Terms

A deposit of 10% is required to book an order. Deposits are non-refundable. I do not accept orders over the phone. I will however, be happy to answer any questions over the phone which may not be covered in this price list. I generally do not return long distance calls to discuss future orders.

Please specify the quality of the stock wanted at the time the order is placed by indicating the price of the birds you wish to order. Prices are set according to the quality of the stock.* Some varieties are offered in both breeding and exhibition grades and some are only offered in exhibition grade. Please include a phone number and your full mailing address when placing an order. Should I find it necessary to refuse an order due to lack of available stock, I will return your deposit promptly. If stock of a different quality is acceptable should your first choice not be available, please state that in your order. I try not to accept more orders in a given year than I can fill that year but for a variety of reasons, I sometimes find that I cannot fill all orders which I accept. Should you wish to carry an order over to the following year, I will guarantee to give the order priority treatment and will guarantee the price regardless of any subsequent price increases. I will deliver stock at no charge to shows which I attend provided that arrangements are made well in advance and provided that the stock is paid for in full. Notice to Canadian customers: I no longer ship into Canada. Birds can be picked up in the States at any show which I attend with advance arrangements. Payments must be in U.S. funds.

NOTE: Shipments to Arizona and other hot areas will not be made between May and mid-October. In winter, the Postal Service enforces a strict minimum temperature of 45 degrees at both ends.

* Breeder quality birds are from exhibition quality parents but are not as strong in the fine points. They may be larger, etc. My breeder quality has been good enough to win at local fairs for many of my customers.

Shipping

I will ship by Express Mail. Up to four chickens or four ducks can be sent in one Express Mail container. I charge a flat rate of $70.00 per container to ship by Express Mail which includes the special reusable container required by the Postal Service and shipping costs. Express Mail will be delivered seven days a week (if the post office is open on Sun.) and will be delivered directly to your home. You can also make advance arrangements to pick up the shipment at the P.O. even when they are not open to the public, something I recommend. Express Mail is not available everywhere so please check with your local post office before you order. Express Mail shipments are either next day or second day delivery. Please Note: the post office does not insure Express Mail shipments of live birds. I will not accept responsibility for something over which I have no control. I will ship Express Mail at the buyer's risk. I have sent and received many dozens of shipments (actually over 125 at last count) and there has never been a loss but you must be aware that the buyer bears the risk. No orders less than $100.00 in value ( not counting shipping charges) will be shipped.

Specific shipping times cannot be guaranteed. Orders are accepted with the understanding that I will determine when orders are filled. Shipment and/or delivery of stock usually begins in Oct. but due to a number of factors, I will not guarantee that orders will be filled before Dec.1st. Normally, the earliest orders placed are filled first.

It is best to call your local post office to verify that Express Mail shipments of live birds are being accepted.

The balance due on shipments is due within one week after you are notified of the tentative shipping date. Orders not paid in full will not be shipped. I normally ship on Tuesday.

Except for Mandarins and Chiloe Wigeons, prices are usually quoted for single birds of either sex. That means it is possible to order single birds of either sex, pairs or trios. Please be aware, however, that when birds of one sex are in short supply, orders for pairs may be given priority over orders for single birds or trios.

Deposits can be sent to Lou Horton, 1N735 Ingalton, West Chicago, IL 60185 Personal checks are fine for both deposits and payment of balances.

4-H Discount

I will give a 10% discount (not including shipping costs) for orders from 4-H members ( or other recognized youth groups ) who are purchasing the birds for a poultry project. In order to qualify for the discount, you need to send me verification from the 4-H leader ( on the organization's letterhead ) that the birds are being purchased for the child's project. This discount is offered to youths age sixteen and under. The letter of verification should accompany the order. I do reserve the right to require additional proof that the birds are being purchased for the stated purpose.

Prices do not include shipping via Express Mail which is a flat $70 for up to four birds. If a breed or variety is not listed here, nothing is for sale at present in that breed or variety.

Price: $75.00

East Indies

My Emerald Strain of East Indies has compiled the most impressive show record of any strain in North America in terms of major wins in recent years. I became the first A.B.A. Master Breeder of East Indies in 1994. My East Indies usually hold their own with the best Calls when it comes to winning the major bantam duck awards as is indicated by the fact that they were selected as Reserve Champion Bantam Duck at the 1989, 1990, and 1992 and 1995 A.B.A. Nationals in competition with the best Calls in the world and Champion Duck at the 1994 A.P.A. National. In 2001, one of my East Indie males was named Show Champion over 3,300 birds at the APA National in Lincoln, Nebraska. I had Best East Indie at the A.B.A. National for 8 consecutive years. At the 1997 ABA National I had Champion Bantam Duck and Reserve Champion Bantam on a 1997 hatch female with over 2,200 bantams competing. The trademarks of this strain are small size, correct type, and brilliant emerald green color. They have earned over sixty five starred wins since 1979; an accomplishment unmatched by any other breeders and strains of East Indies. At the 1998 Combined Nationals in Columbus Ohio, I had all four firsts, Best and Reserve and best display in a class of 118 east Indies. This is the largest class of east Indies ever recorded at a North American show. At the recent Combined ABA/APA Nationals held in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2006, an Acorn Hollow East Indie young female was selected Best Indie in a class of 55 with six other exhibitors competing.

East Indies enjoying a pool at Acorn Hollow

 

Prices:

$100 per bird in exhibition quality

$50 per bird in breeder quality

Mandarins

Mandarins are generally priced as pairs. White Mandarins are priced significantly higher than normal colored ones because they are rarer and are somewhat harder to reproduce. The parents of both colors here at Acorn Hollow are selected for high quality coloration and for characteristics like well developed manes, crests, and sail feathers. Birds sold are normally from the current year's hatch unless otherwise stated. Such birds usually will reproduce the following spring but perhaps 20% of them will wait until their second year to breed. Males shipped may be only partially colored up. Young white males in particular are slower to come into their nuptial plumage than are adult males. Usually, all available birds are sold by early fall.

White and normal colored Mandarins will cross. It is recommended that if both colors are kept, that the pairs be kept separately at least until the pairs are bonded. Ideally, the two colors will not be kept together during the breeding season. Given enough space, multiple pairs of Mandarins can be easily kept in one pen during the breeding season. A 100 square foot enclosure will usually house two pairs comfortably. Three nest boxes should be supplied for every two pairs of birds. That will increase the likelihood that both pairs will find one they like.

Unless otherwise requested, Mandarins will be shipped full winged which means that they are fully capable of flight. Wing clipped birds incapable of flight until their flight feathers are replaced the following year can also be provided but must be specified when the birds are ordered. Pinioned birds can also be ordered. Pinioning is a surgical procedure involving the removal of the last small joint of one wing. Such birds are rendered permanently flightless. Pinioned pairs must be paid for fully and four weeks must be allowed between when they are pinioned and shipping. There is a $10 per bird charge for pinioning. Shipping is available for Mandarins.

A maximum of four birds can be shipped in one box for a flat rate cost of $70.

Prices:

Normal colored pairs- $80

White Pairs- $150

Single birds of either sex (when available) 1/2 pair price

 

Wyandotte Bantams

For most of the last 20-30 years, the Buff Wyandotte bantam has been one the almost forgotten varieties in the Wyandotte breed universe. Very few people raise them in any numbers and most of what is seen is pretty poor in quality. The buff color is much more difficult to perfect than either black or white because of the many possible shades and other color complications. When combined with the difficulty of refining the Wyandotte type, today's typical "if it can't win best of breed, I won't raise it" exhibitor usually opts to work with another color.

When they are right, however, there is no more beautiful Wyandotte than the Buff, in my opinion. I have worked on my line for twelve years now and have never hatched less than 50-100 chicks per year. Rigorous culling (in the early years, eight out of every ten) has resulted in steady if slow progress to the point where I think that "Best of Breed" placements are likely in the next few years. I was delighted to have one of my 2006 hatch cockerels selected Reserve Champ A.O.V. Wyandotte Bantam at the 2006 Crossroads Show Combined Nationals. At both 2007 Wyandotte National Meets I had Best and Reserve Buff bantam and had Best AOV Wyandotte at one and Reserve at the other.

AOV stands for Any Other Variety which means the judge has 15 varieties from which he can pick.

As the higher quality birds are still the product of much selection and are none too plentiful, anyone looking to purchase the show quality birds from me should be someone looking to work with the variety long term, not a typical "fair exhibitor". Please do not make the assumption that all of the work has been done. Further refinements in type as well as color must be made but the raw ingredients are all present. The basic type is sound and so is the color, which is more even and richer than one normally sees.

Supply normally does not begin to match demand so early orders are a must.

Prices:

Breeder quality- $25 per bird

Show quality- $50 per bird

White Wyandotte Bantams

In 2006, I again took up breeding the beautiful White Wyandotte bantam. I obtained a wonderful start from a good friend who raises a top line of them and in my very first show with them, they greatly exceeded my expectations when a 2007 pullet went all the way to Champion Bantam in a show with well over 500 bantams competing. This is primarily a female bred line but a surprising number of males acquit themselves well at shows. The line is especially strong in tail set and in overall type. They are also wonderful layers for an exhibition strain.

Prices:

Breeder quality- $25 per bird

Show quality- $50 per bird.

Chiloe Wigeon

The Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix) is a good choice (along with the Mandarin) for a duck to be kept in an urban setting. It is attractive, has a good temperment when kept with other species, and is not at all likely to cause a noise problem. In addition, it is of South American origin so no permit is required to keep them. As an additional bonus they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and require no exotic feeds to keep them. In terms of space and facilities, (except for high nest boxes) what serves well as Mandarin housing will work well for Chiloe Wigeons.

The Chiloe is only slightly larger than the Mandarin; the male being a little larger than the female, normally. Unlike the Mandarin, they prefer to nest on the ground and frequently display entertaining head bobs when a pair is courting. Also unlike the Mandarin, in the Chiloes, the genders are colored similarly. Males tend to have slightly more vibrant colors and more pronounced metallic green on the head. Chiloes do not breed until their second year and pairs will usually remain closely bonded. If given access to pasture they will enjoy grass as a part of their diet. The color of birds a year old and older will be more intense than that of young birds.

Chiloes are usually sold in pairs and are full winged unless otherwise requested. There is a $10 per bird fee if the buyer wants the birds pinioned, which renders them incapable of flight permanently. Pinioned birds must be paid for in advance in full, and one month after pinioning is necessary before the birds will be shipped. Shipping costs a flat fee of $70 for up to four birds.

Prices: Young pairs- $100

Breeding pairs- $175 (when available)

 

A Chiloe Wigeon drake at Acorn Hollow