Thank you! 


I am not a hatchery. 
I don't have a large amount of birds.
I have limited sales and accept limited
requests to be on my waiting list.
Please be aware that being on my waiting list does
not guarantee that I will be able to fill your order.
Please have other options available to avoid disappointment.

Please read my guarantee below before placing an order.

Adult sale birds go to screened homes only.
My waterfowl are tame/hand raised, not wild or pasture raised.

July 12, 2008

Shipping weather permitting.
Under 85 degrees.

FOR SALE :

Cutting back due to husband's retirement...

Breeding pair of rare self blue (aka lavender) Muscovies (sold)
which includes 1 - 2007 drake, 1 - 2007 duck.
The duck produced live ducklings this year.
$100. firm plus box and Express Mail shipping.
A rare opportunity for a beautiful, rare color.

1 - 2007 dark ripple Muscovy Duck (female) (tentatively sold)

Proven producer of live ducklings.
Very good setter.
$30. plus box and shipping

1 - 2007 blue Muscovy Drake (tentatively sold)

$20. plus box & shipping.
Sweet and quiet but very rough and chewed
up looking due to being in a pen with an older drake
that picks on him a lot. He looks half plucked.
He will look great this fall after he molts and regrows
his feathers at which time his price will go up to $30.
Brian Paul Witt & Brian Schulte bloodlines.

2008 Sebastopol goslings sold out!
Thank you!
Not taking 2009 wait list requests until March 2009

2008 Muscovy ducklings sold out!
Thank you!
Not taking 2009 wait list requests until March 2009

Ameraucana Chickens - 2008 Availability: 
No waiting list requests accepted at any time.
I only sell my chickens if I have extras.
Please check this page Spring - Fall 2008
for availability of Ameraucana sale stock.

Please do not email me for updates since I post all sales
on this page as soon as they become available.
Thank you!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW!  Waiting List Information:

Waiting list requests are no longer on the honor system
due to the following problems in 2008...

I had several people drop off the waiting list at the last minute,
some of which who didn't even have the courtesy of sending me a quick
email to notify me.
I didn't find out until I emailed them that I had day old hatchlings ready
to ship them, at which time they informed me that they no longer wanted to
purchase them.
I understand, things happens, people change their minds or purchase elsewhere
but not letting me know puts me in a terrible position of trying to rustle
up the next person on the waiting list at the last minute or being stuck with
hatchlings that might not be able to be shipped at the correct time
(before they grow out of the chick size box)

I'm also having chronic problems with people not signing up
with Paypal until the day before or even the day I'm suppose to ship. 
When they have problems signing up or are confused about how to use
Paypal this is not something that can usually be remedied within a few
hours or even the day prior to their scheduled ship date.
I do not ship unless paid in full.

Also some people don't have the money
ready when the hatchlings are ready to ship.
These are funds that should be set aside
in advance if you want to purchase goslings or ducklings.

This is not how I do business whether I'm the seller or buyer.
Due to these circumstances I now require a non-refundable $25. deposit.

Your deposit will not be refunded if you:
~ cancel without 2 weeks advance notice
~ don't have the funds ready at ship time 

Deposit payable though Paypal only
is now required for any purchase so needless to say....
Make sure you are willing to commit when you go on the waiting list
and please read this entire page before you make your decision.
Know what to expect. 
I will refund your deposit if I have no hatchlings available for you.

Please do not send me a deposit until you email me
your wait list request and we go over your order together. 
Thank you very much for your cooperation.

2008 Shipping Problems Update:
This has been a bad year for shipping.
Most of the shipments took 48 hours + to arrive at their destinations. 
One gosling expired and many have been arriving weak and wobbly, but did recover.
Unfortunately the airlines treat live birds as secondary cargo and to make
matters worse it does appear that the number of flights to some areas
(especially New York) have been reduced.
The airlines do not consider lives a priority. 
Due to this poor service, shipping lives has become even riskier plus you are
paying for overnight service and not getting it.
So now, more than ever before its...SHIP AT YOUR OWN RISK.

_____________________________________________________

2008 Prices:

I give discounts for Michigan 4-H or F.F.A.
"Started" means feathered out youngsters.
None of my birds are out crossed to other breeds
and are bred according to the APA standard.

___________________________________________

Colors Available:

Muscovy ducklings:  No color choice. 
Orders are mixed as equally as possible from whatever colors are hatched out at the time
from my main colors of: solid black, blue, choclate, lilac (aka blue fawn), dark ripple
and self blue/aka lavenders.
Each hatch usually contains most or all of the colors I have.  
Do not misunderstand...I don't cross colors, I simply collect the eggs from my breeding pens
and mix them together for incubation to produce a variety of colors in each hatch. 
I try to accommodate my customers if they are seeking certain colors as much as I am able.
Feel free to let me know which colors you prefer but be prepared to receive other colors as well.

Sexing:
Day old goslings and ducklings are sent unsexed             
and will not be replaced if you do not receive the desired             
sex.  Day old Muscovies show slight size differences
between the sexes so I always try to mix the sexes as equally as
possible but I can't make any guarantees on what you will get since
I send what is available at the time and sometimes what you think is
a female turns out to be a male and vice versa.           
Odds of getting same sex goslings are far greater simply due to the
fact that you are getting a much smaller amount of birds per order.
While Sebastopol females tend to have more dark gray color on 
their heads and backs at birth, it's no guarantee that it's a female. 
When I bought my first Sebastopol goslings I ended up with 5 ganders
and only 1 goose. Like all of us who buy day old or unsexed babies,
you either eat or sell the extra males that you don't want, or pay
a lot more and purchase adult birds of known sex.
______________________________________________________


2008 - 2009 Sales Policies/Shipping/Order/ Miscellaneous Info:

Shipping Information:

Shipping available year round, weather permitting. 
The USPS will ship lives when temperatures are above
10 F and below 85 F degrees.
I only ship using overnight Express Mail.
However it should be noted that even when using Express Mail
the USPS will not guarantee that lives will arrive over night.
It can take up to 2 - 3 days for some destinations.

Shipping & Handling Fee's and How to Pay:

You pay actual shipping price, weight of box and birds to your destination.
There are no hidden fees.

Handling Fee:
Due to the rising cost of gasoline (ave. $4.00 + per gal. here)
and because I have to make a 50 mile round trip to the main P.O.
where we have to drop off lives, I am now charging a handling fee.
Preparing birds of shipping and transport time is time
consuming so I'm now charging a $10.00 handling fee.
This helps to cover my gasoline and PayPal fees. 
When anybody pays me via PayPal I have a to pay a fee.

Price of birds, box and shipping cost to be paid in advance and in full by the buyer
via PayPal or Money Order before birds are shipped.
PayPal is a safe and easy way to transfer funds online and it is free to sign up.
www.paypal.com

Airline Surcharge Information:
The airlines charge $1.00 per pound 
(combined weight of box & bird/s) surcharge to carry lives.

Shipping Boxes for started youngsters or adults:
(prices subject to change)
The day old gosling/duckling/chick box costs $5. (I provide box).
For larger/older birds buyers will have to send me a bio-secure shipping box
which can be ordered through a supplier such as Horizon 
The people at Horizon can advise you on what size box you need.
Just tell them what size and number of birds you are having shipped.
When shipping adults...(these are 2007 prices)
The "Omni" is a good size for 1 - 2 adult Muscovies or 1 goose @ $21.95 ea. + shipping.
The "Large Swan" will hold 2 - 3 Muscovies or 2 geese @ $23.95 ea. + shipping.
There are smaller boxes ("Single" & "Economy") for younger waterfowl and
chickens that cost $9.95 - $15.95 ea. + shipping.  Prices subject to change.
You can order the box online or over the phone Toll Free 1- (800) 443-2498
and they will drop ship the box to me. 
Some of my customers have purchased shipping boxes from www.jedds.com 
It typically takes 3 - 7 days for me to receive the box.
You pay for box and the postage to ship the box to me . 
The boxes are reusable.
Or you can mail me a regulation type shipping box if you already have one.
The United States Postal Service no longer accepts ordinary
cardboard boxes or dog crates for shipping birds.
All adult shipping boxes must be bio-secure USPS approved.

I provide the shipping box for for day olds.
Fee $5.00

Shipping Tips:
It is very important let your post office know in advance that you are expecting
a shipment of lives.
I write "hold for pick-up" on your box but it is helpful to personally alert your post office.
You might want t0 check to see if you have the option to pick your birds up at your major
airports Express Mail office or distribution center, which can greatly reduce their time in transit.  
The Express Mail department is more helpful if you encounter
delays in receiving your shipment. 

Important USPS Express Mail Insurance Policies:
Attention Buyers...birds are shipped at your own risk!
Express Mail insurance will not guarantee overnight delivery when it
comes to lives. Some destinations take 2-3 days to arrive but so far I
have not found this to be a problem with started youngsters or adults. 
They do surprisingly well.  Day olds that take 3 days to arrive at their
destination can expire.
Flight delays are increasing so be forewarned...
the USPS will not insure dead on arrival birds unless
the box has obvious outside damage or if they take longer
than estimated time of arrival on the shipping label.  
Theft is covered.
$100. worth of insurance coverage is included in the Express Mail fee.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What do you have for sale?
A:  Read this page.  All sale birds are listed here.

Q:  When are day olds available?
A:   April - July.

Q:  Why don't you have day olds sooner than April?
A:   In our harsh northern climate we typically have long, cold Springs
      so fertility and unfrozen eggs don't come until later in the Spring.
       
Q:  Do you have young adults or breeding stock for sale?  
A:  Yes, I sometimes have young adults and breeding stock for sale.

Q:  Can you ship to my area?
A:  To date I have been able to ship to all areas within the continental USA.     
     
Q: How much will shipping cost?
A: Express Mail is based on weight of box and destination.
     There are no hidden fees.
     A box of 3-4 day old goslings or 6-10 ducklings weighs around 1.5 - 2.5 lbs. 
     Average cost: is $25.40 (for under 2 lbs.) Few dollars more if over 2 lbs.
     Average cost for shipping 1-2 half grown or adult ducks or geese is
     around $65. - $85.
     Don't forget to figure in an additional $1.00 per pound surcharges
    (weight of birds and box.) 
     Your pre-ship estimated Express Mail price may vary from the actual
     cost of shipping based on the true weight of the birds/box per the post
     offices more sensitive scales the day of
     shipping but my estimates are usually accurate or a little under so you 
     typically don't over pay.    
  
Q:  What do I feed my ducklings or goslings when I get them?
       How do I care for them?  Can they go swimming?
A:   Click HERE to read my new page "Tips on Raising Waterfowl"  
           
 ________________________________________________________

My Guarantee - Read before you order!
Unfortunately I can't make any guarantees once a bird leaves my hands
due to circumstances beyond my control. 
I do not accept any returns or issue any refunds.
I don't replace birds that develop problems or disease due to poor care and/or
environmental factors, however if any bird that you purchase from me develops a 
genetic defect within 3 months of purchase date please contact me for a
free replacement bird.
The buyer pays for all box, handling fee's and shipping expenses of any replacement bird.
Replacement birds are shipped "as available" and may not be available until
the following year.
Wing disorders such as angel wing and twisted wing tip will not be replaced
since improper feed and care can cause Angel Wing.
See information below on wing disorders.

It is recommended that you isolate any new arrivals from your main flock
for at least 30 days to prevent any disease transmission.
De-worming with Ivermectin Spring & Fall is recommended.

Re. Waterfowl Wing Disorders:
Sebastopols that develop twisted wing tips will not be replaced, since this
is a very common disorder in this breed most likely due to their unique feather mutation.
The bony tip on the wings twists and causes feathers to stick out but not to the degree
of Angel Wing and isn't that noticable to the un-trained eye.

Re. Angel Wing:
So far I haven't had any problems with Angel Wing with my geese or ducks.
Occurrences of  angel wing in any waterfowl can be reduced by avoiding a diet
overly high in protein and providing access to green grass and exercise.  
I had a customer experience 100% angel wing in his Muscovy ducklings because
he thought he was doing them a favor by feeding them the highest protein feed
he could find.
This doesn't mean you should feed low protein, rather it is advised that you
feed starter and grower rations specifically developed for waterfowl to avoid problems.
There is a lot of information online regarding the feed requirements of poultry and waterfowl
so do your homework if you aren't sure what to feed.
 Click Here  for an article on Angel Wing.

PLEASE read the above information
before sending me an email.
Thank you! 

cottage_rose_garden@hotmail.com