I know everyone is interested in what comes out of a "surprise" box. I ordered one from Sandhill for shipment on May 5, 2009. This order was placed (along with a reg. chick order) in Oct. 2008, since my reg. chick order consisted of some rare breeds that are always sold out.
The hatchery cashed my check in Oct. '08 and then I waited for the chicks. They did not wait to cash the check once they had shipped. I heard nothing else from the hatchery until I got a phone call at 8 pm California time that my on May 6 that my order shipped. May 7 I picked up my order from the PO.
The chicks were healthy and lively at the PO. No losses when picked up.
Included in the Farmyard special were:
Turkeys--3 Chocolate
Bantam--3 Black Cochin
1 Red Cochin
10 Light Brahma
Standard-8 Red pyle cubalaya
-4 Blue Jersey Giant
-4 buttercup
I lost 2 brahmas within the first week, but have not lost any others since. I did have 1 buttercup with 2 slipped tendons.
The cubalayas are not all red pyle. Only 3 of the 6 seem to be developing that color pattern. The others seem to be BBR. The chocolate turkeys are not a uniform color of chocolate and have white tips to the feathers and some black smudging. I haven't raised this color before, so I don't know if this is normal and when they moult the color will come in more solid. The buttercups were a mixed bag, but one cockerel seems to have a very, very nice comb developing. Another buttercup's comb is very irregular and not even close to meeting in the back.
The one thing I did notice is that for straight run, I got a lot of roosters. Instead of a 50/50 split, it looks like I have more like 70/30 rooster to hen.
All in all I am not disappointed, though between this one and the Cackle surprise I ordered last year, I would pick the Cackle. I gave a list of what I got in the Cackle surprise in the cackle thread.
The hatchery cashed my check in Oct. '08 and then I waited for the chicks. They did not wait to cash the check once they had shipped. I heard nothing else from the hatchery until I got a phone call at 8 pm California time that my on May 6 that my order shipped. May 7 I picked up my order from the PO.
The chicks were healthy and lively at the PO. No losses when picked up.
Included in the Farmyard special were:
Turkeys--3 Chocolate
Bantam--3 Black Cochin
1 Red Cochin
10 Light Brahma
Standard-8 Red pyle cubalaya
-4 Blue Jersey Giant
-4 buttercup
I lost 2 brahmas within the first week, but have not lost any others since. I did have 1 buttercup with 2 slipped tendons.
The cubalayas are not all red pyle. Only 3 of the 6 seem to be developing that color pattern. The others seem to be BBR. The chocolate turkeys are not a uniform color of chocolate and have white tips to the feathers and some black smudging. I haven't raised this color before, so I don't know if this is normal and when they moult the color will come in more solid. The buttercups were a mixed bag, but one cockerel seems to have a very, very nice comb developing. Another buttercup's comb is very irregular and not even close to meeting in the back.
The one thing I did notice is that for straight run, I got a lot of roosters. Instead of a 50/50 split, it looks like I have more like 70/30 rooster to hen.
All in all I am not disappointed, though between this one and the Cackle surprise I ordered last year, I would pick the Cackle. I gave a list of what I got in the Cackle surprise in the cackle thread.
