Egg Viability Policy

Purchasing Fertile Eggs

I take considerable pride in the production of healthy, fertile eggs, which are packed with meticulous care.

As stipulated in my Terms & Conditions, I cannot guarantee the viability or hatch rates of eggs once they have left my premises. It is my firm belief that recipients should not bear the entire burden of loss, particularly when inadequate handling during transport may have contributed to unsatisfactory outcomes. Should a legitimate issue arise, I will conduct a thorough review of the evidence, engage in a discussion with you regarding the situation, and, where appropriate, provide reasonable assistance.

My objective is to maintain fairness, transparency, and support while looking out for the interests of both parties.

Terminology

Fertility Rate

Fertility is the percentage of eggs that were fertilised before leaving my farm. I monitor fertility through regular incubation testing under controlled conditions.

Viability Rate

Viability is the percentage of fertile eggs that successfully begin developing into living embryos. An egg can be perfectly fertile, yet fail to become viable due to transport damage, incubation conditions or other factors beyond my control.

Hatch Rate

The hatch rate refers to the percentage of viable embryos that successfully undergo the hatching process to emerge as chicks. Due to the multitude of variables that influence embryonic development throughout the 21 day incubation period, hatch rates may vary significantly, ranging from 0% to 100%. For posted fertile eggs, hatch rates of approximately 40–80% are typically regarded as normal. While certain people may achieve hatch rates of 90–100%, such results are considered exceptional and should not be viewed as the standard expectation.

Low Viability Claims

If your initial candling assessment, conducted between Days 7 and 9, indicates that fewer than 50% of the eggs are viable, I kindly request that you contact me prior to the 10th day following delivery. This evaluation pertains to the entire order. Rest assured, every legitimate concern will be addressed with promptness and fairness.

Information Required

I appreciate your understanding that claims cannot be assessed without the required information. To assess a viability issues, please email all the following to thatsjustfowl@gmail.com after first candling, before the claim period expires.

Delivery date
Date incubation commenced
Photograph of your incubator
Time stamp photograph showing an independent thermometer and hygrometer inside the incubator at time of candling
Number of non-viable eggs
Clear videos of all egg, both viable and non-viable

First Video

Carefully candle each egg, ensuring that the pen number is clearly displayed. It is important to include both viable and non-viable eggs in this process. This practice assists in assessing whether any issues with viability may be attributable to transport damage.

Second Video

Proceed to carefully crack each non-viable egg onto a sanitised plate, ensuring that the pen number is displayed prior to the opening of each egg. This procedure facilitates a thorough inspection of the blastoderm, enabling the confirmation of fertilization and the assessment of any embryonic development that may have occurred.

It is important to note that the blastoderm experiences degradation following extended exposure to incubation temperatures and humidity levels. Consequently, the accuracy of the assessment diminishes over time. Therefore, it is imperative to acknowledge that I cannot reliably ascertain the cause of poor viability once the designated notification period has elapsed.

Next Step

Upon receipt of all requested information, a thorough assessment of your claim will be conducted.

For illustrative purposes:

Should you have purchased 12 eggs and only 3 were found to be viable, this indicates that there are 9 non-viable eggs.

In instances where a claim is approved, I will issue store credit equivalent to 50% of the purchase price for the 9 non-viable eggs.

Delivery Areas

Certain locations are subject to recurrent challenges related to the handling of shipments during transit. In instances where persistent transport issues are recognised, I may opt to decline future egg shipments unless the purchaser acknowledges and accepts the associated increased transport risk.

Delivery Date

In the event that Australia Post delivers your parcel to a Post Office or PO Box, please note that the official delivery date is designated as the date on which the parcel becomes available for collection, rather than the date it is physically collected. Incubation should commence within 24 hours of the delivery date. It is imperative that any damages or concerns regarding viability be reported on or before the 10th day following delivery.

Resting Eggs

It is not advisable to rest fertile eggs after delivery. Should there be any delays in the incubation process, I must clarify that I cannot assume responsibility for any potential reduction in viability.

Independent Temperature And Humidity Monitoring

I do not rely exclusively on the readings provided by any incubator, including my own. Consequently, it is essential to utilise an independent thermometer and hygrometer when addressing viability concerns.

Leaving Your Parcel

Request for Delivery Instructions:

Kindly leave at the front door.
Please leave in the mailbox.
Alternatively, leave in a secure location.

It is important to note that such delivery methods significantly elevate the risk of eggs being subjected to extreme temperatures, whether excessive heat, cold, or adverse weather conditions following delivery.

Due to the uncertainty regarding the duration that eggs may remain in these unfavorable conditions, I regret to inform you that I am unable to extend coverage under this policy.

Refund Policy

Cash refunds are not available.

This policy is designed to offer reasonable assistance to recipients who encounter circumstances typically beyond the control of either party, such as transport damage. By issuing store credit in approved cases, I acknowledge my shared responsibility for the financial loss with the recipient. Consequently, approved assistance is granted exclusively in the form of store credit. It is important to note that this policy does not apply to orders for which store credit has already been utilised for fertile eggs.