Beware about Hilltop farms

[Watolf]

I wanted to make sure post here to beware other people. I already wrote down a form and submitted to Animal protection gov and BBB. I would recommend you guys to do it too if you guys ordered from same company and have issue with same thing.

Animal protection gov - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/complaint-form

BBB- https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint

——————————————
I had such crazy first experience in 7 years of order chicks to shipping to my postal office.

I contacted to BBB and Animal protection gov. Due of concern amount of chicks’s death. I’m not only one who have issue but many clients as well.

——————————————

What i wrote to Animal protection gov:

Address- HILLTOP FARMS, 8383 N WEIRICK RD, CORONA, CA, 92883, UNITED STATES

Phone number- 6572341238

email- [email protected]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
English is not my first language, please bear with me.

I ordered chicks from that company, which is small business. However, I have issue communicate with a person. At first I believed my four out of five chicks might died due of too cold. I wasn't used with their "two weeks old" chicks policy/TOS to shipping them, they said it's more stronger and safer than one day old. I still have solo survivor seem little off and struggles. She is near four weeks old now, I think.

They even said in TOS that they will not refund client once chicks in shipping box handed over to the USPS. It's become USPS's responsibility. I doubt it was USPS's fault. I did filled out a form and evidence for refund from USPS, got denied. I tried second time, denied.

I'm still waiting for a person to respond on the email, nothing. Only they gave me review email. Therefore, I put one star on review and wrote description. It's submitted into their website page where review are. They deleted it one-two days later after I reread review. Lucky, I was screenshot it before they can delete it. Then I start to keep eyes on the reviews, more clients posted one star reviews on June 1-4. I screenshot it too in the case. Then last night, I rechecked, all one star review deleted. I got suspected, it wasn't only mine too. I went to deep research about that company. I found so many negative information about that company which made me concern about highest rate death of chicks. I felt that company needed to check. even survivor ones are very small for two weeks old.

I paid around $150 for five chicks and shipping as well, person seem not want to be responsibility about chicks death.

you will able see so many complaint from clients too but in different website since main company website don't want share it in review. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gative-experiences-are-in-the-thread.1566527/

Hilltop farms's Review is at bottom, you will see most are five stars.

https://hilltopfarmspoultry.com/shop/english-chocolate-orpington

what they deleted is here I took a screenshots.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131514393464872/IMG_4551.png

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131514657701998/IMG_4552.png

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131515093913670/IMG_4553.png

 

[pbarn]

I wanted to make sure post here to beware other people. I already wrote down a form and submitted to Animal protection gov and BBB. I would recommend you guys to do it too if you guys ordered from same company and have issue with same thing.

Animal protection gov - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/complaint-form

BBB- https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint

——————————————
I had such crazy first experience in 7 years of order chicks to shipping to my postal office.

I contacted to BBB and Animal protection gov. Due of concern amount of chicks’s death. I’m not only one who have issue but many clients as well.

——————————————

What i wrote to Animal protection gov:

Address- HILLTOP FARMS, 8383 N WEIRICK RD, CORONA, CA, 92883, UNITED STATES

Phone number- 6572341238

email- [email protected]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
English is not my first language, please bear with me.

I ordered chicks from that company, which is small business. However, I have issue communicate with a person. At first I believed my four out of five chicks might died due of too cold. I wasn't used with their "two weeks old" chicks policy/TOS to shipping them, they said it's more stronger and safer than one day old. I still have solo survivor seem little off and struggles. She is near four weeks old now, I think.

They even said in TOS that they will not refund client once chicks in shipping box handed over to the USPS. It's become USPS's responsibility. I doubt it was USPS's fault. I did filled out a form and evidence for refund from USPS, got denied. I tried second time, denied.

I'm still waiting for a person to respond on the email, nothing. Only they gave me review email. Therefore, I put one star on review and wrote description. It's submitted into their website page where review are. They deleted it one-two days later after I reread review. Lucky, I was screenshot it before they can delete it. Then I start to keep eyes on the reviews, more clients posted one star reviews on June 1-4. I screenshot it too in the case. Then last night, I rechecked, all one star review deleted. I got suspected, it wasn't only mine too. I went to deep research about that company. I found so many negative information about that company which made me concern about highest rate death of chicks. I felt that company needed to check. even survivor ones are very small for two weeks old.

I paid around $150 for five chicks and shipping as well, person seem not want to be responsibility about chicks death.

you will able see so many complaint from clients too but in different website since main company website don't want share it in review. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gative-experiences-are-in-the-thread.1566527/

Hilltop farms's Review is at bottom, you will see most are five stars.

https://hilltopfarmspoultry.com/shop/english-chocolate-orpington

what they deleted is here I took a screenshots.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131514393464872/IMG_4551.png

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131514657701998/IMG_4552.png

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/306567109037785088/1115131515093913670/IMG_4553.png

So very sorry about ur experience… I too bought from them and 2:4 died. I tried to get some info on care of the other too and also a concern that one is a roo… Javier said he doesn’t know about that and refuses to let me speak to Denise… who is nice and helpful. I am so glad u posted this because I researched thoroughly and found all good reviews prior to doing business w/hilltop. I hope u will post ur review and info and feel free to share mine too. I am so heartbroken and so is my 8 y/o. I will not use them again! I did send them an email as I couldn’t find the incident report on the website … now I know why! Please get companion chicks for ur one remaining … they will die from loneliness … need to b part of a flock Min 3-4.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

Yes do not buy from hilltop farms! Purchased 8 chicks, 5 died within a week. Lost out on over $100! I’m very experienced in raising chicks too and have only had one other death before… all other chicks I had in the past were shipped, but I picked up chicks locally from Hilltop so I wouldn’t have to ship! The remaining 3 had a bacterial infection caused by coccidiosis so I had to spend another $50 in medication for them. Thankfully the final 3 pulled through but I will never ever buy from Hilltop again. I just hatched out 6 baby chicks 2 weeks ago and all 6 are thriving and are amazingly healthy compared to hilltops!

 

[Watolf]

So very sorry about ur experience… I too bought from them and 2:4 died. I tried to get some info on care of the other too and also a concern that one is a roo… Javier said he doesn’t know about that and refuses to let me speak to Denise… who is nice and helpful. I am so glad u posted this because I researched thoroughly and found all good reviews prior to doing business w/hilltop. I hope u will post ur review and info and feel free to share mine too. I am so heartbroken and so is my 8 y/o. I will not use them again! I did send them an email as I couldn’t find the incident report on the website … now I know why! Please get companion chicks for ur one remaining … they will die from loneliness … need to b part of a flock Min 3-4.

I’m so sorry about what happen to your chicks too! . I’m afraid to merge them due of unsure if it’s disease. Since it’s happen to people who pick up chicks from there, not shipping, still high rate death. I’m pushed storage bin closer to other chicks so she’s not lonely.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I had other problems. But definitely buyer beware. I suspect their lines are badly inbred, resulting in many problems and weaknesses in their birds.

I was willing to let most of it go, but they sent me a pullet when I requested a roo for an auto-sexing breed. That's not accident or poor management, it's just incompetence.

 

[Watolf]

Yes do not buy from hilltop farms! Purchased 8 chicks, 5 died within a week. Lost out on over $100! I’m very experienced in raising chicks too and have only had one other death before… all other chicks I had in the past were shipped, but I picked up chicks locally from Hilltop so I wouldn’t have to ship! The remaining 3 had a bacterial infection caused by coccidiosis so I had to spend another $50 in medication for them. Thankfully the final 3 pulled through but I will never ever buy from Hilltop again. I just hatched out 6 baby chicks 2 weeks ago and all 6 are thriving and are amazingly healthy compared to hilltops!

I’m sorry that you had to through that too!

I’m worried after read “coccidiosis”. My chick that still survives, i don’t see any poop show coccidiosis signs. I clicked for marek and corrid vaccine when i buy chicks. But now im unsure it they ACTUALLY vaccinated my chicks for coccidiosis. Do you think i should get corrid if that is highly possible?

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

I’m sorry that you had to through that too!

I’m worried after read “coccidiosis”. My chick that still survives, i don’t see any poop show coccidiosis signs. I clicked for marek and corrid vaccine when i buy chicks. But now im unsure it they ACTUALLY vaccinated my chicks for coccidiosis. Do you think i should get corrid if that is highly possible?

If you’re suspecting coccidiosis then yes I would treat with corid! My chicks didn’t have bloody poop but they had more than average intestinal shedding in their poop and the sickest Ameraucana had weird mucousy poop. I saw that a lot of people that got chicks from them also had their chicks get coccidiosis and some even got to them already having bloody poop. I am so careful where I get my chicks from and read so many reviews, make sure their NPIP, etc, so it’s horrible how they delete their negative reviews making them appear better than they actually are.
You can see my thread about my Ameraucana and her treatment here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/could-this-still-be-coccidiosis.1575915/

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

I had other problems. But definitely buyer beware. I suspect their lines are badly inbred, resulting in many problems and weaknesses in their birds.

I was willing to let most of it go, but they sent me a pullet when I requested a roo for an auto-sexing breed. That's not accident or poor management, it's just incompetence.

That was something I thought too. My chicks just died one after the other within the span of a week. I also feel like their birds may not be in the best of conditions. I searched up their address online and their lot is only 1.1 acres. Most of it is hillside too. To me, that’s an awful lot of chicken breeds, geese, and turkeys listed on their website to house and breed on less than an acre of land. I knew when I went there to pick them up that it felt a little off but I got my chicks anyways

 

[Watolf]

If you’re suspecting coccidiosis then yes I would treat with corid! My chicks didn’t have bloody poop but they had more than average intestinal shedding in their poop and the sickest Ameraucana had weird mucousy poop. I saw that a lot of people that got chicks from them also had their chicks get coccidiosis and some even got to them already having bloody poop. I am so careful where I get my chicks from and read so many reviews, make sure their NPIP, etc, so it’s horrible how they delete their negative reviews making them appear better than they actually are.
You can see my thread about my Ameraucana and her treatment here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/could-this-still-be-coccidiosis.1575915/

It’s how she is right now, near four weeks old

Maybe i should in the case. Was your ameraucana chick become degrade when she is four weeks old? it’s when you decided need to give her a corrid treatment?

 

[Watolf]

I’m sorry that you had to through that too!

I’m worried after read “coccidiosis”. My chick that still survives, i don’t see any poop show coccidiosis signs. I clicked for marek and corrid vaccine when i buy chicks. But now im unsure it they ACTUALLY vaccinated my chicks for coccidiosis. Do you think i should get corrid if that is highly possible?

If you’re suspecting coccidiosis then yes I would treat with corid! My chicks didn’t have bloody poop but they had more than average intestinal shedding in their poop and the sickest Ameraucana had weird mucousy poop. I saw that a lot of people that got chicks from them also had their chicks get coccidiosis and some even got to them already having bloody poop. I am so careful where I get my chicks from and read so many reviews, make sure their NPIP, etc, so it’s horrible how they delete their negative reviews making them appear better than they actually are.
You can see my thread about my Ameraucana and her treatment here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/could-this-still-be-coccidiosis.1575915/

I forget to mention, when she is chill walk, she walk like a penguin. Also her feathers are not full grow, only wings and tail.