i may cancel my order from (less than?) Ideal hatchery...

[SpringChickens]

I think that the negatives tend to be posted more frequently than the positive, and you're probably particularly sensitive to the news about Ideal because you're ordering from there. Every time I've ordered from Ideal, I've had nothing but healthy, happy chicks from them and have lost relatively few.

That said, I think most hatcheries are created equal and you should order from the hatchery which is geographically closest to you. If you are in MA, this may not be the case with Ideal.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I've oredered from Ideal and from Meyer both, and no problems. I agree, I think it is the temperature more than anything else

 

[bayerchicks]

I had a few losses from IDEAL and e-mailed them up and let them know how disappointed I was with 1. calling customer service about wanting the chicks that were dead identified (were they the ones I paid for or packing peanuts) 2. The e-mail address the person gave me to send pics to would not go through. Apparently my files were too large??? I e-mailed the owner or VP (I found the info here from BYC) and was called back the following business day. They re-sent me out the easter eggers that dies (1 extra) plus 9 packing peanuts. We had zero problems with the second batch. This was the first 2 weeks in December. Overall I was very pleased and will probably order from them again.

 

[halo]

Hatcheries will ship chicks regardless of the weather, as they have been ordered weeks, or even months before. So the weather has a lot to do with a rash of unhappy customers. Its amazing that as many chicks arrive safe and sound as they do, especially during the winter. And its been a tough one this year.

 

[redhen]

Yeah.. not a good idea to order chicks in the winter time... just my opinion.

 

[Judy]

All my chickens came from Ideal, either mail order or via the feed store, or they hatched here. I had one shipment a couple of years ago, during a cold snap, where about half were DOA. It had taken the PO over 5 days to get them to me; I'm amazed any survived. I couldn't have been more satisfied with Ideal's customer service. They did ask which chicks, but in some cases I wasn't sure and they dropped it. I was so upset with the PO, I still feel it partly has to do with how our mail is routed, I didn't want replacements shipped, and they credited my credit card immediately. I didn't really even want them to. It certainly wasn't their fault.

I lost a few more over the next couple of days, but I blame it all on shipping stress. They credited me for them, too. The rest grew up and gave me many eggs and much pleasure. I will certainly buy theirs again if I ever get more hatchery chicks.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I got 24 chicks from Ideal on Thursday, only 1 was DOA which is better than MPC in the summer (4 out 25 on average) with any hatchery there is a risk and it is no the hatchery's fault if the weather causes some of them to die.

 

[AllthingsG]

I've ordered from Ideal in the last four years. Sometimes two to three times per season. I've ordered both chickens and geese. No death loss in transit or after they arrived. I've lost a couple of chickens to coons and two geese to a fox - otherwise all is well. I think Ideal does a good job. If I were you - I'd go ahead with my order.

 

[19hhbelgian]

If you order chicks have them shipped out during an ideal time of year. If they're shipped when it's this cold out you're more likely to have issues, same goes for when it's hot out. People complain about the hatcheries when in reality they should simply have not had their chicks shipped at that time of year... Sorry, this is a pet peeve I have

 

[Whiskey Bay]

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Ideal.I have ordered from Ideal,Mt.Healthy,Cackle,and most recently tried McMurray because they carry the standard size BLRW.Ideal has always shipped me nice healthy chicks with plenty extras. In one order I had 50 something chicks ordered and received like 81.All the same breed,not 'warmers'.Cackle I didn't care for period. McMurray shipped my birds out on Sunday,received on tuesday,26 full size chicks crammed into a TINY box.Not sure if the chicks were several days old already or just big chicks,but 9 were doa,and by the time weds nite came i had 1 chick left.They were not outside,so no drafts,cold,etc...they looked really bad.Tried the grogel, tried the sweet water, tried the mash. I may try Welp for one of the breeds they carry.Otherwise Ideal and Mt.Healthy will be my choices.Ideal has always been great!!!