Bad Luck Bantams

[AnneGirlGG]

Everyone has unique experiences with every hatchery. I've gotten chicks from The Chick Hatchery (which I found out later is a "middle man" for other hatcheries - I think mine actually came from Cackle Hatchery and I got TWO extra in that order) and those have been my healthiest by far. I also got really healthy and beautiful chicks from Mt. Healthy Hatchery (they sent one extra chick), and then Meyer - I ordered 7, they sent 0 extra chicks, and I lost one of the 2 Splash Ameraucana bantams I ordered the day after arrival (and the other one is little Dinky pictured above), and I also lost one of my 2 Bielefelders from them before she even started laying (she just dropped dead in the middle of the night - I have cameras in the coop).

I know lots of other people have had good experiences with Meyer (they have the highest ratings of the big hatcheries on Google). I likely will not order from them again even though they have desirable breeds, because I don't want to chance it. However, you can see from the photos that people posted in the reviews on the website, that they have gotten really nice looking Splash Ameraucana bantams. It's just one of those things - almost a roll of the dice - if you're going to have a good or bad experience with ANY hatchery.

I find it odd that it seems like Meyer doesn't send any extra chicks when like every other hatchery does. Meyer will send the one free Meal Maker and one free Homestead Helper, but only if you add them to your order. It seems like other hatcheries automatically include an extra or 2 of what you ordered. Which the MM and HH are not guaranteed to be what you ordered or even close.

If this order goes okay, I may consider getting the bantams come spring, or I may just stick with the breeds that pop up in my local assorted bantam bins.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I find it odd that it seems like Meyer doesn't send any extra chicks when like every other hatchery does.

I know! And my order from Meyer was NOT cheap. They charge extra for everything, and then they have $65 shipping when your order less than 15 chicks . Mt. Healthy charges $40, and Murray McMurray charges $35.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I know! And my order from Meyer was NOT cheap. They charge extra for everything, and then they have $65 shipping when your order less than 15 chicks . Mt. Healthy charges $40, and Murray McMurray charges $35.

I'd pay double the shipping charge if it meant they would actually get here overnight. Not sure what I'm paying for otherwise. The "privilege" of shopping with them, I guess.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I know! And my order from Meyer was NOT cheap. They charge extra for everything, and then they have $65 shipping when your order less than 15 chicks . Mt. Healthy charges $40, and Murray McMurray charges $35.

Yeah the shipping is insane. My friend and I split the cost and I added her birds into my order. But still. It's nuts.

 

[thecatumbrella]

~ REHOME OR RESIST ~​

Welp, bad luck continues to follow us.

I'll be frank. My neighbor's not a very nice guy. He's the type to fly profane political flags while his young kids play beneath them. And that's fine. I put up a fence so I didn't have to look at it. But the one thing I can't ignore is his on/off again desire to rip up his property with heavy machinery. This has been going on for over 4 years.

I've tried to be polite and patient. I've plied him with rare craft beers. But no good dead, yadda yadda. He refuses to give me notice if he'll be working next to the chicken pen. He refuses to give me a timeline. He refuses to just pay someone to knock it out. Instead, he blows me off and his buddy comes and works here and there at whatever time suits him. And he's well within his right to do that. But my birds can't be in the pen while it's happening. It's loud and scary. They have nowhere to escape to and they refuse to eat or drink. I end up bringing them to the basement.

I really don't know what to do, guys. I have no legal standing to go after him. There's nowhere else to put my chicken pen. I knew there would be potential for him to work next door, but I never expected him to drive a massive excavator up the hill and park it for days on end.

I'm thinking I might just need to rehome them. I can't make them live in a construction zone, and I can't make them live in a 3x8 brooder in my basement. I mean, I guess I could, but at what cost? I literally made a post today about whether my chickens were happy or not, WITHOUT considering the construction noise.

Will have to think things over. We're on Day 3 of this with no end in sight.

(Excavator left, chicken pen right)​

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I'm sorry you're dealing with that (on top of everything else)!
That guy sounds like a real tool who doesn't give a about anything/anyone but himself.

This might be a zillion dollars, but could be worth looking into (or something like it) for placing around the chicken run or perhaps on your property line.
https://acoustiblok.com/acoustiblok-soundproofing-product-lines/acoustifence-noise-reducing-fences/

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm sorry you're dealing with that (on top of everything else)!
That guy sounds like a real tool whi doesn't give a about anything/anyone but himself.

This might be a zillion dollars, but could be worth looking into (or something like it) for placing around the chicken run or perhaps on your property line.
https://acoustiblok.com/acoustiblok-soundproofing-product-lines/acoustifence-noise-reducing-fences/

I like the idea, but the town wouldn't allow it. Fences have to be 6' or less at the property line.

Should also add the work shakes the ground. Can't do much about that, sadly.

 

[NatJ]

my birds can't be in the pen while it's happening. It's loud and scary. They have nowhere to escape to and they refuse to eat or drink. I end up bringing them to the basement.​

How long have you tried leaving them in the pen? Going hungry and thirsty for a few hours won't hurt them, as long as they have the chance to eat and drink afterward.

Most chickens have an amazing ability to get used to things, if you just let it happen and be patient. (Of course there are always exceptions, but I don't know if your situation would be one.)

 

[thecatumbrella]

How long have you tried leaving them in the pen? Going hungry and thirsty for a few hours won't hurt them, as long as they have the chance to eat and drink afterward.

Most chickens have an amazing ability to get used to things, if you just let it happen and be patient. (Of course there are always exceptions, but I don't know if your situation would be one.)

They've done a really good job if he's working on the other side of the hill, so they have the ability to at least partially adapt (they no longer care about the heavy air traffic or loud guns either). I think part of the problem is that they can see it and feel the constant rumble. I have a 90% shade cloth on the back of the run for this reason. Can barely see through it myself, but they start alert calling as soon as the guy walks up there.

I tried sitting out with them for an hour yesterday. Brought special treats to try and get them foraging. They just stayed huddled in a ball, or ran back and forth trying to get away. Broke my heart, so I brought them in. This one's a tall order. The equipment is very, very loud and overhead from their POV. Like an aerial predator from hell.

 

[NatJ]

I find it odd that it seems like Meyer doesn't send any extra chicks when like every other hatchery does.

I know! And my order from Meyer was NOT cheap. They charge extra for everything, and then they have $65 shipping when your order less than 15 chicks . Mt. Healthy charges $40, and Murray McMurray charges $35.

https://meyerhatchery.com/products/pages/terms
"Extra chicks may be included on orders of 25 or more and are intended to cover any losses should they occur."

I'm pretty sure that I have seen some other hatcheries also say that they do not send extra chicks on small orders. The reason given is that people making small orders usually do not want extra chicks.

That does sort of make sense: if someone is working with a limit on how many chickens they can have, or a certain size coop, an extra chick can present problems.