Ideal Hatchery review

[AmieD]

I placed an order for 3 ducklings and 8 chicks and was very disappointed. One duckling was dead and almost all of the chicks were weak and had their eyes closed. Although I ordered one, a heating pack was not in the box! I think this is the reason they were all in such bad shape. They were so cold that I actually put them in an incubator that I had built to quickly warm them. The chicks all have their eyes open now, are back in the brooder, and have started walking around. I hope they all make it. I think it was just a shipping error, granted a terrible mistake, but depending on how they respond to my email, I may try another order with them.

 

[Nksg75]

Wow, I am sorry! That's terrible.
I (my husband) ended up ordering from MPC about a week ago.
My husband got on the website and kinda took control, and of course got carried away. I have to admit, I got on the crazy chicken train as well!!
Granted we ordered 15 which is the minimin this time of year, however he was like a mad man!
He went through the different varieties and click, click, click, add that one, add this one, so on so forth.

Now I am a bundle of nerves because they are coming from OHio to Texas.
I hope ideal does the right thing for you.
I would think that the people filling the box would just know to through in a heat pack regardless of if it's ordered or not.
It's January for goodness sakes!!

 

[AmieD]

Wow, I am sorry! That's terrible.
I (my husband) ended up ordering from MPC about a week ago.
My husband got on the website and kinda took control, and of course got carried away. I have to admit, I got on the crazy chicken train as well!!
Granted we ordered 15 which is the minimin this time of year, however he was like a mad man!
He went through the different varieties and click, click, click, add that one, add this one, so on so forth.

Now I am a bundle of nerves because they are coming from OHio to Texas.
I hope ideal does the right thing for you.
I would think that the people filling the box would just know to through in a heat pack regardless of if it's ordered or not.
It's January for goodness sakes!!

Thanks. I had the option of extra roos or a heat pack and ordered a heat pack. I already have several roos and needed some more pullets to keep things balanced. Your post made me smile. I am totally chicken crazy and have several breeds. I ordered from MPC in the summer and my order shipped super-fast (and they included the heat pack). Hopefully, your chicks will arrive safely.

 

[Nksg75]

Yes, it makes me smile now as well. Years ago when I said I wanted chickens, he looked at me like I was crazy, and just snickered. We both grew up in suburban areas, and chickens were not a common occurrence. Now he is worse than me.

So, I have a question for you in regards to your recent order from Ideal.

Again, I am sorry that happened to you
Regarding the duck that died. Do the postal employees make note of death in shipments?
Or do you even open the package up in front of them?
I always assumed that the hatchery needs postal verification of DOA.
Just curious.

 

[AmieD]

Yes, it makes me smile now as well. Years ago when I said I wanted chickens, he looked at me like I was crazy, and just snickered. We both grew up in suburban areas, and chickens were not a common occurrence. Now he is worse than me.

So, I have a question for you in regards to your recent order from Ideal.

Again, I am sorry that happened to you
Regarding the duck that died. Do the postal employees make note of death in shipments?
Or do you even open the package up in front of them?
I always assumed that the hatchery needs postal verification of DOA.
Just curious.

I opened the box in the car and found the duckling. I had emailed them after getting home and taking care of the chicks/ducklings.Then I looked over their webpage and saw that I needed to call. I placed a call and explained the situation. The customer service rep. instructed me to call back on Monday in case some of the chicks don't make it so they can either refund me or reship the order. The lady did ask if I checked under the packing straw for the heating pack. Of course, I had. She asked if the label showed who shipped it and, it did, so I gave the name. I've ordered from MPC and Cackle and all shipments were live, so this was a first for me.

 

[AmieD]

I opened the box in the car and found the duckling. I had emailed them after getting home and taking care of the chicks/ducklings.Then I looked over their webpage and saw that I needed to call. I placed a call and explained the situation. The customer service rep. instructed me to call back on Monday in case some of the chicks don't make it so they can either refund me or reship the order. The lady did ask if I checked under the packing straw for the heating pack. Of course, I had. She asked if the label showed who shipped it and, it did, so I gave the name. I've ordered from MPC and Cackle and all shipments were live, so this was a first for me.

Well, we haven't had the best luck with Ideal. We ended up losing the duckling and two chicks. I asked them to re-ship, but had to add 2 birds for their 5 bird minimum. I paid for the additional two. One of the surviving ducklings from the first shipment has wry neck. I ended up buying vitamins and electrolytes to treat her. She is alive, but still spinning around and doesn't seem capable of swimming. They said they will credit me back her cost. The second shipment of chicks and ducklings all seem great.