Yes unfortunately I did order from Cackle. I ordered 15 bantam special, 5 top hat crested, 5 polish and 5 rare breed. I received 37 chicks and 1 DOA-the next day 2 more but Inassumed this is expected and why they send extras. I gave a good review. This is where the "bargain" became obvious! I had a chick per day dying. At first I thought it was pasty butt and I began checking every butt because I was following their chick care directions and they seemed to have a diarrhea issue. But even though there were only 2 blocked vents, I stil kept monitoring and contacted my avian vet who is known nationwide for Serama breeding showing and judging. He stated that if I was giving my chicks medicated feed that along with probiotics and electrolytes and keeping everything clean and at normal brooding temp that there was no reason other than receiving already sick birds that this should be occurring and to make sure to keep them isolated and contact the hatchery. I could not bring a chick in because once the diarrhea started, they were dead within 12 hours. I contacted a rep at cackle yesterday, told her in detail what was happening and what I was doing to treat it as best as possible and that I was down to 23 birds with 2 more fading fast. She complimented me for going above and beyond in regards to my research and care-I did offer to fax her receipts and email pics of my chicks and their living conditions. She stated that this was caused by stress and to treat the birds with antibiotics. I did not ask for any reimbursement other than to have a small order of healthy chicks shipped to make up for the dead and dying ones and it was not so much the money or money spent on their care but the fact that my birds were sick and suffering as they died. She stated that she would have to talk to a supervisor but she was out to lunch but would return my call ASAP. Well no call and another dead chick despite antibiotics and $150 more of chicken care and sanitation/prevention supplies! Today I called back and was transferred to the owner that proceeded to tell me that even though my brooder which has a brooder thermometer that read 90 degrees which I offered to send pics of that this was my fault because my temps were too high and that I should have medicated the chickens with antibiotics immediately upon arrival even though I was providing medicated feed because those levels are too low because the FDA reduced the allowable levels. I told her that my vet disagreed and that chicks I have either received from my breeder, local feed store, friend with a farm, my pet chicken and even ones I have hatched myself in my own incubator are all alive and well and cared for the same way I cared for my cackle chicks! She told me that with her 65 years of chicken experience, that her way was correct, my vet was wrong and she was not responsible and would do nothing for me for my troubles/losses and refused to see my receipts, note from my vet and pics. I told her that if this is how her hatchery chooses to business, I am sorry that satisfying an honest customer with replacement chicks-not a financial reimbursement or refund to make up for the sick ones sent, I hope it was worth losing a customer and me sharing my experience with others. I did received an injured chick from my pet chicken and even though the chick recovered, they gave me a full reimbursement for the $22 chick and logical tips to help care for it without making excuses. This has taught me that you get what you pay for!
