Which Hatchery? Sanhill or Holderreads?

[mominoz]

Dilemma : I want to order good/best quality American Buffs. I am joining the Livestock Breed Conservatory and finally decide on that breed ..... for temperment and color. I live in a rural area, but have long skinny 11+ acres and about 8 close neighbors and others within "honking distance". Wanted to stay away from white birds in my geese aned ducks because we have high predator area and if feathers "migrate" on the ground, colored aren't as "noticeable" wink.... I got Tufted Buffs18 months ago and they are fine, but may or may not keep them as I want to concentrate on endangered breeds.
I have already sent an order to Holderreads for more Penciled runners and Dutch Hookbills.
I was looking at everyone I could find who have Buffs, and read past posts about quality. Looks like I may go with Sandhill or Holderreads......Sandhill maybe because I could get more Gray(Mallard type) Runner ducks as Holdereads are no longer listing them, and I Have 3 from their showlines....beautiful drake I may show this year and 2 females, but one is slightly deformed (round butt)and I may cull her, certainly not breed her.....I'd like to get a few more, but Sandhill seems to be the only ones who may have Gray Runners and I could also add some Hookbills from them to add to the Holderreads ones...
But Holderreads has a few ducks I could add in, I want to get some Saxonys too....


Decisisons, Decisions.......any imput?????smile (cross posted on the goose too)

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Holderreads Saxony ducks are stunning! And I know their quality overall is excellent. But I don't know much about Sandhill, or really about Buff ducks.

 

[20123001]

i absolutely adore holderreads ducks! i got the runners, silver appleyards and the hookbills last year and their quality was fantastic! i would chose holderreads but im not familiar with sand hill!

 

[pascopol]

I,d go with Holderrads.

He dedicated his life to breed and improve waterfowl, having tremendous success with it.

There is nobody on this planet to measure up with this guy and quality of his birds.

Sandhill are hardworking people dedicated to preservation of species, they deal with poultry and plants in general.

Since the nature of their business you can not count on prompt delivery date, also some people report they are hard to communicate with.

However they do have some excellent lines of birds.

 

[DuckyMom]

Holderads! I want a pair of their runners and a silkie so bad! If you want to co-order im in rochester New York! I am desperatly searching for someone to order with me!

 

[mominoz]

Rats, Goose people just told me Holderreads aren't carry Buff Geese now. So I will have to get My buff geese from somewhere else and the Saxony Ducks......guess I may go with Sandhill because they have both......unless someone else has another idea....I joined the ABLC and they are two of the breeds that need conserving......

 

[Smallfarmer76]

John Metzer took over Holderread's American Buff flock. He won't have birds this year, I think, but plans are for 2012 to offer them. They do have some of their own birds, although they may be booking up. Order soon! I can't say enough good things about Metzers - great hatchery, very nice folks to order from and nice quality birds. Perhaps not all SQ but good birds nonetheless.