Heritage Chicks & Poultry from a Florida Hatchery

We hatch in cycles throughout the year, with peak availability from late winter through early summer when temperatures favor brooder transitions. Reservations are recommended because heritage breeds — especially Royal Palm and Narragansett turkeys, Black Copper Marans, and Black Australorps — sell out fastest. Use the "Check Availability" button on the breed you want, or reach out directly to be added to the waitlist for the next hatch.

For laying hens in Florida, we steer first-time keepers toward Black Australorps and Brahmas — both handle heat well and lay reliably through summer. Leghorns produce more eggs but tolerate heat less gracefully. For heritage turkeys, Royal Palms and Narragansetts both adapt to Florida better than commercial Broad Breasted varieties because they retain natural foraging instinct and lighter body frames. Climate-suited genetics matter more in Florida than almost anywhere else in the country.

Heritage breeds are typically sold straight-run, meaning chicks are not sex-sorted at hatch. Statistical odds give roughly 50/50 males and females over a group. If you need pullets only (laying hens, no roosters), we'll work with you on group size to improve your odds and discuss options for re-homing or processing surplus cockerels. Sexed chicks at hatch are available from commercial hatcheries but with trade-offs in breed selection and genetic depth.

Royal Palm and Narragansett are heritage turkey breeds — naturally mating, slower-growing, and bred for flavor and frame rather than breast-meat volume. The commercial Broad Breasted White that fills grocery freezers can't reproduce naturally and rarely lives past 18 weeks. A heritage turkey takes 24–28 weeks to mature, develops genuine muscle from foraging, and tastes profoundly different. They're also visually striking — Royal Palms especially are kept as much for beauty as for the table.

Pickup at the farm in Oviedo is our default — we want to meet new chicken and turkey keepers, confirm their brooder setup, and answer questions in person before chicks leave the property. We don't ship live birds. Customers from across Central Florida typically drive in; the farthest most come is about two hours. Pickup days are scheduled in batches around each hatch.

Most chicks and poults are ready for pickup at one to three days old — the optimal window for transport and brooder transition. At this age, they don't yet need food or water for the trip home (yolk absorption sustains them up to 72 hours from hatch). For customers who prefer older birds, we can sometimes arrange pickup at two to four weeks, fully feathered and brooder-ready, depending on hatch schedule and availability.

National mail-order hatcheries ship day-old chicks through the Postal Service, which works but introduces stress, mortality risk, and a 24–72 hour transit period during which young birds can't be checked on. A local hatchery means you see the parent flock, pick up the chicks the same day they're ready, and have someone to call when you have questions about the birds two weeks later. National hatcheries win on breed selection volume. Local hatcheries win on every other dimension.

Yes — visits are encouraged, especially for first-time buyers and for families bringing kids who want to see the operation. You'll meet the breeding flock, see the brooders, and walk the pastures where the parent birds live. Visits are by appointment so we can give you full attention. Reach out through the contact form or by phone to schedule.

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