Very thoroughly written and timely in this age of ai and scams galore. I did just want to add a few notes on NPIP certification, it is a very decent way to cross check if your potential hatchery actually has birds as the states each have a certification procedure involving testing birds and inspecting facilities which means the premise must exist and contain poultry of some sort which can be checked on official state department of agriculture or animal health sites, don’t just rely on breeder website if concerned. Also, selling hatching eggs across state lines requires NPIP certification, paperwork, and permits in pretty much every state and the breeders state and buyers state may have specific requirements depending on species, age, number, etc, but many small breeders don’t bother with it and enforcement is pretty difficult, thus lack of an NPIP number isn’t proof that a breeder isn’t legit. Also, birds will only be disease free for the diseases for which they are certified, mostly salmonella pullorum, possibly avian influenza, but if worried about something specific, like blackhead in turkeys, look for a certification, NPIP birds can still carry a variety of diseases, the certification is only for very specific organisms not disease in general.
