Cackle Hatchery or My Pet Chicken?

Blackberry18

Songster
8 Years
Mar 25, 2015
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Minnesota
Hey, many of you may have heard about how the poultry shows in Minnesota were shut down this year, canceling my purchase of New Hampshire pullets from a friend. So, next year, I'm hoping to order two or three varieties of chicken from a hatchery for the 4-H show. I'm hoping for two Light Brown Leghorns pullets, and two Black Australorp pullets, and perhaps two Buff Brahma pullets, along with a Buff Brahma cockerel. However, I'm trying to decide between Cackle Hatchery and My Pet Chicken. My Pet Chicken is not as much as Cackle, but I'll pay more for better quality birds. I'm worried about how hatcheries sometimes mess up with gender and breed, and it's essential that I have the correct sex and breed without getting a bunch of chicks.

Does anyone have a suggestion? Experience? Also, I hoping not for "hatchery" quality birds, so I'm wondering if the breeds I mentioned often have hatchery "defects", or not-up-to-Standard features. I was also wondering, it seems like a silly question, but do hatcheries charge tax? I'm guessing not, but thought I'd double-check.
 
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I've ordered chicks on a number of different occasions from Cackle Hatchery, and while I would not expect to win any shows with them, I have been happy with their birds and service. I've never personally ordered any chicks from My Pet Chicken, but it is my understanding that their chicks come from Meyer Hatchery so you might want to check out some reviews on Meyer.
 
I've ordered chicks on a number of different occasions from Cackle Hatchery, and while I would not expect to win any shows with them, I have been happy with their birds and service. I've never personally ordered any chicks from My Pet Chicken, but it is my understanding that their chicks come from Meyer Hatchery so you might want to check out some reviews on Meyer.
Copy that, thanks!
 
I purchased from Meyers hatchery this April. 4 buff orpingtons and 4
barred rocks. My chicks were in great shape. I ordered them for my son's 4H, however they just announced yesterday in ohio no poultry is coming to the fairs this year. My chicks are doing great. Breeds are correct. I ordered 8 pullets.....but 1 buff orpington is definitely a rooster.So 7 correctly sexed. And we might keep the one roo anyways.Goodluck. just research your hatcheries. This website is the best.
 
I purchased from Meyers hatchery this April. 4 buff orpingtons and 4
barred rocks. My chicks were in great shape. I ordered them for my son's 4H, however they just announced yesterday in ohio no poultry is coming to the fairs this year. My chicks are doing great. Breeds are correct. I ordered 8 pullets.....but 1 buff orpington is definitely a rooster.So 7 correctly sexed. And we might keep the one roo anyways.Goodluck. just research your hatcheries. This website is the best.
Thanks!
 
I like mypetchicken and I often refer my customers to them if they are looking for a single layer or two from a breed I do not carry. Yes they work closely with Meyers which is also good.

They carry a decent selection and you can get a few rare breeds from them as well. I have had many people very happy with their purchase from them and thank me afterwards.

I especially like them and promote them because they do not use chick macerators and inhumanely kill all the little roos that hatch. They are based out of Ohio so the roos hatched go to auction for the Amish to raise as food which is a very happy ending in my book and I give thumbs up to them for that!

If you have a choice and can get the breed you are looking for from them I vote Mypetchicken!
 
I like mypetchicken and I often refer my customers to them if they are looking for a single layer or two from a breed I do not carry. Yes they work closely with Meyers which is also good.

They carry a decent selection and you can get a few rare breeds from them as well. I have had many people very happy with their purchase from them and thank me afterwards.

I especially like them and promote them because they do not use chick macerators and inhumanely kill all the little roos that hatch. They are based out of Ohio so the roos hatched go to auction for the Amish to raise as food which is a very happy ending in my book and I give thumbs up to them for that!

If you have a choice and can get the breed you are looking for from them I vote Mypetchicken!
Thanks! I'll certainly consider!
 
Don't expect to win any shows with birds from either hatchery.

I order from Cackle every year--though I have also ordered from Ideal, and occasionally get chicks from the feed stores (Welp and Dunlop I think). Cackle has videos of the breeder flocks, which is something I appreciate. I currently have a Light Brown Leghorn pullet and two still-unknown Buff Brahmas from Cackle--they're too young to bother taking pictures to show how well they conform to the standard.

You will probably need to go with My Pet Chicken (or Meyer) because I'm almost certain that Cackle has a 5 bird minimum for breed and variety. So you would need to order 5 Leghorns, 5 Australorp, 5 Brahma pullets (and I think they'll sell individual cockerels).
 
Don't expect to win any shows with birds from either hatchery.

I order from Cackle every year--though I have also ordered from Ideal, and occasionally get chicks from the feed stores (Welp and Dunlop I think). Cackle has videos of the breeder flocks, which is something I appreciate. I currently have a Light Brown Leghorn pullet and two still-unknown Buff Brahmas from Cackle--they're too young to bother taking pictures to show how well they conform to the standard.

You will probably need to go with My Pet Chicken (or Meyer) because I'm almost certain that Cackle has a 5 bird minimum for breed and variety. So you would need to order 5 Leghorns, 5 Australorp, 5 Brahma pullets (and I think they'll sell individual cockerels).
Thanks! I was thinking about Meyers, too. They have high shipping costs but I thought I could share an order with a friend so there'd be more chicks to lower the cost.
 

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