Ideal Surprise Special

[CDennis]

I am just going to have to order it and see what I get. Its a great price and I think it might be fun to try to figure out what I have. Thanks for all the posts.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
LOL! I wondered if you had checked back on this thread!

Sorry I kind of took it over, but I was curious what everyone got! Mine are shipping on December 8th, so I will probably get them the 9th. I will post my pics when I get them, and will list what I think they are. You should do the same!

Shelly

 

[CDennis]

You didn't take it over not at all! Its been great to see all the posts. Dec 8th?!?!? How EXCITING! I won't get mine quite that soon but I'll get on it, just need to convince the DH that I need a "few" like 30 more chicks...I can sell some and make back my money

 

[IdealisticRoo]

I ordered the Ideal Surprise Special for the Dec. 1st hatch date. They arrived on the 3rd and were all happy and healthy!

About 1 week in, 1 of the yellow chicks died. I think it was a trampling or smothering, because we had watched them (but NOT held them, we are not really chicken cuddlers) and they all seemed equally happy and healthy.

Now at 3 weeks old, I have all but 7 sold! I was able to identify the breeds for all of them before I sold them so I could keep the ones I wanted.

I got:

7 New Hampshire Reds,
4 Black Australorps,
2 RIRs,
4 Silver Laced Wyandottes (kept 2),
3 Black Sex Links (kept 1),
1 Barred Rock (kept 1),
4 Brown Leghorns (kept 1)

I had also added 2 E.E. to the order, which I am keeping!

The Good
I love Ideal stock, I have had good luck with their chicks and the customer service is helpful and very professional! I ALWAYS add to my order and they always get it right! Their sexing has always been right (for my orders at least).

The Not as Good
I did lose 2 bantams on 1 order, but they had sent 1 extra. I didn't claim the 99 cents that I lost.
The Partridge Silkie I got has 4 toes on 1 foot and 5 on the other.
The dark Cornish has crooked middle toes.

That really is all I can think of that was wrong with the stock I got. I love their line of Black Australorps! I ordered it from them in the 90's and got many awards including several grand champions with several different BAs from them. I have a few older BAs from them now and they are just as pretty and quiet as I remembered the 90's birds!

I just ordered 25 more Surprise Special Pullets to be hatched on January 5th!

I love the surprise and figuring out what breeds they are!