Metzer Farms

[GentFarmer]

I'm really glad to see this thread, as I'm looking at ordering Welsh Harlequins. I'm curious of those who placed orders from Metzer: how are the birds shipped? Can you describe the packing? I've seen wildly disparate packaging descriptions, and there also is vast differential in shipping costs. I know there's no uniformity here, given the variation in numbers ordered, but I'm curious if there are some general answer to these questions.

 

[learycow]

I'm really glad to see this thread, as I'm looking at ordering Welsh Harlequins. I'm curious of those who placed orders from Metzer: how are the birds shipped? Can you describe the packing? I've seen wildly disparate packaging descriptions, and there also is vast differential in shipping costs. I know there's no uniformity here, given the variation in numbers ordered, but I'm curious if there are some general answer to these questions.

Metzers does great with all their birds. But I would not suggest shipping if it's cold in your area or theirs. Even if you order a large number of birds, they risk exposure to cold which can make them weak.

They ship the same as anyone else, in a simple cardboard chick box. I would suggest spending the extra and getting them shipped with GroGel. DEFINTIELY worth it as you will find they are much more lively having traveled with full bellies.

 

[GentFarmer]

Thanks, much. I completely misread about Metzer, and it turns out they're driving distance from me, which pretty much seals the deal. I'd much rather be able to go pick them up. I've never been a fan of shipping, and was worried I'd have to rely on it at this time. I've already been emailing with them, and they do have WH available. I'm just "sleeping on it" before placing my order. I'm deliberate like that. ;-)

 

[GentFarmer]

I just placed my order this morning with Metzer: 10 Welsh Harlequins (5 sexed as female). I'll go down and pick them up directly on the 25th.

 

[pdml99]

Yes. More than ten years ago I ordered some fawn & white indian runners, cayugas, & a hybrid layer(think they were called golden white 300's) and all of them lived and thrived(I ordered the electrolyte powder also-I called it duck Gatorade). The layer hybrids were laying practically every day. I think they only missed five or six days a year. The duck eggs have the freshest best flavor & are larger than chicken eggs. The whites are bright white and the yolks are the brighest vivid yellow I have ever seen. My ducks were a joy to have and provided me with plenty to eat in eggs. I would recommend Metzer Farms to anyone who asked because I had such a wonderful experience with them before. Now that I live in the country again, I am going to start myself a flock again after we get a pen built. I think we will go with ducks, guineas and chickens this go round. Thanks, Metzer Farms for stirring up some great memories!

 

[ChristineR]

I have not had a good experience with heir customer service. I've emailed them a few times and the girl always gives me the run around as if she doesn't really know the answers to my question or doesn't want to answer them. I had read that they have excellent customer service. It must only be when someone has a problem with the birds they've received (which doesnt appear to happen very often at all) as it seems they have no desire to help out a newbie. There's only so much Internet and books can tell you about these things and first hand knowledge could help a lot with the planning portion of my future flock.
I've still ordered birds from them due to their reputation for good production stock, but I really wish I could tell someone in charge that their email girl is lacking and maybe someone with more patience/experience should be answering their emails instead: maybe someone with better people skills as well.
Maybe I'm being too picky but on their website they said they were happy to help anyone with a question, I was just directed back to the website, which I had read over about 1000 times already and that's why I was asking the questions I the first place. When I told her that I still needed the questions answered, I was just ignored.

I've kind of experienced the same thing. I emailed to ask about Buff American goslings and received a reply, but it didn't really answer my questions about the Holderread breeding stock and whether or not there is a wait list. I would still recommend them, though.

I just placed my order this morning with Metzer: 10 Welsh Harlequins (5 sexed as female). I'll go down and pick them up directly on the 25th.

I think you'll be very happy with them. My WH hen that I bought from Metzer's is at least six years old now and she still out-lays every other duck I have.

 

[GentFarmer]

I picked up 10 Welsh Harlequin ducklings this morning, and I made the drive down to do it in person. I wanted to share my firsthand experiences:

Pros:
1. It's a family farm located in the middle of the agricultural belt on the Monterey Peninsula. Lots of open space.
2. It's a large facility. There were several buildings and large coops, and each breed of bird and the spaces for such was recognizable from a distance.
3. It was clean. Especially for a hatchery, it didn't smell bad. The buildings look like what I'd expect to find at a commercial hatchery.
4. There's a large pond on site, and it was populated by hundreds of contented ducks just sitting and preening.
5. My order was ready as soon as I arrived: 10 ducklings in a paper grocery bag lined on the bottom with fresh straw.
6. The ducklings were all alert and talkative.

Cons:
1. It's a business.
2. See #1. If you're going for conversation and congeniality, then this isn't the right place for you.
3. That's really my only complaint. I think many of us are spoiled here on BYC, and we expect this kind of interaction when we go to a place. In this case, it just doesn't happen. No one was rude to me. It just wasn't particularly warm.

I arrived there at 9:30 this morning, and I was out of there in under 5 minutes. I wasn't expecting to make friends. I was expecting to buy ducks. And that's exactly what I got.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I picked up 10 Welsh Harlequin ducklings this morning, and I made the drive down to do it in person. I wanted to share my firsthand experiences:

Pros:
1. It's a family farm located in the middle of the agricultural belt on the Monterey Peninsula. Lots of open space.
2. It's a large facility. There were several buildings and large coops, and each breed of bird and the spaces for such was recognizable from a distance.
3. It was clean. Especially for a hatchery, it didn't smell bad. The buildings look like what I'd expect to find at a commercial hatchery.
4. There's a large pond on site, and it was populated by hundreds of contented ducks just sitting and preening.
5. My order was ready as soon as I arrived: 10 ducklings in a paper grocery bag lined on the bottom with fresh straw.
6. The ducklings were all alert and talkative.

Cons:
1. It's a business.
2. See #1. If you're going for conversation and congeniality, then this isn't the right place for you.
3. That's really my only complaint. I think many of us are spoiled here on BYC, and we expect this kind of interaction when we go to a place. In this case, it just doesn't happen. No one was rude to me. It just wasn't particularly warm.

I arrived there at 9:30 this morning, and I was out of there in under 5 minutes. I wasn't expecting to make friends. I was expecting to buy ducks. And that's exactly what I got.

How are they doing? and where are the pics? LOL

 

[GentFarmer]

How are they doing? and where are the pics? LOL

LOL. Busted. I posted some in the Welsh Harlequin thread. They're all doing great. Here ya go:

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL. Busted. I posted some in the Welsh Harlequin thread. They're all doing great. Here ya go:

I was just looking at them, they are adorable, how did your rabbit like them?