SandHill Preservation review

First, I want to start with the fact that I completely support Sandhill: the preservation of rare breeds; especially when there are only 2 people mainly doing it and at least one of those works full time.

Sandhill requires that all orders come in through mail and have check or money order. I sent mine off on 8/17/15. I rec'd my confirmation letter dated 9/1/15. I found out that they only process orders on weekends, so if it's not there by Friday or Saturday, it'll get processed the next weekend.
I put that I was ok with ANY date for receiving my chicks because I expected them to be sold out for this year and possibly part of next. They put the first ship date as 9/22 and the second as 10/6. In their letters they clearly state that they will not call if birds do not ship, but will call the day they do. So when they didn't call on 9/22, I didn't worry (too much). I figured they'd be shipped on the 2nd ship date (10/6... today). I have been waiting anxiously all day and have not rec'd a call yet (7pm PST-where I am, 9pm CST-where they are).

I have a lot of faith in Sandhill based on all the reviews I've read, but want to post my own experience.

I will post updates as I get them: When I get the call, when I receive them, how they mature, how many I lose, personalities, etc.

PS: I ordered 10 Colored Dorkings, 2 Red Dorkings, 3 Ancona chickens, 5 single comb White Dorkings, and 5 rose comb White Dorkings. They informed me that their White Dorkings are not available this year and will be sent in the spring.

I appreciate what they do also. They are a bit awkward to work with and they only answer the phone one afternoon a week. I guess to do so much, you have to have a strict schedule. You have to be very flexible, if you aren't, don't order from them.

I got about 15 breeds from them back in 2009. I still have an ameraucana that is laying regularly. I was happy with most of the breeds. There were a couple that weren't on the contents list that took me a while to figure out. Not listed but delivered were a pair of black leghorns. The hen hatched several clutches of chicks for me over the years as did the ameraucana. I got white and blue jersey giants that were nick as were the anconas, jaerhons, white minorcas and others.
The only initial problem I had with any is that there were 3 buttercups, a cockerel and 2 pullets. All 3 had slipped tendons. All the other birds were healthy.

Well, no email or call today from sandhill. I called them and their voicemail says they will be taking calls tomorrow between 3-5pm CST. So I'll be calling then if I don't hear from them prior.

Everyone I talk to can't believe that I'm not upset, but I somewhat expected it going in. So I was a little prepared with my reviews and research of them.

Yeah, they aren't the best at keeping one informed. Then magically you get a call and 2 days later the chicks are there.
I had talked to them about 3 weeks before the date of their last shipment of the year. They told me I was the last order so I probably wouldn't be getting chicks. I then ordered 25 freedom rangers. 26 came. A week after they arrived, I got a call from Sandhill and 2 days later I got 54 chicks from them. I had 10 hens prior to the freedom rangers arrival so in just over a week I went from 10 bird to 90.

Good luck.

I called in today, right at 3pm CST, and the call was answered (yay! I was half expecting it to go to voicemail). They informed me that he had started to fill the order but didn't get enough. She also said that my order MAY ship out October 20th, but that I got my order in very late in the year (not sure how that pertains to the estimated ship dates they provided). She also stated that it may end up having to wait until Spring... and Dorkings don't typically lay in March, so it would be April.
My order consisted of:
10 White Dorkings
10 Colored Dorkings
3 Ancona Chickens
2 Red Dorkings

On my confirmation letter, they stated that White Dorkings would not be available until the spring, but that my ship dates were either 9/22 or 10/6. According to Sandhill, they REQUIRE 25 chicks in a box for temperature. I found out today when I called in that if they ship out this year, the extra 10 chicks spots will be filled by something else (no clue what). Then in the spring, when the White Dorkings go out, the extra 15 spots would be extra chicks again.
If it does ship this year, that would be amazing having that many extras (depending on what they are, but I can hope for something good )

Good luck. The great thing is that they could be some very rare and/or obscure breeds.

ChickenCanoe said:

Good luck. The great thing is that they could be some very rare and/or obscure breeds.

Click to expand...

Thank you! Completely agree. I'm excited (whenever they get here)

On October 20th, I emailed over and received an email the next morning stating that none of my birds went out. I will be getting a new confirmation letter in December. I asked if I could change all my white dorkings to Rose combs (SOP for the white dorking). Have not received a response from that yet. We'll see.
I was hoping for my chickens this year, but maybe the Lord is having it done this way so I don't have to go through winter with that many babies.

New confirmation letter received. (Standard, they send out new confirmation letters during January). New expected shipping date is 4/12, 4/26, or 5/10. They are great with communication and any changes I've requested.
My new order is:
8 white, rose comb, Dorkings
9 colored Dorkings
4 black Ameraucanas
4 blue Ameraucanas

Good to hear it's working out.