I just ordered new chicks from Ideal!

[campbellhatchery]

I ordered 145 RIR from Ideal (was a 3 month wait almost everywhere at the time, i still waited 3 weeks ordering in november).

They all survived the trip, and they all survived their first night in my home made stack brooders. Sadly every day for the next 3 following days I lost a hen so I'm down to 142, 117 pullets.

The first 2 I found dead in the center of the cage. The third didn't get up to see me when I checked on him so I nudged her and she didn't move. I picked her up and she woudln't stand, but was alert.. LOUD but weak. I put her in her own brooder with small food/water trays laying right next to her. I came back 2 hours later and she was laying on her side, struggling for air. I picked her up and she was limp and struggling to breath. I tried to check her airway running my finger up and down her neck and she stopped breathing in my hand.

I have read elsewhere(after the fact) that some people had this same experience with Ideal, so if you order from them- order a few extra because there is some respiratory disease present in their breeding program.

They are now almost a month old and thriving

I currently have them in 6 brooders, 25 in all but 1

 

[streemers]

wow! i was just thinking about ordering for them next year. i just ordered from mcmurry and if all my duckies do well i think i might stick with them! i am sorry about your loss and hope all the best for your babies you still have!

 

[JustChicky]

I ordered from them last year and I only lost one chick at 12 days old. When they got older, I lost a few packing peanut cockerels that were out early in the morning. I sure hope everything turns out good with these girls.

campbellhatchery - Your chicks are so cute. I can't wait to have my little chicks to watch grow!

 

[streemers]

well me too. keep me posted and maybe we can compaire notes
i have heard lots of good stuff about both

 

[cmom]

So far I have only lost one chick from Ideal and it was sick when it arrived and wouldn't eat or drink no matter how hard I tried.

 

[streemers]

i will let you know what happins with my duckies

 

[cmom]

I plan on ordering more in the spring when my little girls are fully integrated with the older ones and I have built my new coop.

 

[JustChicky]

They're here! I have to go pick them up from the P.O. right now. Be back with pics...

 

[JustChicky]

Here they are...

And the feed store also got their chicks today, so I came home with 5 extra guineas.

Well, time to get back to my chicky-poos!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

Wow, those are fuzzy little cuties. Good Luck with them. Keep us posted as they grow.