Beware Lancaster Fancy Fowl

[chiques chicks]

Only subscribing because I live near there and am curious about them.

 

[dfalchek]

How are they Brokers? Is it because they are partnered with breeders, or do breeders enlist/pay certain hatcheries to move their product?

The term broker may be not be the best word. A broker, as typically defined, arranges a deal between two parties. In the case of LFF (which clearly bills itself as a "Farm" not a "Hatchery" BTW,), the grower/ partners work for LFF on a contract basis (as far as I can tell) and the business transaction is between the customer and LFF. "Contract" or "Outsource" is a better term. The big "hatcheries," the ones with the glossy catalogues, have the same business model, just on a huge scale. The person throwing the term "broker" around doesn't know what he or she is talking about.

 

[enola]

The term broker may be not be the best word. A broker, as typically defined, arranges a deal between two parties. In the case of LFF (which clearly bills itself as a "Farm" not a "Hatchery" BTW,), the grower/ partners work for LFF on a contract basis (as far as I can tell) and the business transaction is between the customer and LFF.  "Contract" or "Outsource" is a better term. The big "hatcheries," the ones with the glossy catalogues, have the same business model, just on a huge scale.  The person throwing the term "broker" around doesn't know what he or she is talking about. 

I am the person "throwing the word broker" around. Thank you for pointing out that I used the word incorrectly. But, may I point out that my misuse of the word was not so far off base that even you figured out what I meant??

 

[dfalchek]

I apologize for my tone, Eola, I don't have a chicken in this race...But I had a good experience getting my first five pullets at LFF and I don't like to see someone's livelihood threatened... not by you, necessarily. Consider the name of this thread, making it a clearing house for anyone whose chicken got sick, or who had to wait in line too long to be served, attacking the guy and his business.

 

[enola]

I was not attacking anyone's business or livelihood. I was merely trying to help everyone understand how the "hatchery" business works. To clarify the use of "broker" for everyone reading this thread, was very kind of you. However, to blatantly state that I didn't know what I was talking about was a little much. I accept your apology whole heartedly. I actually wondered if you needed another cup of coffee. I know I do.

 

[Sonnybunny098]

I think it's really funny how I am the one who ended up with two sick chickens, one of which made ALL my chickens sick, yet I am the one being questioned. If someone can't deal with a negative review and facts, then perhaps they shouldn't own a business. I don't need to do all of that to know where the CRD came from. Some things are common sense when there were no other options of where it came from. As I said, my chickens are NOT free range, nor do outside birds have access to their coop and run. I am not around other birds of any sort, and biosecurity measures are used when my husband or myself enter the run. There are no other possibilities as all my other chickens were purchased as chicks, these are the only outside birds I have ever brought in. And, as I have said, the sickness started right after I brought the new birds in. I HIGHLY doubt that's a coincidence. It's pretty sh*tty that I am being attacked for simply stating FACTS of what happened after I purchased chickens from LFF. When I am the one who has to now decide whether to have a closed flock, or to cull them all and start fresh. These are our pets, not just a food source. I have every right to be upset.

You still have absolutely no hard evidence to say for sure that the CRD came from LFF. So I for one think it is completely fine for LFF to take down your review as it very well could be a false one and could be ruining his reputation for no reason. I think you are being a littile unfair to say someone shouldn't own a business because of this as. If it did come from him you need to get the proper testing to convince me. Furthermore addressing another issue you had stated cocci is EVERYWHERE. Just that simple. They probably had some in their gut (as pretty much all birds do) prior to being shipped and because shipping is so hard on the birds immune system they developed a heavy infestation unable to fight back. As for lice... We do free range or birds and have never found lice to be a serious issue. Keep fresh bedding and sprinkle a little sevin dust around in summer and spring. Small infestations are usually pretty normal for us. If we see a bird that looks like it has a particularly bad case we spray a little lice and mite treatment that is available at pet supply stores for canaries and such onto the affected area. Anyway that is my input. You have every right to be angry but LFF has every right to save there reputation from information that could very well be false.

 

[AtlantisPeeps]

Saw this and wanted to share my experience with LFF. I ordered 5 chicks from them, but had to change some of the breeds because they didn't have what I wanted (which was not stated on their web) it took 2 months to get my chicks, even though the man said it would only take 2 weeks. When they came, I got 4 infants and one pullet, even though I ordered all pullets. They all had mites. One died within 2 days. They sent a replacement, which died as well. Another ended up being a roo. Which has also recently died. One of the "survivors" had MG and lost an eye. The other healthy one has a crooked toe birth defect.

I will never order from them again. Disaster and waste of $150.

 

[sagealbright]

Almost everyone I have seen comment on this post with a bad experience had their birds shipped. I live within 20 minute of LFF and have always gone their to pick up my birds. A few weeks ago I went to John's new facility to pick up feed. I was even more impressed with this new building than I was with his old one. Very clean and adequate space for the birds. They all looked extremely healthy and well cared for. Breeders can not keep diseases and mites out of their facility 100%. It's extremely hard to do that. Maybe they are exposed to the illnesses before being shipped and the stress of travel compromises their immune system. This would make it hard for them to fight off the germs. To all of you that are getting birds shipped, why don't you try to find a breeder within driving distance? It's a much different experience and less stressful for the birds. Plus, you would get to see where your birds are coming from and look for any red flags before you take them home. I think if any of you were to your LFF's new building you would be pleased with it. All the peacocks, guineas, turkeys, and chickens look extremely happy and healthy.

 

[collie1470]

Having medicine doesn't mean they are actively selling sick birds, it means some birds occassionally get sick. And when dealing with living creatures, this is unavoidable. As are occassional internal problems.

 

[collie1470]

The only way to try and 100% avoid sick birds is to keep them in a completely sterile environment, which does not allow them to act like chickens and scratch, forage, dust bathe, etc. They would have to debeak to avoid injuries. If they're going to provide access to runs, as they should, honestly....then there will occasionally be birds that get mites, or get sick.