A review of A & J Farms in upstate New York (AKA thepoultryhatchery.com)

[G gallus]

I personally picked up 6 chicks 2 weeks ago and also bought feed. I asked for the Sav-A-Chick electrolyte/vitamin/probiotic supplement but they insisted it was not necessary. At the time I assumed that meant they'd already been given it, but in hindsight it's clear that these people don't "believe in," or at the very least don't understand, modern medicine or genetics. Now, 2 weeks later, I'm watching this beautiful Brahma chick waste away slowly from wry neck, a condition caused by either a vitamin deficiency or genetics. When I called, not asking for a refund or replacement, just looking for some guidance on how to help care for the poor thing, the son of the owner answered, and, sounding very annoyed and defensive, sighed heavily, put me on hold, then came back and curtly told me to separate the chick and let her die. When I mentioned that it sounded like wry neck and that it might be because of a vitamin deficiency he said no, that the chick (who heretofore had been VERY energetic and healthy) was underdeveloped, not malnourished (thereby admitting he sold me an underdeveloped chick but still making no attempt to offer a refund or replacement or even regret that it had happened). When I mentioned that, "it could also be genetic, so you might want to check your breeding stock so more chicks don't suffer unnecessarily," he flat out DENIED THE PREMISE, got VERY DEFENSIVE (guilty people usually do) and said "we have vets on staff so that could never happen." As a biologist, it was clear to me that this individual was lacking in even the most basic understanding of genetics (vets don't observe recessive genetic defects by watching chickens in the yard, for instance), and it's safe to assume that these people won't be taking ANY precautions to prevent this from happening in the future. I found out afterwards that they also have multiple infractions with the NY State Dept of Agriculture and the BBB. In short, incompetent, rude, unhelpful, and every review I can find says the same thing. I suggest you all avoid them.