Blue Star Ranch in Bellville TX ?

Howdy Neighbor . 

I don't have any personal experience with them but don't forget to try your local craigslist. You can also try the Texas thread in the Where am I? Where are you? Section 

Did you end up buying hens from Blue Star? If so, were you happy with them?

We purchased a total of 24 hens there starting in June. We have 11 left. They kept dying. We had two tested and the results came back with Mereks Disease.

Oh, no! We are just starting out on researching for our chicken adventure and we found Blue Star Farm and were strongly considering using them because their website looked so promising and spoke highly about the health of their chickens. I am so bummed to hear this may not be the case...

Hi, This is Mary Ann from Blue Star Ranch.. Yes its true... sometimes people call to get information on how to purchase chickens or make appointments to come out here.....And since we do not take deposits or pre-sell chickens, (its 1st come 1st serve)  chickens are sold sometimes very fast in the busy season. Glad you were able to purchase chicks somewhere else. (Aren't you glad you called to check and see before you make the long trip?) So somedays we DO have hens and somedays we only have chicks or juveniles.

This is how things are sold in most places, sometimes places have what you want, and sometimes they don't. 

The chickens are raised in seasonal batches and usually the oldest pullets sell the fastest. We are expecting a busy spring and growing out young pullets now for Feb/March. Don't give up on us yet.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by chatty kathy 

We purchased a total of 24 hens there starting in June. We have 11 left. They kept dying. We had two tested and the results came back with Mereks Disease.

Hi Chatty Kathy,

We do have all day old chicks immunized for Marek's disease before they are shipped to us from several hatcheries. It appears  maybe from your small numbers of postings that you may be new to chickens? ( just wondering?) Be aware that we have a 100% guarantee for all poultry sold, (read online guarantee) I have replaced chickens due to dog or children accidents that are not even guaranteed. 

Without any immunizations for your poultry Mareks can really desimate your flocks its possible to lose up to 35% of some flocks to Mareks that are not immunized. Even WITH immunizations for Mareks (its a mutating/changing disease) its also possible to still lose even 5% to Mareks. There are MANY postings on the subject here that can suport this statement. Wit this in mind, had you called or emailed me its very likely that I would have replaced these chickens... However I have not heard from you even once about your chickens dying???? Yet you post your dying chickens on a public forum???? Please identify yourself and perhaps (depending on age and length of time from purchase) I can still replace all of your lost chickens. Give me a call???? Please read:http://www.bluestar-ranch.com/bluestar_ranch_chickens.html

It does not matter WHERE you purchase chickens...All poultry even with the BEST of care can still catch numerous bacteria and become ill. Many people OVERCLEAN coops and can spread dust and dander, this can infact spread Marek's disease. (I am NOT trying to make excuses this is a FACT) No one's chickens are immune to Mareks unless chickens are raised indoors under sanitary conditions! NO ONE I suggest you read more about how to clean coops and not spread dust and more about Mareks..  Keeping your chickens safe and healthy is PART of raising chickens, because they got Mareks is not Blue Star selling ill chickens.

I tell anyone that purchases chickens from Blue Star that if there are problems to let me know right away. I have "nursed" several customers over the phone how to care for ill chickens even MONTHS or YEARS after purchase from Blue Star Ranch. We are here to help. Please do not post discouraging comments about Blue Star Ranch without at least calling us to state any problems.

Excuse the long reply, but I do not want people to read that "My chickens died because I bought them at Blue Star" this is really not the fact. Again, please call me and identify your self and dates of purchase. Thank you Mary Ann http://www.bluestar-ranch.com/index.html

Hi, This is Mary Ann from Blue Star Ranch.. Yes its true... sometimes people call to get information on how to purchase chickens or make appointments to come out here.....And since we do not take deposits or pre-sell chickens, (its 1st come 1st serve)  chickens are sold sometimes very fast in the busy season. Glad you were able to purchase chicks somewhere else. (Aren't you glad you called to check and see before you make the long trip?) So somedays we DO have hens and somedays we only have chicks or juveniles.

This is how things are sold in most places, sometimes places have what you want, and sometimes they don't. 

The chickens are raised in seasonal batches and usually the oldest pullets sell the fastest. We are expecting a busy spring and growing out young pullets now for Feb/March. Don't give up on us yet.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovemy3babies 

No I actually did not. I.called the owner and she told me she had the hens I was looking for, and the day before we were supposed to go, I called her agin to confirm our time, she then proceeded to tell me she had nothing but chicks, even though 3 days prior she said she did, so I ended getting out hens from the feed store in Conroe, that was better for us anyway as it was closer to us.