SandHill Preservation review

[JacinLarkwell]

Hi All, been a while. Anyhow, I ordered from Sandhill, first time, and got my letter and chicks accordingly. June 26. 10 Blk Java, 10 Mottled Java and 5 Delaware. Plus 9 "filler". All went well, though one Java passed in hours. I didn't expect that and wasn't hovering over them. We feather sexed them just for fun. Anyhow about those 9 "filler" chicks? I have no idea what they are. I can't post pics as I can't seem to figure out how to move them from my phone to this lap top. Does anyone know. Would they be a breed or mixed? I've emailed today so I expect it to be a while before I hear back. I will say I had called about my order, and they texted me back and then called with a heads up. I was concerned with the heat here in NYS. I'm already planning next year's order since they're out of what I want. So, does anyone have any idea what these 9 fillers might be? A breed or mixed? They're golden and pretty. We feather sexed them to be all girls. lol but I don't think I can keep them.

They're probably not mixed unless they have red sexlinks.

 

[rancher hicks]

They're probably not mixed unless they have red sexlinks.

They're not Red but golden with a pattern. Won't know fully till they grow out I guess.

 

[dheltzel]

Hi All, been a while. Anyhow, I ordered from Sandhill, first time, and got my letter and chicks accordingly. June 26. 10 Blk Java, 10 Mottled Java and 5 Delaware. Plus 9 "filler". All went well, though one Java passed in hours. I didn't expect that and wasn't hovering over them. We feather sexed them just for fun. Anyhow about those 9 "filler" chicks? I have no idea what they are. I can't post pics as I can't seem to figure out how to move them from my phone to this lap top. Does anyone know. Would they be a breed or mixed? I've emailed today so I expect it to be a while before I hear back. I will say I had called about my order, and they texted me back and then called with a heads up. I was concerned with the heat here in NYS. I'm already planning next year's order since they're out of what I want. So, does anyone have any idea what these 9 fillers might be? A breed or mixed? They're golden and pretty. We feather sexed them to be all girls. lol but I don't think I can keep them.

When I have gotten chicks or ducklings from Sand Hill, they sent a "packing list" that has 3 or 4 letter codes for each breed. Do you have that? If you list what is marked on that list, I may be able to help you figure out what the breeds of the "filler" chicks.

I would like to address the "feather sexing". I am a genetic hobbyist with my chickens and have a thorough understanding of sexlinked traits. I know enough about this to state with certainty that no heritage breed of chickens can be feather sexed with more than 50% accuracy (what you would get from a coin toss, BTW). You stated that all of the "filler" chicks were females. The chances of that happening with straight run chicks is very, very low. I urge you to raise those chicks until they are sexable, and I expect you will find that 3 to 6 of them are males after all.

I work a lot with autosexing breeds, as well as sexlinked hybrids. Autosexing breeds are a special case of true breeding, sexable chicks. This is always done via the sexlinked barring gene because it is partially domainant and resides on the sex chromosome. It is the ONLY trait that works for this, the slow/rapid feathering genes are not partially dominant, so you cannot create an autosexing breed that is feather sexable as chicks. It works with specialized hybrids and has significant usage in the commercial hatchery industry.

All this means that "feather sexing" is not reliable in nearly every case where people are trying to use it. I challenge people test their theory and feather sex at least 100 chicks and raise them up to see how accurate you are. So far no one has taken me up on the offer and reported any positive results of their feather sexing.

 

[rancher hicks]

unfortunately, I didn't save the packing list. I am aware of the feather sexing flaw, but we did it for fun. So we shall see. I have two brooders and separated them by sex to see how we do. I have emailed Sandhill but it will be days before I hear. Of course we'll raise all the chicks to see what's what.

Right now I've some Silver Deathlayer chicks that I thought surely would be white/yellow but they're not. Surprise!

I am aware of the barred gene? I ordered Barred Cochin and 7 our of 9 are boys. (Cackle hatchery).

I've had a friend in Missouri send a box of Barred Rock chicks, though I don't remember how that went.

I haven't been on since my wife died 6 yrs ago. So I'm not even sure many of the folks from back then are still on or even alive.

Thank you for your input.
Rancher

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Can you post pictures of the unknowns?
I only bought from Sandhill once and that was many years ago. Back then they had assortments at the end of summer. Most were listed but like yours, there were some mysteries. With those assortments, they assembled from what were still laying late season. I got 54 chicks of about 18 breeds. Some of the unnamed I could identify early but a couple others, I had to wait till they were almost mature.
I'm sure they aren't intentional mixes but rather breeds. That said, Glen did tend to experiment a bit so a couple weren't exact examples of their breed. Overall, I was happy with the purchase.

 

[rancher hicks]

So I found the paperwork. The line the "filler chicks" is on says, Red Dorking, code RD, Filler chicks, 9. I don't mind them sending fillers and I'm happy with my order. Except if I wanted anything else they're out for the year on breeds that I want. lol I'm already planning next years order. lol.

 

[Finnie]

unfortunately, I didn't save the packing list. I am aware of the feather sexing flaw, but we did it for fun. So we shall see. I have two brooders and separated them by sex to see how we do. I have emailed Sandhill but it will be days before I hear. Of course we'll raise all the chicks to see what's what.

Right now I've some Silver Deathlayer chicks that I thought surely would be white/yellow but they're not. Surprise!

I am aware of the barred gene? I ordered Barred Cochin and 7 our of 9 are boys. (Cackle hatchery).

I've had a friend in Missouri send a box of Barred Rock chicks, though I don't remember how that went.

I haven't been on since my wife died 6 yrs ago. So I'm not even sure many of the folks from back then are still on or even alive.

Thank you for your input.
Rancher

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. I remember you from before. I think you must have been a regular poster in some of the threads I follow.

 

[rancher hicks]

Im unable to find a picture of a Red Dorking chick. While it's said they have five toes, an examination of two chicks don't show a fifth toe.

 

[rancher hicks]

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. I remember you from before. I think you must have been a regular poster in some of the threads I follow.

Thank you.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The following link has Dorking chicks at the bottom of the page but no reds.
https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Dorks/BRKDorks.html
Your mention of 5 toes reminded me of an exchange I had with friends from up north who got chicks from Sandhill.
This refers back to my statement in my last post about Mr Drowns having a tendency to experiment with breeds.
The friends I'm talking about bought Black Penedesencas from there. They are a 4 toed breed. My friend told me some of the chicks she got had 5 toes. After some research. I couldn't figure out how to get 5 toes onto a black bird with white lobes and carnation comb.