Ideal Bantams

[Sword]

Anyone here order bantams from Ideal? How are their survival rates? Do they lay well? Do they look good(I have heard that their silkies are kinda ugly)? I'm particularly interested in D'uccles, OEGB, Orpingtons, and Leghorn bantams.

 

[shanyalv]

I got two batches of them and sad to say that they did not fare very well. I had HIGH mortality rates however they did credit my order back and I purchased other chicks. The Silkies are pretty ugly. I have pics somewhere that I can send.

 

[Sword]

When did you order them? How many and what breeds were they? Do you know if any of the silkie colors look better than others?

 

[deerman]

Most bantams from any hatcheries ....will not be near what most show bantam look. They get their eggs from large flocks of males and hens all running together.

 

[StevenW.]

I would go with Cackle Hatchery cause it seems like they are the only decent hatchery around anymore.

Just my .02

 

[Sword]

Looks don't matter too much to me. It'd be nice if they looked good, but they are just going to be egg laying pets, and I'll end up loving them even if they are ugly little vultures. I'm mainly concerned about mortality rates. My plan is to order 25 (going to sell extras) in April, so they don't get too shaken up or exposed to extreme temperatures.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
From what I heard from some people is that they die when you get them or in shipping and others said there's died when 1-2 years of age.

 

[sourland]

Do you have a TSC nearby? I believe you can order bantams through them. Prices will be higher than direct from a hatchery, but you are guaranteed live chicks.

 

[EweSheep]

Marti's Hatchery seems to be the best hatchery of EE bantams I've had. I love the assorted colors they have, mostly blue or blue wheaten colors which are pretty wild looking. Some looked like crossed with BLGW bantams. That was more than four years ago I've had them.

Ideal Hatchery's EE bantams were alright but a little larger than normal. Nice green egg layers. I'd prefer their LF EE's, all sorts of colors, whites, buffs, blues, black, mostly wheaten colors.

McMurray's EE Bantams, I only had a few, they were weak and died a few days later after they arrived.

 

[jarcoo0153]

I have Silkies and WF black spanish bantams from Ideal, I ordered 8 WFBS and only 4 made it. They are gorgeous! Big white face on my rooster, and not even a year old! I have 2 silkies and they are O.K, I wouldn't say tthey are ugly. The one in my avitar is my rooster. I have had lot better luck with standard breeds from them.