As someone who produces a lot of videos, it's hard to tell but I guarantee that all of the staff at McMurray Hatchery treats their chicks with the utmost care. All their packing is hand-done there. No big machines. Ask them on one of their live videos. Small family-owned company -- not as big as...
Just to hop in here and clarify -- the Whiting True Blues are bred to breed true in successive generations. The Whiting True Green is a hybrid that McMurray Hatchery has all of the parent flock, so if you aren't raising and keeping the parent flock, you won't be able to breed further greens. Not...
Great photo! Love this. I'd avoid the vignettes that the other post showed. This shows the deep red comb and the white contrasting feathers. Beautiful. :)
Thought I'd pop in here and comment... The McMurray Hatchery catalog photos are frequently taken with a 50mm lens, or even a 35mm. The best way to enter the contests is to enter print-quailty photos highligting breeds they carry and represent the breed well, no filters, no added icons or text...
Whiting True Greens will have single combs and yellow legs and be mostly reddish in color. The Whiting True Blues will have pea combs and their coloring can vary.
I would recommend calling in and asking for the office manager and letting them know about your experience. They have a 48-hour live guarantee with credits and/or replacements. In my experience they do everything they can to make it right.
I find that chickens are pretty smart. If they need the calcium they will seek it out. The quality of your eggs will indicate if there is an issue — if your eggs have good shells and all looks good, don't fret. If you start to see soft eggs or odd eggs, then it's worth paying attention.
Chickens need light, protein and calcium to produce eggs. It's natural for them to slack off in the winter months. And, some breeds are more likely to lay in the colder months than others. I'd recommend adding hardy breeds that are good winter layers if you are looking to maintain production in...
We add protein to their diet and add an electrolyte solution to their water. Also watch for picking while they are losing feathers and new ones are coming in.