Hatch Day at Meyer Hatchery: What to Expect

It’s no surprise that Hatch Days are the busiest day of the week here at Meyer Hatchery. The chicks are pulled from the hatchers, sorted by breed, sexed, and counted. I am here to give you some insight on things to know for hatch day as well as inventory updates.

Hatch Day Updates

On hatch day, if a breed hatches better than expected, those extras are added to the website by 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The projected numbers we have up for sale are only estimates based on previous years and it is not uncommon for a breed to hatch better than we predicted.

It’s important to note that shipping starts very early on hatch day mornings, before customer service arrives. That means we will be unable to add chicks to current orders on hatch days, a new order would need to be placed.  

Second Count Newsletter

Once all orders are packed, the shipping team will count any remaining birds. These numbers are then updated on the website before the hatch closes for the day. A newsletter is typically  sent out to all subscribers letting them know of the updated inventory -look for an email titled Check out Today’s Hatch!

Leftover Chicks (Bin Chicks)

Once the hatch closes, any leftover chicks are put up for sale in the store as Bin Chicks. Bin Chicks are typically available after 12:30pm EST on the hatch date. You can come to the store and pick out the chicks you would like. Bin chicks are first-come, first-served. No reservations can be made. 

Back-in-Stock Notifications

If you find that a breed is sold out, be sure to enter your email on that breed page to sign up for a Back-in-Stock Notification (BISN). If inventory is added, an automated email with the breed page link will be sent for ordering.

Actual Egg Set Inventory

Actual egg set numbers for three weeks ahead are entered by 9 am Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday mornings. These numbers are directly from the owner telling us how many eggs of each breed were set. This often allows additional availability for high-demand breeds, triggering BISN emails for those signed up.

Yearly Inventory Release

One of the most asked questions each year is “When will next year’s inventory be released?”. If you are itching to plan next year’s orders, be sure to check our website at the end of October. Remember, the earlier you get your order in, the better selection of dates and breeds are available to meet your needs. Check out our blog on Planning Your Order for more tips.

Hatch Variability and Availability

No one can predict Mother Nature, there are times when breeds do not hatch as well as expected. In these cases, we will attempt to contact the customer on how to handle the issue or follow the substitution notes you added when placing your order.
Website inventory is fluid and can change daily depending on order changes and cancellations. If you have any questions about breed availability, be sure to reach out by phone, chat, or email.

Planning ahead on hatch day is the key to getting the chicks you want! Be sure to check our website early on Hatch Days (most often Mondays), sign up for Back-in-Stock Notifications, and keep an eye on your inbox for our Second Count Newsletter. Whether you’re a first-time chicken keeper or a seasoned poultry enthusiast, we’re here to help you build your perfect flock. Have questions? Our team is always happy to assist – contact us anytime!