Hatchimals top list of hard-to-find toys for 2016 holiday season

(Courtesy: WTNH) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

Leigh Frillici, WTNH – FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Hatchimals are the break out toy of the season, literally.

Manufactured by Spin Master, the interactive birdlike toy busts out of its egg and "ages" as kids take care of it, from an infant to a toddler to a little bird-like kid.

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They're flying off store shelves. At big box stores like Target, Walmart and Toys R Us, the toy retails for around $50 but they're nearly impossible to find.

When they are in stock online, there's usually only a few and they're priced high. On Amazon, the toy ranges from $190 to as high as $350. On eBay, one seller offered a single Hatchimal for $600.

"The parents are having a rough time trying to find them," Celeste Vanderlip, owner of Hobbytown in Fairfield, Connecticut, told WTNH. "Their child really wants that Hatchimal, it's the gift at the top of their list that they're looking for."

For parents looking for Hatchimals, there are some ways to make finding them a bit easier.

Nowinstock.net tracks big box store inventory online. It will post when stores like Target, Walmart and Toys R Us have Hatchimals in stock and ready to ship. The site can also send you alerts.

Shoppers can also use Fyndly to track Target shipments.

Enter the following DPCI codes along with your zip code and how far you're willing to drive:

Penguala Pink/Teal: 086-08-0395

Penguala Pink/Red: 086-08-0897

Draggle Blue/Purple: 086-08-0396

Draggle Blue/Green: 086-08-0898

Bearakeet Pink/Black: 086-08-0899

Be sure to call ahead, though. One Target store manager in Connecticut told WTNH Hatchimals are so hot that parents are lining up outside the store for shipments.

"Waited in line yesterday for Target to open and was able to get one of the seven they got in," said shopper Allison Ondy, adding, "Target seems to be the store that gets daily shipments [but you] have to check their website at 6 a.m., see which stores have limited quantity and then drive there and wait in line to get a ticket to get one."

Toys R Us is expecting additional shipments throughout the holiday season. Customers are advised to check their website early in the morning.

Walmart told WTNH it expects to have Hatchimals back in stock in time for its Black Friday sale for $48.88. The sale, though, starts at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, and online at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

Spin Master didn't anticipate the popularity of Hatchimals and has increased production but the toys likely won't be available until next year.

"The consumer response to Hatchimals has been extraordinary, exceeding all expectations," the company wrote on its website. "Some of our first shipments have already sold out. While additional product will hit retail shelves in November, we anticipate this inventory will also sell out quickly. We have increased production and a whole new batch of Hatchimals will be ready to hatch in early 2017."

The statement continued, "This is a special season and we don't want anyone to be disappointed, nor do we support inflated prices from non-authorized resellers. We are working on creative solutions to help kids and their parents withstand the wait. In the interim, some retailers are developing pre-sale and/or rain-check programs for redemption in January. We will continue to update with program details as they become available."