Best hatcheries

[animalwild]

I want to get some ducks and chickens but not be an insane amount and have to order a bunch. I have looked at Murray McMurray hatchery, but decided not to order from them. Wondering what hatcheries you guys recommend. Also best duck breeds and suggestions on a duck pond. Any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[mlh328]

I ordered mine from here:

http://www.metzerfarms.com/index.cfm
I ordered 3 of the day old Cayuga's and they all arrived happy and healthy to Montana in just 2 days. The company was really easy to work with. Lots of breeds of ducks but I think only two breeds of chickens.

 

[Niche Flock]

I ordered mine from here:

http://www.metzerfarms.com/index.cfm
I ordered 3 of the day old Cayuga's and they all arrived happy and healthy to Montana in just 2 days. The company was really easy to work with. Lots of breeds of ducks but I think only two breeds of chickens.

Yep I've ordered a couple of times from Metzer as well. People are baffled when I say they shipped from CA. Living in NY they were blown away that such small creatures could be shipped this distance. My most recent order was last June (the latest I've ever received ducklings in the year) and I unfortunately had four rather tragic deaths...one in commute, and three upon arrival one right after another. Metzer was understanding and supportive and sent me replacement ducklings, but the trauma of losing them was overall upsetting.
Overall, my experience with mail order day olds has been good though, this most recent time was odd and I hope to never experience something like that again.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have ordered from Meyer Hatchery in Polk, Ohio because they are within 4-5 hours from me. That way I can get my chicks within 1 day of shipping and they are less stressed. I would recommend getting chicks from a nearby hatchery if possible. Both of my shipments were healthy. They do a lot of the shipping of chicks for My Pet Chicken, but are less expensive without the "middle man." Small shipments may cost as much as ordering 25 chicks though, because of the extra heat packs and packing. https://www.meyerhatchery.com/get_subcat.a5w?cat=1020

 

[learycow]

Depending on what you are looking for, you can always order from a breeder too rather than a hatchery.

I breed anconas, calls, and muscovy as well as turken chickens and silkie/sizzle/showgirls. I ship to most US states as well

 

[GoldenFlight]

I highly recommend Metzer farms, they even have a 2 bird minimum order. http://www.metzerfarms.com/index.cfm

 

[chickens really]

If in western Canada? ....Rochester Hatchery in Westlock Alberta is fantastic and if looking for Ducks? Duckopolis in Darwell Alberta is great too.....Not sure if they ship though?


Cheers!

 

[Birdsonghill]

All newly hatched poultry in the USA is shipped USPS LIVE, only! Usually anywhere in the country in 2-3 days. My experiences over the past 45 years ordering chicks is they get to me in the same time frame, regardless of where they shipped from in the states. (Maybe not Alaska/Hawaii) Only once did that not happen , due to a postal worker error and it took 4 full days and I had lots of dead chicks. The worker put the chicks outside on the dock because "they stank", to them, and they were overlooked, until I came in demanding to know where they where! I have ordered from Ohio to California, baby chicks and ducks, with fairly good success. I have had a couple bad experiences due to the post office employees mishandling the chicks, but no problems with most of the hatcheries I have used. If you order many times, you will experience losses, that are excessive , most likely, at some point in time. However, I have, over the years, experienced no more than about a 10% loss in mail order birds. It has not been unusual to not lose any or only one or two out of 25 to 50 chick orders. Also, it has made it possible for me to enjoy a dozen breeds ,I may never of found locally, at the time! PS. I have had chicks delivered from less than 500 miles take the same time as from 2000 miles, coming mail order! They don't come on trains anymore!

 

[The Duck Ladie]

I've gotten most of my ducks from Ideal Poultry. They are great ducks! http://www.idealpoultry.com/

 

[QuackSpeak]

I highly recommend Metzer farms, they even have a 2 bird minimum order. http://www.metzerfarms.com/index.cfm

X2!