Beware about Hilltop farms

[AnotherWonderfulLife]

I wish I had seen all the negative reviews sooner. I tried to work with them despite the setbacks in my order, but they were very slow in communication the whole time if not completely unresponsive (at least until you pester them), and difficult to work with. They ask you to fill out their cancellation form when they can’t fulfill your order and then blame the customer for cancelling the order and charge their cancellation fee for them not doing anything.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Unfortunately we can't control them removing negative reviews on their own website.

What I would like to see is an external "scratch" system, where you mark a website and any visits beyond that point don't count toward their stats with the browsers.

Any time you go to a website, even to leave a negative review, it pushes their presence on the search engines. I'd like to have us, the users, in control of that, even if only to vote "no."

 

[Watolf]

Unfortunately we can't control them removing negative reviews on their own website.

What I would like to see is an external "scratch" system, where you mark a website and any visits beyond that point don't count toward their stats with the browsers.

Any time you go to a website, even to leave a negative review, it pushes their presence on the search engines. I'd like to have us, the users, in control of that, even if only to vote "no."

Ikr? Only negative review that can’t removed is in Yelp app/website. I haven’t seen any new positive or negative review for a while in the main website. Look like an owner is on pause with a review for a while. I’m just keep hope new clients will see here before go ahead and buy chicken from the hilltop farms.

 

[Chickole]

Thank you. This post saved me so much money and grief. I was going to order from Hilltop and wanted to double check experiences here. Going with MPC now. They’ve been great.

I’m so sorry this happened to you all.

 

[KCB2]

Don't trust Hilltop Farms. I had chicks shipped to me and they arrived on time after a two day journey. The chicks did not have enough hydration to last the scheduled travel. Some chicks were dead on arrival and many died hours after arrival. All the surviving chicks were weak and in poor condition from being so dehydrated. They were in a box that was so small they couldn't stand. I don't know if the chicks were sick before they were packaged but the chicks have been sick and almost all of them died over the coming weeks. I asked for a partial refund from the company and they won't give me one. They want me to get a refund from the postal service. This is a farm issue and it is very unethical for this farm to scam the postal service and it's customers this way. Please don't buy from Hilltop Farms.

 

[cajebrso]

I have to add that I would not order from Hilltop Farms again. We ordered 4 pullets in 2020. One immediately came down with coccidiosis. We were fortunately able to get her to a vet to diagnose and treat. We also felt HF should have communicated better as she was listed as an Ameracauna but is actually an Easter Egger. The next year, one got sick and was on a slow decline until she and another died recently - diagnosed at UC Davis as Marek’s. We paid to have them vaccinated for Marek’s but our vet said that Hilltop Farms has a bad reputation for their approach to Marek’s vaccination. In summary, we love our flock (living and passed) but we would never buy from this breeder again.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Update: 3 birds left from my 2022 Hilltop order, and I just learned that one of them (the last Jersey Giant) has some kind of recessive dwarfism. I am still trying to determine which kind. If this chick dies in the next few weeks it will be confirmed.

The hen is no longer part of my breeding program and all of her descendants will need to be culled.

 

[MotherofCluckers3]

I am so sorry this happened to you! It happened to me too. I bought 5 chicks from them and all but one within a week. I did everything posible to keep them going. Mine definitely had coccidiosis. I do have one very strong and strong willed girl who survived the ordeal. She a great bird, very social, very sweet, but as feisty as they come. I’m not sure where you are located but my other 6 ladies came from a great place in so cal called Buckaboo Farms. Tiffany is amazing, very responsive, and she runs the entire show. I don’t know if she ships, but if you are local, her birds are healthy, sweet, and beautiful. My Black Copper Maran from her is the most beautiful chicken I have ever seen.

 

[MotherofCluckers3]

So very sorry about ur experience… I too bought from them and 2:4 died. I tried to get some info on care of the other too and also a concern that one is a roo… Javier said he doesn’t know about that and refuses to let me speak to Denise… who is nice and helpful. I am so glad u posted this because I researched thoroughly and found all good reviews prior to doing business w/hilltop. I hope u will post ur review and info and feel free to share mine too. I am so heartbroken and so is my 8 y/o. I will not use them again! I did send them an email as I couldn’t find the incident report on the website … now I know why! Please get companion chicks for ur one remaining … they will die from loneliness … need to b part of a flock Min 3-4.

If you’re local try Buckaboo Farms in Tustin. Tiffany is just amazing! Her birds are healthy and beautiful. I’m not sure if she’s NPIP yet but she is in the process. As I learned from purchasing from HILLTOP, NPIP means nothing if the rules are not followed. 949-922-1373 is her number. She is in North Tustin over by Foothill high school.

 

[LaurenRitz]

If you’re local try Buckaboo Farms in Tustin. Tiffany is just amazing! Her birds are healthy and beautiful. I’m not sure if she’s NPIP yet but she is in the process. As I learned from purchasing from HILLTOP, NPIP means nothing if the rules are not followed. 949-922-1373 is her number. She is in North Tustin over by Foothill high school.

Unfortunately I am in Kansas, so very much not local.