Sorry if I'm repeating, but I didn't read the entire thread. Here's some food for thought, you don't have to receive the packing peanuts. The hatcheries give you the option to purchase insurance for your order. So, all of those people who aren't legally allowed to keep roos do have an option here. The hatchery doesn't just fill the box with a bunch of dead roo chicks, all of my packing peanuts (from Ideal Poultry, at that) arrived happy, healthy and in tip-top shape. Thanks to those peanuts, all of the pullets I ordered arrived in the same excellent condition. I'm not going to do any flaming, I've ordered from several different hatcheries in the past, and have been tickled pink with the birds they've sent (FYI- I think I'm most pleased with the babies and customer service I got from Ideal). What do you all think happens to roosters that are hatched in someones backyard- they all grow up and live great lives as someones beloved pet? Sorry to disappoint, but that simply isn't the case. The roosters hatched in my own yard end up as food for my family or my dog and cats. The same thing happened to the last batch of packing peanuts I received. If you don't agree with hatchery practices, then don't order from a hatchery. No ones going to flame you for that decision, so I see no need to flame the hatcheries (and the people that order from them).
Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*
Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*