Yes, but please read carefully:

- Standard Orders (in-stock items): Subject to a 25% non-refundable cancellation fee.

- Pre-Orders (including chicks not yet hatched or special breeding batches): Subject to a 50% non-refundable cancellation fee.

We plan our hatches and breeding cycles based on pre-orders, so the birds you order are being planned, created and born Especially and ONLY for You! Cancellations result in lost time, space, and resources. Please be absolutely sure before placing an order that you intend to follow through.

If a bird arrives deceased, you must send clear photo proof within 2 hours of post office pickup. If approved, we may offer store credit toward a future purchase. No cash refunds.

Have your brooder ready before they arrive.You’ll need:

- A heat source (95°F for chicks, slightly cooler for ducklings)

- Clean bedding

- Fresh water with electrolytes- Starter feed appropriate for species

- A draft-free, predator-safe environment

👉 See resources and supplies at our One Stop Chicken Shop (please put a link to our supplies) for everything you need to get started.

Yes. Always quarantine new additions from your existing flock for at least 2 weeks. This is standard industry practice.

No. While our breeders are active and our eggs are collected fresh from fertile pens, we cannot guarantee fertilization or hatching rates due to shipping stress and incubation variables outside of our control.

Yes. All hatching egg sales are final and non-refundable.

Each egg is individually wrapped and securely packed with cushioning. We ship only at the beginning of the week via USPS Priority to give your eggs the best possible start.

Yes. We are proud to be NPIP Certified.

NPIP stands for the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a federal and state cooperative program that certifies breeders and hatcheries as disease-free through regular testing. Being NPIP Certified means our birds are tested for Pullorum-Typhoid and Avian Influenza, ensuring the health and biosecurity of our flocks. This certification is required by many states for shipping live birds or hatching eggs.

Yes. We are proud members of:

- American Poultry Association (APA)

- American Bantam Association (ABA)

- Silkie Club of America and several others

We highly recommend joining these organizations if you're serious about quality, education, or showing birds. Membership connects you with standards, breeder networks, and valuable resources.

Silkie Couture Birds are from show-quality lines when designated. These birds are bred from stock selected for conformation, feather quality, and temperament aligned with APA/ABA standards. However, we cannot guarantee that any individual bird will win—or even place—in a poultry show. There are many factors involved in show outcomes, including grooming, conditioning, handling, judge preference, and natural variation. Judges are humans, the poultry standard is written subjectively.  For this reason, we do not guarantee your individual success at shows, even with top genetics. If the word Show Quality appears on a bird on this website, it is from Show Quality Lineage. Do know, none of our birds are mass produced hatchery grade $5.00 chickens. Every Bird at FableNest Farms is from Exhibition Quality Poultry from lineages that have taken show titles throughout the USA.

Absolutely. If you’re interested in showing poultry—especially Silkies—and don’t know where to start, we’re happy to help. If you would like to be coached, mentored, or even sponsored in showing chickens, please contact us directly for individual guidance. We support both youth and adult exhibitors and believe in growing the poultry community by sharing knowledge and encouraging proper show ethics, preparation, and care.

Day-old chicks are sold straight run, meaning they are unsexed and will be a natural mix of males and females—unless designated as an auto-sexing variety. However, older birds (typically several weeks old) are sold as sexed pullets or cockerels through DNA sexing. We collect a small sample of feathers from each bird, submit them to a certified laboratory, and match results with banded birds. This process allows us to ship scientifically sexed juvenile birds with a high degree of accuracy. We cannot guarantee the sex of a bird unless it is explicitly listed as a pullet or cockerel in the product description.

We offer Jumbo Celadon, Jumbo Pansy / Rotkopf, Jumbo Pearl Fee, and Mixed Assorted lines. Each is selected for size, structure, performance, and consistency. Our Jumbo Celadon is the flagship line, known for strong production combined with the distinctive blue egg trait.

Hatching eggs are sold in pack sizes from 12 to 240 eggs with no overall minimum. Day-old chicks have a minimum order of 25 (we recommend 40 or more for best results). Adult breeders are sold as males or females — mix or match in any combination, but your cart must include at least 5 birds total for safe shipping. Quints (1 male + 4 females) ship as a complete group.

Yes. You can order multiple varieties in the same checkout. Hatching eggs ship separately from live birds.

Yes. FableNest Farms is NPIP Certified, which means our flocks are tested for Pullorum-Typhoid and Avian Influenza. This certification is required by many states for shipping live birds and hatching eggs across state lines.

Yes. Our Coturnix Hatching Egg Subscription lets you receive eggs automatically on a Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual schedule with built-in volume pricing. You can pause, skip, or cancel anytime through your customer account.

Orders may be canceled within the first 72 hours of purchase for a 50% refund. After 72 hours, orders are non-refundable because production and allocation begin within 24 hours. See our Cancellation Policy for full details.

On-site, our breeding program routinely produces 90–95% hatch rates. Once eggs are shipped, hatch outcomes depend on shipping handling, your incubator, humidity, turning, and experience — factors outside our control. We do not guarantee hatch rates on shipped eggs.

Coturnix quail eggs typically hatch on day 17–18 of incubation. They develop faster than chicken eggs (which take 21 days).

Set your incubator to 99.5°F (37.5°C) with 45–55% humidity for the first 14 days, then increase humidity to 65–70% during lockdown (days 15–18). Stop turning the eggs 3 days before hatch.

Yes. Allow shipped eggs to rest at room temperature, pointed end down, for 12–24 hours before placing them in the incubator. This helps the air cells settle after shipping.

Shipping is rough on hatching eggs. We package them with industry best practices, but carrier handling is outside our control. If eggs arrive visibly cracked or damaged, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with photos and we will file a carrier claim and replace the damaged eggs.

We guarantee that eggs come from properly managed, actively producing breeding groups and are collected fresh. We cannot guarantee fertility outcomes once eggs leave our facility, as fertility can be affected by shipping conditions and incubation practices.

Hatching eggs ship via USPS Priority. Eggs are individually wrapped and packed in a foam carton designed to absorb shipping vibration. Eggs ship Mondays and Tuesdays only to avoid weekend transit delays. Shipping cost is calculated at checkout.

Day-old chicks ship via USPS Priority Mail (2–3 day). Chicks are shipped in approved live-animal boxes with heat packs as needed. Maximum 25 chicks per box. We ship Mondays and Tuesdays. Shipping cost is calculated at checkout.

Adult quail ship via USPS live animal postage. Birds ship in approved adult live-animal containers. Maximum 5 adults per shipment, or 1 quint (1 male + 4 females). Shipping cost is calculated at checkout.

Live animals and hatching eggs ship Mondays and Tuesdays only to ensure they arrive before the weekend. We avoid Wednesday and later shipments to prevent birds from sitting in postal facilities over a weekend.

No, but you should track your shipment carefully. For live birds, USPS will typically call you when they arrive at your local post office for pickup. For hatching eggs, regular doorstep delivery is fine.

All birds carry a Live Arrival Guarantee. If a bird arrives deceased or in poor condition, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with clear photos of the bird and packaging. We will offer a replacement or refund at our discretion. Retain all shipping materials for our records.

No. We ship within the United States only.

Set up a brooder before your chicks arrive. You need a heat lamp or brooder plate (95°F at chick level for the first week, decreasing 5°F per week), a draft-free enclosure, pine shavings or paper towels for bedding, a chick waterer with marbles to prevent drowning, and a high-protein game bird starter feed (28–30% protein).

Coturnix quail grow incredibly fast. They reach adult size at 6–8 weeks and hens begin laying eggs at 6–8 weeks of age — much earlier than chickens, which take 4–6 months.

Adult quail need approximately 1 square foot per bird in a cage, or 2 square feet per bird in a floor pen. They are well-suited for compact setups, garages, and small backyards.

No. Quail and chickens should not share enclosures. Chickens can carry diseases (such as coryza) that are harmless to chickens but deadly to quail. Always keep them separate, with separate equipment when possible.

No. Like chickens, female quail will lay eggs without a male present. You only need a male if you want fertile eggs for hatching.

Coturnix quail typically live 2–4 years. Egg production peaks in the first year and gradually declines after that.

No. Quail are very quiet compared to chickens. Females make soft chirps and calls. Males have a quiet crow that is much softer than a rooster — they typically do not disturb neighbors and are well-suited for urban and suburban environments where roosters are prohibited.

Feed a high-protein game bird feed. Chicks (0–6 weeks) need a starter at 28–30% protein. Adults need a layer or breeder feed at 18–22% protein. Standard chicken feed does not have enough protein for quail.

A typical adult Coturnix eats only about 1 ounce (28 grams) of feed per day — a fraction of what a chicken consumes. This makes quail one of the most feed-efficient poultry options.

Quail can have small amounts of greens, vegetables, mealworms, and other treats, but the bulk of their diet should be a balanced game bird feed to ensure proper nutrition for laying.

Yes. Like all poultry, quail need a small amount of grit (tiny stones) to help digest their food. If they have access to the ground, they will pick this up naturally. For caged birds, provide a small dish of game bird grit.

Laying hens benefit from extra calcium. A separate dish of crushed oyster shell allows them to self-regulate their intake.

Daily. Quail need clean, fresh water at all times. In hot weather, check water multiple times per day. Use a waterer designed for quail (or chick waterers with marbles to prevent drowning).

A healthy Coturnix hen lays approximately 250–300 eggs per year — comparable to a productive chicken, despite being a fraction of the size. Peak production is in the first laying year.

Coturnix hens typically begin laying at 6–8 weeks of age, much earlier than chickens (which take 4–6 months).

By weight, quail eggs contain higher concentrations of protein, iron, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and essential minerals than chicken eggs. They are nutrient-dense, rich in flavor, and prized for both culinary use and daily nutrition.

Roughly 4–5 quail eggs equal one large chicken egg by volume. Quail eggs typically weigh 12–15 grams compared to about 50–60 grams for a chicken egg.

In most states, yes — quail eggs are typically less regulated than chicken eggs because quail are classified as game birds rather than poultry. Check your state and local regulations before selling.

Celadon refers to a genetic trait in Coturnix quail that causes them to lay blue-colored eggs. It is not a breed and not a feather color — it is a genetic trait. Eggs may appear solid blue or lightly speckled. Our Jumbo Celadon line produces consistent blue egg layers.

Properly stored quail eggs (refrigerated) stay fresh for 4–6 weeks. Hatching eggs should be set in an incubator within 7–10 days of being laid for best hatch rates.