Buff Orpington's from Estes Hatchery

[Shoshana]

I just wanted to take a minute to let ya'll know about my great experience with Estes Hatchery (Springfield, MO). I'm in southern Alabama, where it's been warm for a while now, and really wanted to order my first flock of chickens. I've been lurking on BYC for two years, did some reading, and had decided on Buff Orpingtons as the breed for my first flock. Everyone seems to like Ideal, so I had planned to order from them, and was disappointed when I went to their site and found them sold out through June. I definitely didn't want to wait that long, considering the Spring Fever raging down here, so I looked for an alternative. This is where Estes Hatchery comes in. They are family run and provided personal service, no automated answering systems. They worked with me when I needed to change my hatch date (my niece had a baby early and we needed to go out of town for that). But most importantly, their chickens are AMAZING! My great grandfather has been raising chickens for 75 years and said he had never seen such beautiful Orpingtons. I was shipped the 25 chicks I ordered, plus two extra that appear to also be Orpingtons. He predicted I'd be able to raise 20 of the 27 to maturity when they first arrived, and revised that last week to 24 of 27. So far, I've had them nearly two weeks without one fatality and I'm hoping to beat his prediction with 100% survivability, although I didn't expect to be able to do so before I ordered. Here's a pic of my little beauties:

I just wanted to let ya'll know that I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Estes Hatchery.

Warm regards,
~Shoshana

 

[homesteadmomma]

So glad to hear this. I have an order of 25 Barred Rocks coming from Estes next week and could not find out much about them. I can't wait for the new babies!

 

[pdsavage]

Since all the surrounding Orschlens get there chicks from Estes I have gotten alot of their chicks.Only ones that died where from a stray feral cat other then that they where very healthy and active.

 

[jadekat]

My DH and I bought 2 Jersey Giants from Estes this week. They look and act very healthy.

 

[Hillbilliology]

I bought a couple of chicks there the other day in person since I live by that town. I like it because they don't have a minimum order and they were really friendly, we will definately use them again and again.