IDEAL vs. McMURRAY - Page 2

Go with the one that is closest to you. There are mixed expereinces about both and often it is due to causes out of their hands. Such as the post office and if your birds have to travel across the US or just half of it. A day can make a big difference on how healthy they arrive. I do believe Ideal is closer to CA as they are in TX.

If you want some Porcelaine and Milli FLeur D Uccles
I will have some show quality ones in not too long.
Thanks Blaine

I like them both but if I had to choose it would be Ideal. Murray is hard to get on the phone. And Ideal sexes way more than Murray. However Ideal does not sex Polish, I wish that they would.

I've used both and the only plus I had with Idea was that they noted on the receipt how many of each chick they sent.

Other than that, I don't know if it was just the breed or chicks (cuckoo marans, barnvelders, welsummers), time of year (fall) or what but my Ideal chicks just didn't seem as healthy as the ones I've gotten from McMurray in the past.

Only one died after arrival but most of them had pasty butts really bad and just plain acted 'puny'. They were extremely skittish and never warmed up to me at all. They are now 11 weeks old and they still don't look 'as healthy'. Their feathers aren't bright and glossy, they are more likely to peck on each other than any other group of chicks I've had and heaven forbid I open the door to the greenhouse where they live - they all run for cover in the corner and pile on top of each other.

Would I order from Ideal again? Yes - enough people are happy with them that they must be a good hatchery - this must be a quirk.

So, as others say, order from whoever is closest to you or throw a coin.

Some times closer isn't better.  It's the route they take that makes the difference.  TX is closer to me too, but when McMurray ships I actually get them the same day.  I think because Denver is a main hub.  They come there then I get a call from our sort center and I go pick them up there.  They never even get to my post office.  Works out really well.

I just got a shipment from Ideal this morning.  I ordered 20 Barred Rock, and 6 Ameraucanas (aka, easter eggers).  They were shipped on Wed, and got here today (Sat), so already, they had a rough start.  That, and they were being shipped to South Dakota, in January.  No extras were sent, which suprised me a bit, considering the fact that distance and temperature were obviously going to be risk factors.  There was one BR dead in the box, and another died hours later.  The Easter Eggers are looking good (good size, active, great color variety, muffs and beards all over!), but some of the Barred Rocks are worrying me.  They all seem rather small, and some are not as active.  On the positive, they must be of good moral fiber, because my dog has been faithfully guarding and doting over them since they've arrived this morning, and Emma is an excellent judge of character. 

If things go fine from here, I would feel comfortable ordering birds if they were the best option for the breed I wanted.  If the BRs don't thrive, I still wouldn't write Ideal off, considering their good reputation, but I'd consider different options for that particular breed.  But for now, (assuming I don't have bent toes develop later), the only real problem I see with Ideal is distance, and that's not exactly something they can control.

ETA-  A few more BRs dropped off over the weekend, but Ideal happily refunded the cost of the chicks, so they do live up to their great customer service reputation.  In that department, I don't know of any better.

I've not ordered from McMurray, simply because of price.  I know they have a good reputation, but when compared to other reputable hatcheries, I just can't get over the huge price difference!

I've ordered from Ideal twice and was happy with the selection. For "hatchery chicks" I think I got some nice ones. I got a lot of packing peanuts with my last order but unloaded them on Craigslist withing 2 hours.

Had 2 die but I think that was because of an overcrowded box. Ideal credited me immediately.

I'm definately ordering in March... shh... don't tell my husband, we'll just say that some of the eggs in the fridge hatched!

I've never told the hatchery when a chick died. hmmmm

Anyway, spent some time today with my freaky girls from Ideal. I ordered their Dark Brown Egg Assortment. Two of the Cuckoo Marans have yellow legs. One is twice as big as the others and looks like a roo. I've also noticed that one of the other breeds (can't remember which) is growing a comb faster than the others and doesn't really look like 'her sisters'. Making me wonder if I not only have another roo but an unknown breed.

So, here's the question - do you complain about the egg color and roosters when you ordered all pullets?

You should give them a chance to make it right.  They don't want to lose you as a customer.