cancel an order due to an outstanding balance the order will be subject to a 50% cancelation fee.
If Hilltop Farms has to cancel an order because it does not meet the minimum requirements or company policies, the order will be subject to a $20 cancellation fee.
Sometimes it is necessary for Hilltop Farms to cancel an order and we reserve the right to do so.
Pre-Orders
Pre-Orders secure your place in line once we receive payment in full. Pre-orders are placed in our online shop.
Pre-orders are given an expected hatch date but the actual date might change. When counting chickens before they hatch, things don’t always go as planned. We will do our best to get you taken care of.
Chicks have to be picked up within 3 days after their hatch to avoid any additional charge. If we have to hold any chicks to complete your order there will be a charge of $2 per week per chick to cover the cost of feed and electricity.
Website prices are for day old chicks.
Minimum Order is 4 birds for chicks (Local Pickup)
Minimum Order is 5 birds for chicks (Shipped)
No Minimum on Coop Ready birds but we do recommend buying at least 2-3