How would you respond to this???

[crysmom]

First let me preface this by saying this is not a breeder on backyard chicken

I ordered a dozen eggs from a breeder I wanted blue/buff and partridge silkies the person I ordered from has "show quality" silkies. I received the eggs in record time, with great packing. I incubated them, and they had great fertility all but one began developing and I went in to day 18 with 12 viable (I was sent 16 eggs) out of the twelve I had 9 hatch, two that died after hatching (before out of the bator) this was the messiest hatch ever there was lots of blood and it looked like on most of the birds there was open navels (i know this is an incubation issue) so I was glad 7 lived

When I ordered I specified the colors I wanted most were blue then buff then partridge.

I received 1 buff egg, 3 blue, and 12 partridge

but I guess you can't do much about nature apparently the buff and blue chickens were laying much

okay on to the chicks, I hatched, get this, 1 white "showgirl" 1 splash, 1 that appeared buff but is now growing in partridge color feathers, and 3 partridge showgirls and 1 plain partridge????

remember I wanted show quality silkies, every one of the chicks has a major fault that I believe would lead to disqualification. most have 4 toes on one foot, some are seriously lacking foot feathering, the partridge naked necks have regular feathering coming in on their wings. and another bird has four toes on both feet.

I"m pretty upset about this, none of these are even remotely show quality. not to mention for some reason all the chicks are terrified of me, and what about the showgirls I wasn't expecting that at all I'm worried they will freeze in our cold climate and get sunburnt in the summer AAHH! what do I do ?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I'd contact the breeder back plus take pics and send to the breeder that you got the eggs from....my thoughts

 

[MissPrissy]

There is nothing a breeder can to do to make sure you get 'show quailty' birds hatched from eggs of a show quailty bird. Show quality birds may be picked out of hundreds of hatchings. Some breeders may hatch 500 or more to get 1 show quality birds. Unless the breeder specified specifically that there was a guarrentee of show quailty hatchlings you pretty much take your chances and hope you get just 1 pretty good bird out of it all. I couldn't find fault with the breeder in that area.

If you wanted majority blue and you had that specified again the breeder can't promise you a majority of blue eggs.

You paid for and recieved healthy eggs. The incubation process is your risk as is the hatching and hatchlings.

Sorry you feel like you got the short end of the deal.

 

[crysmom]

Quote:
Thank you for your input

I totally realize the risk of incubation and shipped eggs, and when I'm talking about "show quality" I don't really mean a bird that will win a show. I'm more referring to a bird that looks remotely like it should

I guess in a batch of silkies it wouldn't surprise me if one or two had four toes, or one had 6 like I've read on here. Its more the obvious recent cross with a naked neck turken that has me a bit thrown. Wouldn't the breeder have known that? because i'm pretty sure that's where the normal feathering comes in to play and the four toes, well and its definately where the naked neck comes from.

 

[Kristina]

ok well here are my thoughts....can't do much if the colors you wanted weren't laying, you can't predict if show quality will come out of an egg. BUT....if it was not said that there was a possibility of showgirls you can say something about that. Especially if it was not stated. Now that being said I would contact the seller in regards to the showgirls. And I would also let them know that there are serious DQ's on the birds that did hatch. Maybe ya'll can come to an agreement on a partial refund? As far as the showgirls go they are actually pretty winter hardy so I wouldn't worry to much about that. Best of luck in what you decide to do.

 

[MissPrissy]

Ohhhhhhhh, somewhere that got past me! So sorry!

You wanted silkies and got a mix breed egg! I would contact the breeder and insist that either my money be refunded or I am sent a new shipment of pure bred silkie eggs ASAP.

 

[hinkjc]

I would contact the breeder on your findings as well. It is possible that a rooster got into somewhere he shouldn't have, but I would reach out to them to discuss and express your concerns. I am sure they would work with you.

I want to also mention that it sounds like your humidity was too high on the hatch, which resulted in the bloody, dead chicks on the incubator floor. Unhealed navals can also be the result of this as well as too high of temps. I would recommend checking your thermometer/hygrometer for accuracy to ensure better hatches in the future.

Jody

 

[crysmom]

Quote:
thank you for your feedback, my fluker themo/hygro definately failed me on this hatch, as well earlier (day14) on in the incubation I had a dip in temps for 36 hours .... so much can go wrong with incubation

 

[crysmom]

I should mention I did contact the breeder after the hatch, at the time I wasn't sure what to make of the situation so i just sent an info type email

something along the lines..
Hi, the eggs have hatched, I did get the amount of chicks to hatch that you predicted (breeder had said 30-50% ) I"m happy with my hatch rate (breeder had been concerned I wasn't aware of low hatch rate possiblities on shipped eggs) I mentioned I was surprised to see showgirls in my chicks and questioned whether they would do well in my climate ...

I got a read receipt on my email but no answer.

the chicks are three weeks old now I"m not going to ask for a refund I am more looking to see if I would have been right to ask for a refund or new shipment right after the chicks were hatched and it was obvious they weren't as expected.

Now I need to find homes for 4 partridge showgirls ... I have become attached to the white showgirl and my son has taken resposibility for the splash and buff?

 

[crysmom]

oh and as for the which color was laying, the breeder mailed the eggs before telling me what color eggs would be in the box (well also before I paid) i wouldn't have bought the eggs if I had been informed that there would be only one buff and mostly partridge I would have made arrangements with the breeder to wait until the blue and buff birds were laying more consistently...