Meyer/ My Pet Chicken Golden Buff Sale!

[Feanor]

Hi all! Last month I got a dozen chicks from Ideal, but today I saw the 25% off sale for Golden Buffs at Meyer and MPC hatcheries and couldn't pass up the offer! I just bought 25 GB pullets from MPC for $49.95 with free shipping! It was $52 something for the same quantity at Meyer so I went with MPC. Anyway, my first two hens are Golden comets (which I've read is the same thing) and they are my best layers by far (never miss a day and the alpha hen (if thats what its called) lays a HUGE egg bigger than all the others in my flock). They are the most gentle, docile, and easy-going non-aggressive chickens I have and lay like daily clock-work (my Jersey Giant and Rhode Island reds like to take too many days off), so I thought, I could use 25 more of em lol

Anyway, my hatch date is June 25, 2012 (just two more days!!!) Anyone else buying my chickies' sisters with same hatch date? From what I've read, MPC gets their chicks from Meyer (well I would assume at least they get their Golden Buffs from them since they are the same price) so who else has taken advantage of this deal for my personal favorite egg-layer breed? I will be sharing pictures as soon as they arrive!!


My Coop/Brooder idea: after 2-3 days in a heated plastic-tub brooder indoors, its warm enough now (Mississippi temps about 75-100 range these days) to keep em outside in a simple plywood box (5'x3' x 2' high) with a hardware cloth top and a brooder lamp at night until they are 2 or 3 months old then they can move in with my other chicks who have a one month head start on them (others are very docile production reds and EEs from Ideal). I'll keep the box on the ground with chicken wire floor so I can move it around to let them forage.

 

[Feanor]

So the hatch/ship day was yesterday (Monday) and after reading all the reviews on MPC I was really looking forward to a call this morning, but none came

Since it was a special offer (25% off) I called MPC to make sure the order actually filled and they gave me a tracking number. I just tracked it and they shipped today with an expected arrival of Thursday

I know it'll be fine and all in the end, but when you're hopes are up for receiving peepers and then learn you have to wait two more days... argh! More time to work on their brooder/grower I guess!

 

[LovinChicknFarmn]

I understand! I'm waiting for fertile gas to come. They'll be here tomorrow. I had my fingers crossed for today. Waiting stinks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've enjoyed my Golden Buffs from Meyer. They are indeed laying machines.

I question the practicality of holding 25 pullets in a box that small. I don't see how it is possible. These are very active, fast growing birds. A think you've time to construct a temporary grow out pen. Just use some posts and poly netting and allow them space to be chickens, outside. Here's picture of both some Golden Buffs and the temporary poly netting of which I speak.

 

[Feanor]

Thanks Fred for the picture! They do indeed look like my two golden comets, exact feathering and all. I tell my two apart from the amount of white feathers in their neck (one has more white than the other). I'm happy to hear that you are satisfied with their egg production. I changed my plans actually to 4 x 8 x 2 (high) so they should have enough room for a few weeks.

Here is a picture of my brooder/grower


Of course they are staying in a smaller box inside for the first few days before moving out here. I live on lots of land so I'll start letting them out to free range after a month or so, and I'll connect their brooder/grower to a run (8x15) to stretch their legs after the first month. Also I plan to sell/give away at least a dozen as started pullets at around 5 months. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Feanor]

BOX OF HORROR

Half of my peeps arrived dead or dying. I have no idea why. When I ordered from IDEAL they all arrived healthy overnight, but these were in transit from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning and half didn't make it. The worst part was watching the breath pass out of two within an hour of opening the box. If only they could have held out for a few more hours

Called MPC and they said it sounded like a shipping problem and promised to send a replacement order after I confirm the total number that survive the first 48. I wanted to say no thank you, thinking, whats the point if half or more won't survive the journey, its cruel to repeat the process. But the guy said my problem was unusual (as in small percentage of shipments have such bad luck) and assured me that it was statistically unlikely to happen twice in a row.

Anyway, here is a pic of my surviving peeps, who I might add are all showing signs of 100% health and normalcy. Their poor sisters though had to go into a mass grave ='(

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sorry, very sorry for your situation. It has been deadly hot. One wonders about shipping in this heat. Very sad.

 

[Feanor]

I just got my replacement chicks in the mail (two weeks later -- they couldn't ship last week because of the holiday) all of them arrived healthy and peeping! Such a pleasant change from my last box of sadness. I would guess that Fred was right, with it being hotter than a brooder outside for the last couple of weeks, God knows how hot it got inside the delivery trucks. This week it is pleasant in the 70s-90s, mostly on the cooler end and overcast so no scorching solar radiation baking the delivery trucks. Anyway, I must say I am very pleased with these Golden Buffs so far. They are sweet and hearty and generally good tempered. I can't wait till they are old enough to start discerning personalities

 

[CAjerseychick]

I just got my replacement chicks in the mail (two weeks later -- they couldn't ship last week because of the holiday) all of them arrived healthy and peeping! Such a pleasant change from my last box of sadness. I would guess that Fred was right, with it being hotter than a brooder outside for the last couple of weeks, God knows how hot it got inside the delivery trucks. This week it is pleasant in the 70s-90s, mostly on the cooler end and overcast so no scorching solar radiation baking the delivery trucks. Anyway, I must say I am very pleased with these Golden Buffs so far. They are sweet and hearty and generally good tempered. I can't wait till they are old enough to start discerning personalities

THANK GOD it ended well for you Feanor, this day old chicken delivery is nerve wracking (we got ours yesterday , safe and sound) I am a local- Hatchery direct person for sure after reading all these posts about dead chick arrivals... Your Box of Horror title took my breath away....