counturchickens Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I'm looking for some advice. We would like to adopt three more ex-bats to add to our little family and were thinking about getting some from Happy Chicks in Poulton Le Fylde. Does anyone have any experience with this company? We originally thought about the BHWT trust, but they don't have a local co-ordinator anywhere near us, and Happy Chicks will deliver (for a charge, which we don't mind). Any views anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Yep, we got two hens from Happy Chicks. I would be happy to buy more from there. We found them friendly, very knowledgeable and they're not just after shifting numbers - they actually care how the hens would get on, i.e. if they don't think the hen you're thinking of buying will get on with the hens you already have, they won't sell it to you. This told me that they actually care what happens to their hens once they've sold them. We bought a blue ranger/bluebelle and a speckledy, and we were impressed when the lady there (Sarah) selected hens based on how old they were as both breeds grow at different rates, more impressive still was when the blue ranger struggled in her arms (to get back on the floor) and her instinctive response (ie not 'for the audience') was to give the chick a kiss on the head, which calmed her down immediately. Yep, defs recommended. Incidentally, they do huge bags of grit quite cheaply there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobyhere Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I hate to pour oil on the previous comment but i have had a recent experience from this establishment and it was far from satisfactory. Maybe they are really helpful for ex batts and i am not wanting to see bad in people but my gut feeling is that this establishment is growing and maybe growing too fast. There were several things that made for un unhappy visit. You are not allowed to see the chickens they are breeding from nor are you allowed to see the premises they rear the chicks in. The ratiuonal is health and safety for the chicks which I truly understand but i have never been anywhere in the UK where we have not been able to see the stock. I may add I have bought from several breeders and have never been treated like this. I only wish i had got in the car and drove away. We came home with 4 cream legbars. within 1 day we lost one - yes this could have been transit, just plain old survivial of the fittest so no huge shakes. day 5 and we lost another. returned to HC and after interogation - i really wnated to know if we had done anything wrong but the lady in charge was really deffensive and made us feel very uncomfortable firing lots of questions ands with the hands on hips approach. Granted they replaced the two chicks so we headed home with 2 more - one was noted to be less than lively on the way home and it survived 4 days having started to poo blood. Another of the original quartet then contracted the same and also it died yesterday. not a good experience also quite costly petrol chicks and heartache. The last chick that was ill did not survive so from 6 chicks at HC we have only 2 survive. I did call HC when the 3rd chick died and another was pooing blood , i was told it was prob Coccidiosis outbreak in this humidity. The advise put cider vinegar in the water and if i felt the chick was going futher down hill to pop in for some medicine to put in the water. bit far as HC is over 1 hour from our home. Anyway i decided i was less than happy and felt that i was better seeking help elsewhere. I located a small local breeder ( they did not breeed cream legbar or i would have gone there earlier) and i had the best advise and support ever. I was given appropriate medicine - time and time to ask questions with out being made to feel foolish. This breeder if anyone is in my area of South manchester is Torkington farm Hazel Grove. You have plenty of choice of birds, can see the stock, ask anything etc. They are small family run organic pork establishment with chickens also. Nicola is a star and i highly recommend them to anyone. Note its really by apt only so call them first as they will then open the gates to expect you. Worth the effort as you will not be disappointed. So I will not be paying Happy Chicks a visit again as i feel they have perhaps grown too much too quickly and this shows in the attitude. There maybe heaps of happy customers which is great i just wanted to give an honest account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Erm ....is there some sort of mix up Jobyhere? Poulton Le Fylde is in Lancashire, UK. Are you talking about the same company, as your location states 'United States'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Erm ....is there some sort of mix up Jobyhere? Poulton Le Fylde is in Lancashire, UK. Are you talking about the same company, as your location states 'United States'. Well he referenced a place in south manchester - so it's not out of his vicinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I have also heard of a case where someone was unhappy with the service of HC (birds not the breed that were sold) and got a defensive reply In general and not specifically related to this company I can see why someone may be reluctant to show customers fully around their premises as there have been so many thefts of birds from such places where the thieves have obviously known the layout but if you ask to see the breeding birds the breeder should at least bring some out to you and show you the finer points of the breeding stock, the fact that some people wont is often because they buy eggs in to hatch rather than breed the birds themselves - this sometimes means that they dont know the history and health of the flock (eg - eggs bought cheaply from auctions) and isnt as reassuring as knowing that they breed and carefully select the best stock I'd never recommend getting birds delivered, there is nothing to stop the breeder sending the poorest examples that may not get picked by vistors, always go and look at the bigger picture of their environment and choose your own birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Erm ....is there some sort of mix up Jobyhere? Poulton Le Fylde is in Lancashire, UK. Are you talking about the same company, as your location states 'United States'. Well he referenced a place in south manchester - so it's not out of his vicinity. The post originated from the US....so it is rather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Maybe he is on holiday/business in the US? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Or maybe his browser uses a proxy for some reason? For example firefox has foxyproxy. Although if he is using a proxy that in itself could seem suspicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobyhere Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Hello, "she" is in UK South manchster sorry for any mix up not sure why i am stated as from USA:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobyhere Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I work for a USA company and work home based UK. By the way I cannot understand what is remotely funny about the location of my IP server being USA. It just shows the system does not think global and has not the foggiest about remote access people can access WEB from anywhere you know , ha ha world wide web?? you lot are darn suspicious crew.......LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 We have to be on the alert, as the forum gets spammed regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobyhere Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 really what sort of spam - i have never really been a forum but chicken forum well that sounded cool and very suitable for mer. Also i was supposedd to be working but i was still broody ( pardon the pun) about the chicks i lost. Like i said hygene and being careful I admire but the whole package and attitude was rather unpleasant. Lets face it you dont usually buy animals without seeing the parents do you - i certainly would not if it was cats and dogs - rehome excused. Also i would want to choose the chicks or am i just being fussy.... Its a long time that someone has made me feel like a 2 year old. =Fingers crossed for the littlies that are peeping behind me i have 7 2 week olds now and they are great company on these long days infront of a PC wishing i was in the sunshine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 really what sort of spam : You would be amazed! The majority of it not for family viewing, and a great deal of adverts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I would actually back up what Jobyhere said Before getting mine, I phone and made an appointment specifically to see the adult birds so I could see size etc etc When I got there, they were very offhand with me, asked me what I wanted to see, girl marched off (without me) and brought back 2 chicks of the 4 I'd asked about. When I asked about seeing the adults I was told that they never allow people into the breeding sheds etc When I explained the appointment and why I wanted to see them - they just shrugged their shoulders and were, again, very offhand What a waste of time and petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Well, wherever you are, welcome . Egluntyne is right, we get loads of spammers and a lot of our time as moderators is spent dealing with them - what they think they're gaining by joining a chicken forum, I have no idea . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
