IDEAL POULTRY VS CACKLE HATCHERY

[KnobbyOaks]

Egg cartons for chick feeders?? Very clever.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

@ OEGB when did you receive your email stating the chicks were being shipped. My ship date is today and I know it is early but I have seen many reviews that say they received their email on tuesday evening.

anxiously waiting

n/m just got my conformation number.

 

[OEGB100]

Sorry for the late reply, network was not responding. Awsome! You should also have a tracking number to see where they are. Unfortunately i lost a total of seven chicks. Ideal asked me if i wanted reshipment or refund. I decided for the refund because i realized bantam chicks are so little and cant handle bad weather. They were mostly the very little ones who did not make it and size was a factor, unless some kind of disease that i dont know of. But the rest are doing fine, I dont see any more weak ones. Well good luck with yours, post pictures if you can and let the fun begin!

 

[OEGB100]

@knobbyoaks yes clever but not very wise. It is a total mess and a waste of chick food they seem to on purpose spread it on the floor first and then eat it. It turned out to be that what i was saving on the feeder i will spend it on chick starter food. Im a rookie so i learned my lesson. Thanks for posting!

 

[2many2count]

@OEBG100 I will have to say for the last several years we have only ordered thru Cackle Hatchery....except when we take the grandson to the feed store. We have always had great service from them. We are in IL so we don't order this soon...it's just too cold. I would say within a week we have chicks in hand usually. We have had to deal with the customer service once and had quick helpful fix to the problem. I would suggest Cackle to anyone and of course I have been going over what I am going to get this year. Good Luck!

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Got my chicks from ideal early this morning 10 peanuts in addition to my order of 3 ducks 6 chicks. It has been very cold so I wasn't expecting very good results. However, I was pleasantly surprised - only one peanut was DOA and 2 that I am keeping an eye on but have perked up considerably. I had my brooder area seperated for ducks and chicks but had to adjust and put the ducks and other onry ones together and then my clumsy brahma chicks and the sickly EE together so they weren't getting trampled and knocked over. I will get pics and updates after dinner.

 

[StevenW.]

I have ordered from both Hatchery's and I honestly prefer Cackle than Ideal.
Ideal might have a better variety with breeds and colors but I've experienced very weak chicks and I've been losing full grown birds when they are just 2-3 years old. They must have genetic and inbreeding problems in their flocks.

I have quite a few birds from Cackle. The birds are much healthier and bigger compared to the chicks I've received from Ideal.
I've also have had better Customer Service from Cackle. I have birds that are 5-6 years old and very healthy.


Also going to put this out there, if you are looking for quality and not quantity then look for a breeder. They have much better genetics and vigor.

 

[critterwhisper]

My 15 are coming from cackle in9 days,so far i have had excellent service thru them with reserving and then actually processing my order and giving me a ship date. Waiting on that call from my post lady but i am excited and now more nervous as the count down gets closer,scared to loose any of them.i am anxious to see what your cackle babies look like.your idea chicks are so fluffy

 

[OEGB100]

Well so fa ideal did a+ on CUstomer service, but it is true lost seven of them. I think it is expected to hace dead ones There could be many factors thtatare out of ideals or my control affecting their death, who knows whos fault it ts. On quality i will have to wait until they mature and see. Im getting my other order on march 6th will see how many dead ones!

 

[SD Bird Lady]

How is the experiment coming. Hope all is going well.

Mine from Ideal are about 7 weeks old. While they are thriving I am disappointed and will not order from them again. I realize it is a hatchery so was by no means expecting SQ but they are sitting way on the edge of that ball park. The Brahma's are more spotted instead of columbian and my cauygas have big white patches on their chests like a swedish almost. The EE's were supposed to be sexed and one outta 3 is a boy. Also, 2 of 3 EE's has crooked toes. I also had more loss than I did when I ordered from cackle last year.