Bad Experience with Bresse Farms in Pontotoc, MS

[KS_Chicken_Wrangler]

Man...what a thread. I'm re-considering what I want to do for meat birds. Suddenly, it is HARD to find Cornish X chicks. I've read multiple farms have decided to go with Bresse to replace the Cornish because they can breed/hatch their own meat birds and not be reliant upon the hatchery for yearly replacements. For this reason, I've been exploring the Bresse market and was just about settled on Bresse Farms.

Any other suggested hatcheries/breeders who sell quality Bresse birds? I know Greenfire sells them. Any others you guys know of where I could get some reputable birds?

 

[KS_Chicken_Wrangler]

Well, I know many have had bad experiences with Bresse farms. But I've gotta say, so far they haven't done any wrong by me. The original ship date was supposed to be late March(24th or 28th, something like that). I got an email and a text on Saturday that the shipping label was created. They sent them out Monday and I was able to pick them up this morning.

Now, I don't know ANYTHING about verifying breed or quality. But I ordered 50, I received 53 and they are all alive. The shipping box was nice and warm and had everything they needed. I have 30 that are just whitish/yellowish and 23 that are "splash" colored. I have no reason to believe these aren't splash Bresse chickens. I guess we shall see in the coming months. Maybe they have turned a new leaf at Bresse farms? Maybe I'm just ignorant. Who knows lol

Sorry for the poor pictures. I'm scrambling to get their real brooder set up as I was not as prepared as I should have been with them coming early.

Please keep us updated! I have some layer chicks in my brooder right now, but want to get some meat birds in when they move out. Finding Cornish X is proving to be a massive undertaking right now, so, to avoid this I'm starting to think I want to use Bresse instead (so I can breed my own meat birds every year). I'm very curious to hear how things work for you!

 

[Iluveggers]

Mt Healthy just started carrying Bresses. I do not know the quality of them as they are new. Good luck!

 

[FoxDenFarm]

Please keep us updated! I have some layer chicks in my brooder right now, but want to get some meat birds in when they move out. Finding Cornish X is proving to be a massive undertaking right now, so, to avoid this I'm starting to think I want to use Bresse instead (so I can breed my own meat birds every year). I'm very curious to hear how things work for you!

I will for sure. I lost 12 on the first day . When I called Justin at Bresse Farms I told him I know they didn't have any guarantees after delivery but I was wondering if he was willing to help.

After talking with him, he said his chicks never do well with a heat plate and I needed to use a lamp. I swapped to a lamp and haven't lost one since. He also told me he would meet me halfway(kind of) and give me six for free on my next order. Which is nice for sure, I guess I'm just undecided on if I'm ordering another time from them.

The ones I have left are various sizes and real lively. I've only had one instance of poopbutt even though I'm on the lamp. So still, no real complaints but again I have no idea how to determine the quality of chick or the breed for sure.

 

[KS_Chicken_Wrangler]

I will for sure. I lost 12 on the first day . When I called Justin at Bresse Farms I told him I know they didn't have any guarantees after delivery but I was wondering if he was willing to help.

After talking with him, he said his chicks never do well with a heat plate and I needed to use a lamp. I swapped to a lamp and haven't lost one since. He also told me he would meet me halfway(kind of) and give me six for free on my next order. Which is nice for sure, I guess I'm just undecided on if I'm ordering another time from them.

The ones I have left are various sizes and real lively. I've only had one instance of poopbutt even though I'm on the lamp. So still, no real complaints but again I have no idea how to determine the quality of chick or the breed for sure.

Cackle Hatchery is also adamant that the first week (maybe first few days after delivery) they need a heat lamp because the heat plate is not hot enough to warm them to proper temp after shipping...especially if it was cold. I use heat lamps, but have strongly considered changing over. I lost none my first batch, but lost 4 of 40 on my second, even with heat lamps and an Ohio brooder.

 

[FoxDenFarm]

Cackle Hatchery is also adamant that the first week (maybe first few days after delivery) they need a heat lamp because the heat plate is not hot enough to warm them to proper temp after shipping...especially if it was cold. I use heat lamps, but have strongly considered changing over. I lost none my first batch, but lost 4 of 40 on my second, even with heat lamps and an Ohio brooder.

I've used a brooder plate for so many of my own BYM hatches and had such good luck with it. But these all I found had left from under the plate then got too cold.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I will for sure. I lost 12 on the first day . When I called Justin at Bresse Farms I told him I know they didn't have any guarantees after delivery but I was wondering if he was willing to help.

After talking with him, he said his chicks never do well with a heat plate and I needed to use a lamp. I swapped to a lamp and haven't lost one since. He also told me he would meet me halfway(kind of) and give me six for free on my next order. Which is nice for sure, I guess I'm just undecided on if I'm ordering another time from them.

The ones I have left are various sizes and real lively. I've only had one instance of poopbutt even though I'm on the lamp. So still, no real complaints but again I have no idea how to determine the quality of chick or the breed for sure.

The issue with the poop butt is more stress over all than just heat issues.

The heat plate issues seem to be pretty much consistent with shipped chicks because they just can't get warmed up fast enough