Many thanks for the replies lads. The game rearer has supplied many shoots round these parts for a few years now, and always good hardy birds. A few more than normal keeled over at the 8-11 week stage, but not so many as to make it a major concern, and they were all on medicated feed, no yellow s**t etc. The bald backs was common to more than just our shoot, but we're talking about shoots taking less than a thousand birds, so not the big estates. Thirty three birds to a crate, too packed in my opinion, and you always have to wonder if they're not quite as old as you're told.
We had a fair storm the second night and day the birds were in, but the losses were minimal, and limited to the highest most exposed pen.
Norma, I think you may be on the right track, and CB, aye, questions will be asked and hopefully remembered when it comes time to order next years.