Many have had problems with them. They are still riding on a reputation from years past, but many people have experienced problems since they've changed from a smaller dedicated preservationist, to basically a commercial hatchery. Still, you're probably going to get birds which will be closer to show type than from any other hatchery. You're expectations are reasonable, so that's good, but I've known people to order show quality adults, and receive much less.
Some common complaints about their claims that I've heard:
This business about raising 2 or 3 to get one show bird. Highly optimistic at best. False advertising at worst. Anyone who raises exhibition birds knows that the real number is 10 times that, 20 or 30 to get one good show bird, more or less depending on the breed, variety, and the skill of the breeder.
Unsubstantiated claims about the origin of some of their breeds: the Australian spotted is supposedly a hybrid of Call, Mallard, Pintail and some mysterious Australian species. No explaination is made to account for how a single hybrid has come to be fertile, let alone how a cross from multiple species came to successfully reproduce. It's a nice story, and they are a neat little breed in their own right, but the claimed origin is suspect. Same with the so-called Ancona duck. Supposedly from England, none of the English exhibitors or writers have ever mentioned it. It appears to be nothing more than a crossbred, mismarked Magpie. Is it just a coincidence that the same hatchery also sells magpies, which often hatch with mismarks that can't be sold as honestly representing the breed?
His books, on the other hand, are top notch. While his goose book is slightly outdated, it's still a great book, one of the best out there. Same with his duck book, which has an equal, but none better.
but when I get them I will let you know. I will hijack my granddaughter and make her take pix so I can post them. Guess I will go play with my chickens.
