I wanted to take a moment to write a testimonial for all about how pleased I have been with the work done by the Sand Hill Preservation Center. I have been privilaged to receive numerous shipments of various poultry from them and each shipment has exceeded my expectations.

As the name suggests, the Sand Hill Preservation Center is a poultry source that specializes in minor and heritage breeds. As fewer and fewer breeds become used as a standard in commercial poultry operations, and fads in preferred homestead breeds change, the genetic diversity potential stored in these minor and heritage breeds becomes threatened. This narrowing of the genetic pool threatens all of our flocks and the poultry industry.

The various modern breeds of poultry have been intensely hybridized, crossed, inbred and otherwise "improved" to create specific characteristics that are important in a commercial operation without consideration for other important characteristics. Among other problems, many of the new commercial and common breeds have poor immune systems, have no ability to forage, and some even need assistance breeding. These characteristics which have been left out of modern factory breeds are critical parts of the makeup of a proper low maintenance homestead breed.

Glen Drowns and his small family are the sole operators of this sanctuary that struggles to coaxe these sometimes primitve and rare breeds into cooperating with the hectic pace of the modern calander. His organization altruisticly pursues these goals not for profit but to provide for a better future for poultry by saving the past.

If you want a breed of poultry that will best fit your needs in a homestead environment then you should study up on your breeds and contact the Sand Hill Preservation Center.

Lets give Glen a hand and in return get a catalog covering the best heritage poultry and heirloom seeds available by sending $1.50 to:

Sand Hill Preservation Center
1878 230th Street
Calamus, Iowa 52729

-- William in WI (thetoebes@webtv.net), June 24, 2000

Answers

I was so glad to see this post! I ordered 25 Jersey Giants from Sand Hill, along with some seeds. I received the seeds (including several free packets), and they've sprouted nicely so far. I guess my chicks will be sent when they have enough. I was glad to find the Jerseys ANYPLACE besides a big commercial hatchery, after looking for over 2 years for them. I'm excited for my birds to arrive!

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), June 24, 2000.

I have ordered from Sand Hill for several years. They are absolutely the best people to work with that I have ever found. They try very hard to please and go the extra mile for their customers. They are also very patient people. I have called them so many times they recognize my voice when I call. I highly recommmend them.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), June 24, 2000.

do they have a web page?

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), June 26, 2000.

No web page at this time. I dont know if they are considering one.

-- William in WI (thetoebes@webtv.net), June 28, 2000.

I've been doing the "chicken thing" since 1989, and Sand Hill is the ONLY hatchery I'll use. They are fabulous to deal with, always going beyond the extra mile for their customers. It is so refreshing to deal with people with so much integrety, an unusual event in this day and age.

This year was my first year ordering heirloom seeds, and again, I got them from Sand Hill. I was highly impressed with their seeds, as all the varieties I purchased grew into thriving plants.

Wonderful birds and seeds, wonderful people - a perfect place to do business, IMHO!

-- Mary Jane Berth (Berthmama@aol.com), October 15, 2000.

I thought it time that I bumped this post, spelling mistakes and all (I had a terrible migraine and only 10 minutes to type it when I originally posted it). Ive never received a better product, poultry or seeds, from any other source.

-- William in Wi (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), April 04, 2001.