Just wanted to comment on this thread for those considering using Central Hatchery... some friends and I went in on a order of the broilers chicks from Central Hatchery about 3 months ago. I personally got 24 out of the order. I did not lose any and I am pretty sure that the others who ordered...
I had bantam hen that sat on 6 eggs by only hatched one. I felt sorry for the lone chick and noticed that the local farm store had chicks so I bought the little bantam a friend. My hen didn't have any problem taking it at all... It was after dark when I got the new chick home and just put it...
In my small bantam flock, just all a sudden, the top hen is now being harassed by the other chickens. I have one rooster, two other bantam hens and a standard sized chick that was raised by the hen that is now being picked on. Could it have something to do with the foster chick getting older...