02/16/2026
Hi everyone 🤍
Thank you so much for visiting my page!
I am genuinely grateful for the inquiries I receive. Knowing that others admire these Orpingtons and would like to build from my birds is incredibly encouraging. It reassures me that the standard I’m working toward is visible and appreciated.
I often receive questions about hatching eggs, hens, my location, and whether I ship, so I wanted to clarify a few things.
At this time, I do not ship hatching eggs, and I don’t plan to for the foreseeable future (and possibly ever). Here’s why:
1️⃣ Flock improvement comes first.
Each spring, my focus is on hatching as many chicks as possible, growing them out, and retaining the best pullets of each colour. That leaves very few eggs available for sale.
2️⃣ I am still refining my line.
Right now, I am improving type and feather quality. Next will come docility and extra-large egg size. I want complete confidence and consistency across all colours before ever offering eggs publicly.
3️⃣ Small colour groups.
I keep only 2–3 hens of each colour. Because of this, collecting a full dozen of one specific colour can take time, which affects peak freshness and when shipping time is added, the hatch window shortens even more.
4️⃣ No artificial lighting.
I do not use supplemental lighting in my coops. I allow my birds to follow their natural seasonal rhythm, which means consistent laying typically resumes mid-February through March. That is also when I begin incubating heavily so pullets are old enough to free range by summer.
5️⃣ Management style.
I use small coops and free range my birds once I’ve collected what I need for hatching. By spring, the girls are ready to enjoy the farm again, I prefer not to confine them longer than necessary for production.
6️⃣ My coops are not insulated.
This works well for my management style, but during colder months eggs can freeze.
7️⃣ Time constraints.
My day-to-day life is very full, and I don’t have the time required to properly pack and ship eggs with the care they deserve.
8️⃣ Location & Pullets.
I am located just outside Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Pullet pickups must be within a reasonable distance of that area. Pullets typically become available around 12 weeks of age, usually June through September, depending on hatch timing. I occasionally have laying hens available in September or October.
Consistency across all colours is extremely important to me. I want to fully stand behind anything I offer. Because of the factors above, I may never be your go-to gal for shipped hatching eggs, and I truly appreciate your understanding.
So what’s my end goal?
My goal is simple- to build a flock where every bird reflects the standard set by Bluebell.
I will be content when my birds consistently carry her body style, her steady and gentle disposition, her impressive egg size, and her reliable breeding consistency.
Bluebell embodies everything I strive for in my program. By no means is she perfect but I am so proud she is my foundation. Every decision I make moves my flock closer to the standard she represents.
That is the vision.
