Estes Hatchery Made Good! UPDATE***CHICKS ARE HERE***

[cochinbantam-lover]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
I'm pretty far away from ALL hatcheries, and I get my chicks shipped just fine. I don't understand the "too far away" stuff...

What is the distance for the hatchery that is farthest away from you! I ordered my chicks from hatcheries closest to me, figuring that would be less stress for the chicks and less losses.​

 

[Mahonri]

Sorry for your loss... as you described it, I was thinking cocci... but you say that wasn't it.

No crop impaction?

You are probably right, weak lines.

My little 5 week old Salmon Fav looks like a dinosaur.... seriously and it has a crooked center toe on one foot but can run and fly with the lot of them even though it is the runt.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
I'm pretty far away from ALL hatcheries, and I get my chicks shipped just fine. I don't understand the "too far away" stuff...

What is the distance for the hatchery that is farthest away from you! I ordered my chicks from hatcheries closest to me, figuring that would be less stress for the chicks and less losses.

I've ordered from MMH (OH - 4,000 miles), Welp (IA) , Purely Poultry (WI-3,000 miles) to name a few. The only significant losses were from trying to ship chicks from MMH in February, which can be OUR coldest month. It was only 7°F when I went to pick the chicks up from the Post Office, and I lost 6 out of 27 chicks due to the cold. Since then I've not had any losses from transport.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
What is the distance for the hatchery that is farthest away from you! I ordered my chicks from hatcheries closest to me, figuring that would be less stress for the chicks and less losses.

I've ordered from MMH (OH - 4,000 miles), Welp (IA) , Purely Poultry (WI-3,000 miles) to name a few. The only significant losses were from trying to ship chicks from MMH in February, which can be OUR coldest month. It was only 7°F when I went to pick the chicks up from the Post Office, and I lost 6 out of 27 chicks due to the cold. Since then I've not had any losses from transport.​

Thankyou for letting me know, that is really something. If I ever order more chicks I'll take a closer look at whats out there for hatcheries farther from me just for fun!!

 

[sealsandwich]

I personally have had really rotten luck with faverolles. I hatched out my own (got seven out of 12 eggs). Let them grow up for five months with two silkies in the pen. I had another set of chicks right next to them in a separate cage. When I let everyone to the floor with the rest of my flock-a whopping twelve chickens who were only about 3 months older, I lost every single one of the faverolles within 5 weeks. Some of the faverolle hens were even larger than my laying hens. I have read that they are prone to bullying, but I never in a million years would have expected that. It was a hard lesson for me. I walked away only knowing that faverolles weren't for me as much as I loved, loved, loved them....

I am sorry for your loss. It's horrible.

And I am sorry the lady on the phone didn't at least pretend to care. It's amazing what a little sympathy can help us deal with.

 

[LilbitChicken]

how terrible- I am sorry for your loss.

 

[danielle82]

awwwww, I'm sorry you lost so many of your chicks! I know you arn't blaming the hatchery, just sometimes when you present a problem to someone representing a company it is very discouraging/frustrating if they do not seem to care at all.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

I think sometimes you just get a person who doesn't seem to really care, I had an experience with MMH, one lady was super super nice and we were actually chatting like old chums about the chicks, but another time I called I got a very unfriendly person, she just sounded cranky and like she could care less what I was feeling!! Nothing she said but her tone of voice said it all!

You could try calling again and unless you get the same person which would be unusual you will probably get a very nice person willing to help out in some way!!! Just thought I'd share!

 

[flakey chick]

I am so sorry you lost so many of your chicks. I do agree with with the lady on the phone in one respect: That was weird. In my book, if the vet can't figure it out, it's weird. I applaud your efforts to do the responsible thing after you lost them. It was good to have them tested so you know you aren't endangering the rest of your flock.

I lost 4 of 5 bantam barred rocks within the first week (different hatchery). I did not call the hatchery because I didn't want a refund or more chicks. That breed was smaller than my other chicks and I didn't want to put in even younger chicks. It was heart breaking to lose that last one and I didn't want to go through any more of that.

I felt I should call them and let them know, but I didn't want them to think I was angling for a refund. I didn't really want anything from them. I felt worse a week later I found someone on here have the same symptoms with BRs from the same hatchery I got mine from. She lost all 10 of hers the first weekend. Her $$ was refunded.

MUCH later I reviewed my videos and looked up symptoms and narrowed the likely problems down to 2 specific diseases. Apparently I should have burned my babies instead of burial. Ooops. That's why I applaud your efforts to have your chicks tested.

I think the hatchery would be better off if I had told them of my issues so that they can make the appropriate decisions.

 

[Im4dabirds]

Quote:
I'd definitely agree the customer service person you got needs another line of work!