Shipping Policy
Last Updated: August 2026
Atlas Palm Hatchery ships eligible live chicks and hatching eggs only when shipping is legally permitted and when we can reasonably do so safely.
Animal welfare always takes priority over maintaining an originally estimated shipping date.
Shipping Minimums
The following minimum quantities apply to shipped orders:
- Live Chicks: Minimum of 3 chicks per shipment
- Hatching Eggs: Minimum of 6 hatching eggs (½ dozen) per shipment
Shipping minimums apply to the total eligible quantity within a shipment unless a product listing specifically states otherwise.
Some species, ages, destinations, weather conditions, carrier requirements, or regulatory requirements may require larger minimum quantities.
Atlas Palm Hatchery reserves the right to increase a shipping minimum when reasonably necessary for animal welfare, safe transportation, or regulatory compliance.
Local pickup orders are not subject to these shipping minimums unless otherwise stated.
Shipping Availability
Not every product is eligible for shipping.
Shipping availability may depend on:
- Species
- Age
- Destination
- Weather
- Carrier requirements
- Hatch timing
- Minimum shipment requirements
- State regulations
- Required health certificates or documentation
- Seasonal conditions
Atlas Palm Hatchery reserves the right to postpone or decline a shipment when conditions could jeopardize animal welfare or prevent us from complying with applicable requirements.
Live Chick Shipping
Live chick shipments will be prepared using appropriate live-poultry packaging and applicable carrier requirements.
Because chicks are living animals and hatch dates cannot be predicted with absolute precision, estimated hatch and shipping dates may change.
We will make reasonable efforts to communicate significant changes affecting an order.
36-Hour Live Chick Guarantee
Eligible shipped chicks are protected by the Atlas Palm Hatchery 36-Hour Live Chick Guarantee.
Customers have 36 hours from the documented delivery or pickup time to report a qualifying chick loss.
Claims must be submitted to Atlas Palm Hatchery within this 36-hour period.
We may require:
- Customer name and order number
- Clear photographs of the affected chick(s)
- Photographs of the shipping box
- Photographs of the internal packaging
- A photograph showing the shipping label
- A description of the condition of the shipment upon arrival
- Any additional information reasonably necessary to evaluate the claim
Please retain all original shipping materials until the claim has been resolved.
Claims received more than 36 hours after documented delivery or pickup are not eligible for the 36-Hour Live Chick Guarantee.
Approved claims may be resolved through a refund, store credit, or replacement depending on the circumstances and availability.
When replacement chicks are offered, additional shipping charges and applicable shipping minimums may apply unless Atlas Palm Hatchery determines otherwise.
The 36-Hour Live Chick Guarantee does not cover losses caused by circumstances occurring after successful delivery that are outside our control, including:
- Improper brooder temperatures
- Lack of appropriate food or water
- Improper housing
- Accidents
- Predators
- Improper handling
- Exposure to sick poultry
- Improper integration with other birds
- Other husbandry-related conditions
Weather Holds
Extreme heat, cold, tropical weather, hurricanes, severe storms, transportation disruptions, or other unsafe conditions may require a shipment to be postponed.
A weather-related delay does not automatically constitute cancellation of an order.
Animal welfare takes priority over the originally estimated ship date.
Customer Responsibilities
Customers are responsible for:
- Providing a complete and accurate shipping address
- Providing a working telephone number
- Monitoring tracking information
- Being available when the shipment arrives
- Promptly collecting live poultry from the carrier or postal facility when required
- Preparing an appropriate brooder before chicks arrive
- Checking applicable local laws before ordering
Atlas Palm Hatchery is not responsible for problems caused by incorrect or incomplete information supplied by the customer.
Hatching Egg Shipping
Shipped hatching eggs require a minimum order of 6 eggs (½ dozen).
Hatching eggs are packed carefully to reduce the risk of damage during transportation.
However, carrier handling and transportation conditions are outside our control.
Shipping hatching eggs does not include a hatch-rate guarantee.
Please review our Hatching Egg Policy before ordering.
Damaged Hatching Egg Shipments
Customers should contact Atlas Palm Hatchery promptly if hatching eggs arrive visibly broken or physically damaged.
Photographs of the eggs, shipping container, internal packaging, and shipping label may be required.
Please retain all packaging until the issue has been resolved.
Failure of an intact egg to develop or hatch does not by itself constitute shipping damage.
Carrier Delays
Live-animal and hatching-egg shipments depend upon third-party transportation providers.
Atlas Palm Hatchery cannot guarantee an exact delivery time when transportation delays or other circumstances outside our reasonable control occur.
We will assist customers with legitimate carrier issues when reasonably possible.
Regulatory Compliance
Live poultry and hatching eggs will only be shipped to destinations for which Atlas Palm Hatchery can meet applicable federal, state, animal-health, carrier, certification, and documentation requirements.
Shipping availability may change as regulations, carrier requirements, certifications, or our hatchery's regulatory status change.
Incorrect Addresses & Unclaimed Shipments
Customers are responsible for verifying their shipping information before completing an order.
Atlas Palm Hatchery cannot guarantee replacement or reimbursement when an order is delayed, returned, lost, or harmed because of an incorrect address, incorrect contact information, failure to collect a shipment, or failure to respond to carrier notifications.
Agreement to Shipping Policy
By placing an order requiring shipment, the customer acknowledges that they have reviewed and accepted this Shipping Policy along with any applicable Live Poultry, Hatching Egg, Straight Run, Cancellation & Refund, and Terms & Conditions policies.
Nothing in this policy limits rights or remedies that cannot legally be waived under applicable law.