Utah Poultry and Homesteading Spring Sale Customers

🐣 Welcome & Thank You from 3F Farms!

Hi there, and thank you for stopping by the 3F Farms booth at the Utah Poultry & Homesteading Spring Sale! We’re so glad you chose to support local, small-scale farming and give our birds and hatching eggs a chance to become part of your flock.

Whether you picked up chicks, started birds, or hatching eggs, we want to make sure you have everything you need to give them a healthy start. Below you’ll find a quick care guide and important links to our policies.

💛 A Quick Thank You

At 3F Farms, we know you have options—and we’re honored you chose to support a local family-run farm. Every bird you bring home helps us continue raising quality poultry with care, attention, and pride. We appreciate you!

📃 Our Policies

Please take a moment to review our farm policies regarding live bird and hatching egg purchases:👉 View 3F Farms Policies

This page includes important information about guarantees, care responsibility, and what to expect.

🐥 Caring for Your New Chicks

Heat & Housing:

• Keep chicks warm: 95°F the first week, decreasing 5°F per week until fully feathered

• Use a heat lamp or brooder plate

• Provide clean bedding (pine shavings work great!)

• Do not mix with older birds. Keep age difference within 5 days.

• IF THEY HAVE A LEG BAND PLEASE REMOVE THE BAND WITHIN 2 DAYS.

Food & Water:

• Start with chick starter feed (medicated or unmedicated is fine)

• If you purchased silkies, I like to do a mix of gamebird starter and chick starter

• Keep the water shallow and fresh

• At 2 weeks of age you can add grit to thier diet.

Health Tips:

• Check for pasty butt daily

• Keep the brooder dry and draft-free

BREED ID (leg bands)

Black Copper Marans: Orange

English Orpingtons: Orange and Green

White Bresee: Orange and Pink

White Ameraucana: Pink and Green

Rainbow Layers: Green, or Green and Purple

Mixed Pen Silkies/Satins: Green or no band

White and Paint Silkies: Orange or Pink

Birds 5 weeks or older will have a 3F Farms wing band normally in the left wing.

3- 4 week Old Chicks

• These chicks are on heat around 80 - 75 degrees.

• Do not mix with older birds. Keep the age difference within 5 days.

🐔 Caring for Started Birds (6+ Weeks)

• These birds are fully off heat, but have been kept at 65 - 75 degrees

  • If your outside temperatures are lower than this, we highly recommend slowly transitioning them to outside.

• Adult birds have been on IFA Layer crumble, and Pullets/Cockerels have been on IFA pullet developer

• Provide plenty of space, clean water, and protection from predators

• New birds should not be thrown in with an existing flock. Please make sure that you introduce them slowly, so they don't get hurt.

• Silkies are best kept in a flock with only other silkies or other bantams. Larger birds can seriously injure them.

  • Please note that my silkies are fed a mixture of layer feed and gamebird starter mix.

Adult Bird Appearance Disclaimer

Please note that many of the adult birds available at the Utah Poultry & Homesteading Spring Sale have been housed in active breeding pens and may look a bit rough around the edges. You may notice missing feathers, worn tails, or bare backs—this is completely normal after a busy breeding season and especially common in hens housed with roosters.

These birds are healthy and productive, but their appearance reflects a hardworking breeding environment, not neglect.

💡 Good to Know:

• Feather wear is cosmetic only and does not affect the health or laying ability of the bird.

• With proper care, a good molt, and some time, they will feather out beautifully again.

🥚 Caring for Hatching Eggs

Please note that 3F Farms can not guarantee hatching eggs due to many variables that are outside our control. If you need help or advice, please feel free to reach out, and we can try to troubleshoot your problems.

• Let eggs rest at room temp (pointy end down) for 12 hours before incubating

• Set in a clean, calibrated incubator at 99.5°F (forced air) or 101.5°F (still air)

• Humidity: 35-45 % first 18 days, 55 - 65 % at lockdown (last 3 days)

  • Humidity will naturally rise once your chicks start to hatch. I see humidity up to 70% in our incubators after hatching begins.

  • Dry hatching does not work in Utah's arid climate. We have had the best success with the recommendations above.

• Turn eggs at least 3x a day until day 18

• Chicks at around day 21. This might vary if your temperatures were not stable during incubation.

  • Once eggs begin to hatch, do not open the incubator until they have all finished hatching.

  • Chicks can stay in the incubator for up to 48 hours.

🐓 About 3F Farms

3F Farms is a small, family-owned operation nestled in Elberta, Utah. I'm Sierra Ford, and I run our farm with a deep passion for animal husbandry and a commitment to quality livestock. What began as a personal endeavor to provide fresh, healthy options for my family has blossomed into a mission to assist others embarking on their agricultural journeys.

We are proud to be an NPIP-certified flock (National Poultry Improvement Plan), ensuring our birds are disease-tested and meet stringent health standards. Our focus is on raising poultry to the APA (American Poultry Association) Standard of Perfection, emphasizing both structure and productivity. Beyond aesthetics, we prioritize breeding birds that are hardy and well-suited to Utah's diverse climate, capable of thriving in various environments across the state.

At 3F Farms, we believe in quality over quantity. Each bird is raised with care, attention, and a dedication to preserving and enhancing the breeds we offer. Our goal is to provide you with poultry that is both beautiful and practical, perfect for backyard flocks, 4-H projects, or small homesteads.

📬 Stay Connected!

Follow us on Facebook or visit our website for updates, available birds, and tips from our farm. We love seeing where our chicks end up—tag us in your flock photos!

Thank you again for supporting 3F Farms. Wishing you happy hatching and healthy hens! 🐓💛

— Sierra Ford3F Farms | www.3f-farms.com