Has Anyone ordered from Ideal ?

I am going in on a group order from Ideal hatchery next spring. I was wondering if anyone has experience with their chicks?

I got some Cochins from them. They were less than Ideal. Small, poorly shaped and had vulture hocks.

Ideal has been defining 'lowest common denominator' for a while -- since all the heritage hatcheries in the US stopped keeping their own lines of each breed. If you want something rare or fancy, I think you would do better to buy from a breeder who is focusing on that breed and doing a good job. If you want more utility birds, I think Frey's best are a lot better than Ideal's.

Unfortunately it seems as if Ontario is the Poultry Variety desert for the breeds I am interested in- large breed white egg layers. I could order from Performance, but doesn't Jason get his stock from Ideal too? Plus, I can get sexed birds from Ideal but have to order straight run from Performance, and I'd rather not have to cull so many unwanted cockerels...... but if  you think Performance  birds are better, I'd reconsider.  At least I was able to source hatching eggs for my Buckeyes from good breeders    and that's the only breed I am really interested in keeping up to the standard.  I'd be using the others form Ideal  to breed a hardy  white egg layer as a project  bird, just for fun. So I am more interested in "healthy" than them being up to standard.  Trunorth I agree, I have had very good luck with Frey's birds and have always been very satisfied with them from a production standpoint.
Schipperkesue. I won't be ordering cochins (thanks for the heads up) and I hear that Ideal has very poor quality silkies too- fortunately they aren't on my list either.

Sent you a PM.

Things are looking up! I might have found a private breeder source for Rose combed black leghorns. I am looking for hardy white egg layers..... I had hoped for rose combed anconas (unfortunately it seems that Yellow House Farm and Duane Urch don't ship to Canada) but these will be even better. Apparently it's a nice, large, quiet strain too. Now all I need are some barred Hollands, some Redcaps, and some kraienkoppes........ anyone have experience with those breeds?

In my experience group orders are just asking for trouble. I've never ordered from Ideal.

Yes I agree there is the potential for mix ups etc. Hopefully this goes smoothly.

Too many of the breeds people were interested in were sold out before we were able to order. I postponed my order from Ideal until 2016. I think there might be a few people still "in" but some of their breeds won't be available until June So I 'd recommend that if anyone was interested in Ideal chicks, check out the website and reserve them now or put in your order ASAP in 2016