Greenfire Farms Chick Survival Rate

[tprice417]

I have ordered several chicks from Greenfire Farms and I have had no loss. They were very healthy. Sorry about your chicks.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Water couldn't be the issue as they started dropping way before I saw them start drinking. Regardless, I have raised a few hundred chicks of different breeds with no issues at all.

I have had a total of three batches of chicks with issues - two came from Greenfire Farms (Niederrheiners and Twentse), one from Brinkhaven Acres (Niederrheiners). All were shipped with GroGel. I had another batch of chicks shipped in (Barbezieux) from Gold Feather Farms and had ZERO issues with them.

Originally, after getting the second batch of Niederrheiners, and seeing how dang small the chicks were (compared with any other breed), I am if the thinking they are just a fragile bird. Maybe my experiences are unique, but we won't be making a go at them because of this. The Barbezieux, on the other hand, have done very well. Really looking forward to seeing them as they continue to feather out.

The new batch of Twentse, man, they were in such rough shape by the time I picked them up. Here's a pic of the box:



I'm down to four Twentse chicks now.

I would really like to hear from anyone else that has had chicks shipped from Greenfire. Am I the only person to have these problems? What can I do to avoid them in the future? Overall, my experience with using USPS to ship chicks or eggs has been overwhelmingly bad. I don't see myself ever shipping anything in again. I plan on making the trip, in person, to wherever I need to go. It's the only way to ensure proper handling in transit.

Gee...poor babies. Looks like one of the dead ones must have spent his time stuck in the grow gel cup. A few look to have drowned in it. I do see one cup that looks wet and another that looks dry. That's kind of weird. They probably did get chilled after getting wet by the stuff.

 

[elkinsacres]

Well, my four surviving chicks seem to be doing fine. All will hop right up and run around the brooder box, as well as eat and drink normally.

I won't besmirch Greenfire as they have offered to refund me for the losses (although what I really want are live, healthy chicks...). That being said, I am incredibly reluctant to have chicks shipped to me. My experience with USPS is atrocious. It is worth it to me to drive the distance to pick them up myself - and I can typically find what I want within a 500-mile radius or so. Just need to be patient and vigilant.

GroGel, man, I'm still not sold on this stuff. Seems like chicks don't consistently eat it, I have no earthly idea why it is dyed. Small chicks will invariably move around everywhere in a shipping box so they're going to get some on themselves. That could lead to chilling/hypothermia, or it could just mat their down to the point they don't, or can't, move around much. Plus, if you're getting day-old chicks, why is adding anything in the shipping box (other than a heating pad) necessary when they continue to absorb their yolk sac for approximately 72 hours anyway?

If anyone has a line on some Twentse chicks, please let me know. I'm not sure I can put together a very good group with only 4 chicks...

 

[Zinniah]

It's dyed because it makes them more attracted to it. It's a probiotic + vitamins and its hydrating. They add it because they get better results with it, than without it. You can always request to the seller that they don't put it in, they won't mind. The mailing process is stressful, if they were with mom they would be doing nothing but sitting around. In a shipping box they are getting bounced around by people and bumps in the road, their bodies probably use it faster. Maybe they get stuck in the mail for an extra day. I would try again, since you got your money back. This time tell them you do not want gro gel included, it might work out better, because they wont be able to drown and get chilled.

 

[Exotica]

Did they refund you? I am so sorry for your loss. I just won an auction from them on Rare Breed Auctions for 12 random chicks. I'm now worried..

 

[Zinniah]

They did give him a refund. I wouldn't be worried, anyways let us know how your chicks show up.

 

[Exotica]

They did give him a refund. I wouldn't be worried, anyways let us know how your chicks show up.

I sure will! Does anybody have a problem contacting them? I have already paid and emailed them but still no response? I wish there was a phone number or something..

 

[Zinniah]

I sure will! Does anybody have a problem contacting them? I have already paid and emailed them but still no response? I wish there was a phone number or something..

It took them 1-2 days to answer from my experience. http://greenfirefarms.com/contact/ Send your email to [email protected] if it is about your order.

 

[elkinsacres]

I have not received a reply from Greenfire yet, actually. I will send another email in the morning.

As for my remaining 4 Twentse, all of them have had, and continue to have, 'paste butt'. These are the only chicks I currently have that have this issue (and I am growing out 50+ right now, of varying breeds). I am taking them into the house now, one at a time, and using a warm water compress to clean them up. So far, they have taken a lot of work to keep alive - and I only have 4 left out of 13 originally sent.

Maybe my experience is wholly unique here. Maybe this is just the risk one takes in the quest for rare chicken breeds imported from foreign lands.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I have not received a reply from Greenfire yet, actually. I will send another email in the morning.

As for my remaining 4 Twentse, all of them have had, and continue to have, 'paste butt'. These are the only chicks I currently have that have this issue (and I am growing out 50+ right now, of varying breeds). I am taking them into the house now, one at a time, and using a warm water compress to clean them up. So far, they have taken a lot of work to keep alive - and I only have 4 left out of 13 originally sent.

Maybe my experience is wholly unique here. Maybe this is just the risk one takes in the quest for rare chicken breeds imported from foreign lands.

Are they on a vit/mineral water supplement? Does it have probiotics in it or anything else? Once in awhile I notice some with this issue and usually, when I take them off of supplements in the water, it will clear up. Strange, yes, but I figure they just can't tolerate it. I've even noticed it with some of my full grown hens at times. Probiotics or some other supplement, give them the nasty butt.