Getting Started Pullets From Meyer Hatchery

Purchasing started pullets from Meyer Hatchery is an extremely popular option if you wish to fast-forward your waiting time until you get your first egg from your flock. Unlike purchasing and raising day-old chicks, Meyer Hatchery’s started pullets are approximately 16-20 weeks old and ready to move into their coop. Once they settle into their new home, many owners report that their new hens begin to lay eggs within a few days to weeks. If you wish to skip the brooder stage and live within driving distance to Polk, Ohio, picking up some started pullets may be a great option.

On rare occasions, shipping the half-grown started pullets by US Postal System by Overnight Express mail is possible. It’s a costly option due to the charges incurred for shipping live birds by USPS, but if you do not live within driving distance to pick your started pullets up in Ohio, we do sometimes make some breeds of started pullets available for shipping. 

To ship started pullets by overnight mail, they must be carefully packed in a specially designed box that allows ventilation but has air filters to protect the birds and everyone who comes in contact with them along the route. To ensure that the birds have adequate hydration for their overnight trip, a small amount of GroGel is added to the box floor. Each box can only hold one bird to help make sure that your new pullets arrive safely. After the bird is safely settled inside, the box is closed securely, labeled to ship to your post office, and hand-delivered by our staff to our local post office. 

The vast majority of our started pullets are picked up by their new owners from our retail store in Polk, Ohio. Started pullet pickup days at the hatchery are exciting.  With so many people choosing this option, the staff developed a routine for picking up your pullets to help the process run as smoothly as possible. 

Order In Advance

When you place your pre-order for started pullets, you’ll notice that your confirmation e-mail has a specific day, time, and location for pick up. Those details are not moveable since the pullets are typically brought over to the retail location from our grow-out barns. The pullets are held in rolling, stacking cages temporarily while they wait for their new owners to arrive. It’s also important to note that you must bring your own cages to transport your pullets home.

Pick Up Day

On your designated pick-up day, check in with the store staff. They will confirm your order with you and communicate with the pullet handlers that you have arrived to collect your birds. The store staff will instruct you on where to proceed for pick up. Often, the pullet pickup spot is right outside of the retail store in a nearby barn or from one of our box trucks in the parking lot. The details of each pick-up day may change depending on the number of people expected to pick up birds, the time of year and weather conditions, and other factors happening on the grounds that must also be coordinated with the pullet pickup event.

When you arrive at the pullet pick-up spot, check in with a handler and give your name. He or she will confirm the number of pullets you are receiving. Present your cage(s), and the handlers will typically load each pullet into the cages for you. Verify before you leave the site that you have the number and breed of started pullet that you ordered. Then you are on your way to having fresh eggs from your new started pullets!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how started pullets are packed for shipping and what to expect if you plan to pick some up in person at the hatchery.