Another thought is many if not all the large hatcheries contract with others to hatch their birds. They might not own the parent birds and what they ship can come from multiple sources .
Choosing a Hatchery - Ideal poultry?
- Thread starter Khota
- Start date
Purely Poultry being one of them.
- Thread starter
- #33
- Dec 17, 2011
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You can also talk to your local feed store and ask for them to add goslings to their duckling/chicks order.
For pet quality, any of the major hatcheries will be fine. If you want to make sure they are better quality, then spend a little more and get from Holderread. One thing I like about Metzer is they do not use packing peanuts for small orders.
For pet quality, any of the major hatcheries will be fine. If you want to make sure they are better quality, then spend a little more and get from Holderread. One thing I like about Metzer is they do not use packing peanuts for small orders.
I've ordered from Ideal and Metzer. Ideal has poorer quality than Metzer. That's okay if you're just looking for pets! I have a tufter roman from Ideal named Lacie. She was my first goose and I love her to pieces, but she won't be winning any awards for conforming to the standard. She barely even has a tuft, just a tiny little bump, really. Metzer's stock is much better in that regard.
If you don't care so much for quality and Ideal is closer and the goslings would have a shorter trip, I can recommend Ideal. For better quality, go with Metzer.
If you don't care so much for quality and Ideal is closer and the goslings would have a shorter trip, I can recommend Ideal. For better quality, go with Metzer.
- Thread starter
- #36
I had considered asking that from my local TSC but I was worried they wouldn't want to order only 2 goslings and that they could possibly get lost/injured in the amount of ducklings/chicks that they would be ordering.
I'm not too worried about 'packing peanuts' because I'm fairly sure I could find a good place to rehome them, however I can't say that ideally I would want them if not having them was an option.
The only reason I've been so picky about pictures/hearing about other peoples geese from Ideal Poultry is because I had a gosling I ordered from someone else (A nonhatchery, to be fair.) that ended up hatching with a wide variety of problems that seemed to be improving vastly before it suddenly declined and died - and I cant say I have the heart to do that again. I adored that gosling to bits and can't say I want to see another little bird go through that. I just want a healthy gosling that at least resembles the breed I'd be buying that also wouldn't come to me with health issues.
I'm still waiting on a reply from ideal, though I think I may end up going with them regardless due to the cheaper prices. At least with ideal, I suppose if issues come up it will be easy to get a refund and just reorder elsewhere to be honest.
I'm not too worried about 'packing peanuts' because I'm fairly sure I could find a good place to rehome them, however I can't say that ideally I would want them if not having them was an option.
The only reason I've been so picky about pictures/hearing about other peoples geese from Ideal Poultry is because I had a gosling I ordered from someone else (A nonhatchery, to be fair.) that ended up hatching with a wide variety of problems that seemed to be improving vastly before it suddenly declined and died - and I cant say I have the heart to do that again. I adored that gosling to bits and can't say I want to see another little bird go through that. I just want a healthy gosling that at least resembles the breed I'd be buying that also wouldn't come to me with health issues.
I'm still waiting on a reply from ideal, though I think I may end up going with them regardless due to the cheaper prices. At least with ideal, I suppose if issues come up it will be easy to get a refund and just reorder elsewhere to be honest.
I forgot to post pictures for you. This is Lacie, who is from Ideal:
Lacie is on the left in this picture, a goose from Metzer is on the right, you can see the difference in quality:
Even though Lacie is not as good quality-wise, she is healthy and sweet.
Lacie is on the left in this picture, a goose from Metzer is on the right, you can see the difference in quality:
Even though Lacie is not as good quality-wise, she is healthy and sweet.
Eggsakly
Chirping
- May 5, 2015
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I think I understand. It's hard to go through health issues and death with the birds. It gets to me. I tried my first hatch last year with an incubator and it was so stressful that I haven't tried again, not even with a brand new, mo' betta incubator.
The odds are, your geese will be fine. I always order lots of chicks, and then I sell whatever I don't want locally. Ideal can have some pretty awesome specials on their bantams if a person orders 25 or more, and I do. They are easy to rehome, and they pay for themselves and then some. In my region, a nice bantam cockerel or pullet can sell easily and for $20-$30, if a person wanted to feed them for a few weeks. I also just get rid of them immediately and they sell quickly.
The odds are, your geese will be fine. I always order lots of chicks, and then I sell whatever I don't want locally. Ideal can have some pretty awesome specials on their bantams if a person orders 25 or more, and I do. They are easy to rehome, and they pay for themselves and then some. In my region, a nice bantam cockerel or pullet can sell easily and for $20-$30, if a person wanted to feed them for a few weeks. I also just get rid of them immediately and they sell quickly.
- Apr 12, 2014
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I have order all my ducks and American Buffs from Metza farms and was very happy with them as far as shipping . this is my gander Mike .- Thread starter
- #40
Lacie is gorgeous! The difference in quality doesn't seem to be as drastic as I had imagined it could potentially be.
It's good to hear that your ordered chicks always come out well! I'm hoping my neighbor or one of my friends will want any packing peanuts that come with my goslings when I order them, as I don't really want chickens haha
That goose is beautiful! He has such a lovely color. How old is Mike?
It's good to hear that your ordered chicks always come out well! I'm hoping my neighbor or one of my friends will want any packing peanuts that come with my goslings when I order them, as I don't really want chickens haha
That goose is beautiful! He has such a lovely color. How old is Mike?
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