Sorry to hear about the losses. I plan to order D'uccles soon when I get more game chicks. I'm hoping since the weather is fine here now and the closeness of Ideal that mine will be ok. And plan to brood them apart from my standard chicks.
I've been tempted to order D'uccles for awhile but have heard that too about them being less ship hardy. As for Polish I have never had much luck with them no matter who I order from. I've had them arrive dead or die shortly after arrival. The last batch I had was reduced from 3 to 1. I'm trying...
I have ordered from all the major hatcheries. Though I order mostly from McMurray. My first chickens came from Ideal though I did not know at the time. Including my favorite rooster King Brahma a massive Light Brahma who I bought from the local feed store at the time as a tiny chick which he...