Your experience with Ideal Poultry

[TinyBirds]

The post office shouldn"t allow sending baby ducks by mail. Baby turkeys either in my opinion. I wont even order chicks by mail any more either after last time i ordered from a hatchery (not from ideal) the post office lost them for 5 days and all 25 were doa, too sad.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Just ordered 25 layer pullets split between 6 breeds. Shipping date set for June 28. I'll post updates. To pick them up in Cameron would be five hours or more round trip. Not possible for me. Wish me luck!

 

[Scott E.]

Excellent! I purchased from them to be able to get pullet rouen ducks instead of the straight run ducks from the farm store. I also bought a few more pullet chicks to round out the flock and take up some more space in the box. One duck didn't thrive after shipping and died, but they promptly refunded the cost. They actually shipped two weeks before our original ship date (they called first to verify that this was OK)!

I might also add, that they have one of the best shipping costs for small batches.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Yes Scott. I did notice that too. I ordered 25 to fill the quarter box up. The hybrid layers are the last ones on my invoice. The prices on the chicks are also very attractive.

I know I've seen others say to be careful of places calling their birds Ameraucanas when what they are really selling is Easter Eggers. Since I'm not showing or breeding them, I'm happy as long as I get healthy productive layers of colorful eggs. They sell quite well around here.

I'm getting excited, trying not to set myself up for disappointment though. It's hard.

 

[Scott E.]

NorthTexasWink, I agree about the Ameraucanas. Both Rural King and Ideal called their birds Ameraucanas. But according to this site, they are both brown easter eggers. I am only having them for a backyard flock, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Got my chicks this morning. All look very clean and lively. Exactly what I ordered, no extras and no subs. I tracked my order after calling Ideal yesterday to get the tracking number from a very cordial lady. USPS tracking told me the shipping label was printed at 1:00 pm yesterday, left Cameron 7:39 pm, hit Austin 8:54 pm, left Austin 3:08 am, arrived My PO in Arlington 7:01 am. The PO called me at 7:03 am, I picked them up just before 8:00 am. Took these pics before 9:00 am. All eating, drinking, pooping. None look weak, though a couple are smallish, the Delawares especially. Might be the breed. The box was smaller than I expected, but seemed to do the trick. None acted especially chilled or stressed. So far . Please wish me continued good luck!

 

[NorthTexasWink]

More pics without the red Christmas lights I use to help decrease pecking. Easier to get pics on iPhone vs iPad too. Everyone seems good with my seedling mat heat setup. Good looking bunch if I do say so myself. I'm happy with Ideal so far. Now we'll see how they grow and if every one is a pullet.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

All 25 chicks continue to do well. Already look bigger! I had to back off my heat pad a bit as the room stays well over 80 degrees anyway. It's hot here now! Took some pics just before cleaning the brooder, checking for poopy butts, etc. only 3 had smutty bottoms and only one of those was very bad. It looks like one or two of my Ameraucana/EE may be blue, maybe. They did send me at least 3 different colorations in the 8 of those. Nice!

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Keep meaning to show the shipping box, so here it is. The round green stain is where the Gro-Gel sat. It was all gone by the time I opened the box. It was smaller than I expected!

 

[Melodychick]

Thanks for all this info. I usually get my chicks from the local feed store and they get them from Ideal. I was planning to wait until next spring when the feed store gets chicks, but after reading your great reviews I may go ahead and order now!