I've been meaning to make this post for a while now. For anyone in the NY, NJ area, if you are looking to get chicks, avoid V&R Homestead. I bought 4 chicks from them, two of which were supposed to be sexed EE pullets. One turned out to be a rooster. At first, I thought it was an honest mistake. But I now know that his down coloration (a gray chipmunk pattern) usually indicates a boy in EEs. I'm sure they knew he was a boy, especially after some comments the owner made the second time I bought from them about always having too many boys. It seems they sell boys as girls to get rid of unwanted cockerels.
The second time I went to them, I wanted to buy some bantams, but I needed all girls. They said they have a brooding option, where they will give the chicks I buy to a broody hen, and then raise them for 4 weeks. But, I still had to pay for any boys. I though that was weird, but I said okay. I asked what breeds they had, and he offered me silkies. He kept pushing the silkies on me, but I said no because silkies take months to be able to sex properly. Finally, I picked out six chicks (mostly cochins), and paid over the phone. The next day, I get a call saying that a fox got into the broody pen and killed every chicken. So, I would either need to take the chicks now, or I would have to wait for him to get more broodies. I suspected he was lying, so I said I would rather cancel the order completely. Then, I had to call several times to get my money back.
Please avoid V&R Homestead at all costs.
The second time I went to them, I wanted to buy some bantams, but I needed all girls. They said they have a brooding option, where they will give the chicks I buy to a broody hen, and then raise them for 4 weeks. But, I still had to pay for any boys. I though that was weird, but I said okay. I asked what breeds they had, and he offered me silkies. He kept pushing the silkies on me, but I said no because silkies take months to be able to sex properly. Finally, I picked out six chicks (mostly cochins), and paid over the phone. The next day, I get a call saying that a fox got into the broody pen and killed every chicken. So, I would either need to take the chicks now, or I would have to wait for him to get more broodies. I suspected he was lying, so I said I would rather cancel the order completely. Then, I had to call several times to get my money back.
Please avoid V&R Homestead at all costs.
