Ideal Hatchery Chicks/Chickens

[verlaj]

I love hearing the positive reports about Ideal's birds! I ordered from them for the first time this year - first time ever ordering chicks via the mail. I ordered in February and have to wait until May for the chicks to arrive, due to the breeds I selected.

So, now since I discovered BYC, I have read many posts about the inferior quality of hatchery stock and so on, which is a little disheartening when I was so looking forward to my chicks and hoping they would grow into nice hens that would give me an idea of what breeds I like best and would like to keep more of in the future. Because of this, I have been second-guessing my decision to go with a hatchery order, even though, because I really can't keep roosters and there isn't a better way to get a selection of several breeds of pullet chicks at one time, from a practical standpoint a hatchery is the only solution for me.

So, the positive comments and photo's of adult chickens from Ideal really please me. I haven't ordered many of the breeds I see posted, but nonetheless, this is reassuring as I wait another month for my chicks! Many thanks for the posts and pictures!

(I ordered Partridge Rocks, Barnevelders, Speckled Sussex, Welsummers, Columbian Wyandottes, and "Ameraucanas.")

 

[SunAngel]

I am getting Speckled Sussex and Welsummers from Ideal at the end of the month. I have never had either breed before and am really looking forward to them.

I did get two Ameraucanas-aka Easter Eggers from Ideal, but they looked just like the one I already had, so I resold them. But they were very pretty and sweet.

 

[verlaj]

Great! We'll have to compare notes on the SS and Welsummers! I am very excited!

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
I agree with buying from a breeder in most circumstances. But I don't think it's evil to order from a hatchery, and there are circumstances in which it's the best way to go. You've already made your decision for the particular circumstances of your life -- now don't sweat it, just enjoy!

(I ordered Partridge Rocks, Barnevelders, Speckled Sussex, Welsummers, Columbian Wyandottes, and "Ameraucanas.")

I have Sussex, Barnevelders, and Welsummers. You will like all of them. But do NOT expect the barnies to lay very dark eggs -- they won't. But they ARE attractive birds, whether "show" quality or not!

 

[verlaj]

Okay- I will look forward to them with great expectations!

 

[mylilchix]

Quote:
I agree with buying from a breeder in most circumstances. But I don't think it's evil to order from a hatchery, and there are circumstances in which it's the best way to go. You've already made your decision for the particular circumstances of your life -- now don't sweat it, just enjoy!

(I ordered Partridge Rocks, Barnevelders, Speckled Sussex, Welsummers, Columbian Wyandottes, and "Ameraucanas.")

I have Sussex, Barnevelders, and Welsummers. You will like all of them. But do NOT expect the barnies to lay very dark eggs -- they won't. But they ARE attractive birds, whether "show" quality or not!

I have to agree. We started out with birds from Ideal. They've been good layers and very healthy so I can't complain. Lots of people order chicks from the big hatcheries. Now that we're about a year into raising chickens my goal is to find birds from smaller breeders. I want to raise birds for egg color and show standard now. I still placed my Ideal order this year to add birds to my laying flock. I've just gotten better quality birds to breed. I guess it's six of one half dozen of another! lol

Sonja