Ideal Surprise Special

[CDennis]

Has anyone ordered the Ideal surprise special either straight run or pullet? I was impressed with another order from Ideal and I have been temped by the prices of this special.

 

[HBuehler]

Our pullet order came this past week..I use them for my layers here. 54 chicks shipped 53 were alive and all doing very well. I chose them now because they are only hatching a few breeds right now which are all good layers.I wouldn't order it in the Spring when I could get some of the other breeds though that don't lay well. I got 5-6 breeds in my box and that's it...what I wanted with lots of bsl's which I was really needing-my BR hens are busy with a different roo now.
I have had mixed results with Ideal..one entire order was always sickly...2 breeds in there but then have had them that thrive.In general I use all the hatcheries when I need hatchery stock-who ever is the cheapest.

 

[sred98]

I just ordered the standard pullet surprise special and it is due to ship the 8th.

I am splitting the 30 chick order with a friend. What kinds of chicks did they send? We can't wait and are hoping for some good egg layers.

I'd love to hear what everyone got!!

Shelly

 

[Tiffrz-N-Kidz]

I ordered the special 8 weeks ago and got:
8 brown leghorns
6 white rocks
6 gold laced wyandottes
2 turkens
2 dark cornish
1 barred rock
1 unidentified black one

This was the third lot I have gotten from Ideal and all but 3 chicks have lived. * knocking wood * I have had wonderful luck with them.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
All great layers!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

I ordered the 100 chick special last spring, received I think 113 (been a while, think that's right.) Lost two during brooding and a couple more for no reason I could see when around 3 - 4 months old. Had around 5 - 6 with crossed beaks and one with spraddle leg which I processed at around 2 months old. Otherwise all were healthy hatchery stock. So we raised to maturity around 102, so great odds.
None are show birds of course, and we only kept the 2 silver Campine hens. We buy a few hundred to sell each year locally along with the ones we raise ourselves.

we received;
2 silver Campine hens
1 buff colombian Cochin roo
1 white Leghorn roo
2 white roos with black spots (Maybe California greys?)
1 pretty little hen I think is a Welsummer
2 black hens (Most likely black Autstralorps)
around 10 black sex links (Both sexes)
around 50 red chickens (New Hampsire, Rhode Island, Sex links, etc..)
several barred Rocks
Several dark Cornish
a few buff Orpingtons
a few others that I couldn't identify.

 

[sred98]

Thanks for the responses!! It is making me even more excited!! I can't wait! It feels like Christmas!

Shelly

 

[BigIslandChicks]

i live in hawaii and some hatcheries wont even ship out here in the summer never mind winter - but ideal will!! i have not ordered chicks yet..

but my chicken guy that i buy most of my chickens from only orders from ideal and loves them! i have 4 barred rock hens, 3 EE's (all around 25+weeks) i think we might be getting 1 of our 2 eggs from the EE's??? we also have 1 barnevelder pullet 12wks old all from him ipso facto from ideal (sorry

' dodgeball!) my 4 BR are my faves, they love to eat out of my hand!! we also have a few other chickens from unknown
whereabouts

'. lol but i am pretty sure when i am ready to order chicks of my own it will be from ideal

 

[Crazy Chicken Fever]

I think many more people would but the surprise special if they would take the time to tell you what breed they sent you on the order ticket. I hate having to guess! How hard would it be for someone to write the breeds on the order ticket as they packed the box? It would still be a surprise because you would not know the breeds included until you got your chicks....just a thought, this is the main reason I don't order.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
We're planning on getting out our catalogs and a few "chicken friends" and see what we can figure out. It is going to be difficult! There are several chicks that look similar as babies.

Since we ordered 30, I am wondering if they will send packing peanuts, and if so, will they be marked differently?? Only 4 more days!!!

Shelly