I've only done CX for the past two summers. Last year I ordered layer and CX chicks from Meyer. I think it was about 25 total, they came in two shipments because the second package was to replace doa chicks. I won't blame Meyer for the chick deaths as I think it was the fault of the Post Office but there were, I think, about 4 or 5 CX chicks that died during or shortly after shipping. I wish I had kept records. This year I ordered layer and CX chicks from Murray McMurray. I ordered 30 CX and got 1 extra. They all survived shipping but this time I used my parents address to they only spent one day in the mail.
Last year I lost 3 or 4 CX before the butcher ages of 6 to 8 weeks (different ages plus 2 different butcher days. This year I only lost 2 CX. One died around week 5. This one was significantly smaller than the rest so I think there was something wrong with it. One died at 11 weeks (the day after I was going to butcher but didn't because I got sick ).
All in all I think the McMurray chicks were much hardier and more robust. They just seemed to move more. Has anyone else ordered CX from different hatcheries and experienced something similar?
Last year I lost 3 or 4 CX before the butcher ages of 6 to 8 weeks (different ages plus 2 different butcher days. This year I only lost 2 CX. One died around week 5. This one was significantly smaller than the rest so I think there was something wrong with it. One died at 11 weeks (the day after I was going to butcher but didn't because I got sick ).
All in all I think the McMurray chicks were much hardier and more robust. They just seemed to move more. Has anyone else ordered CX from different hatcheries and experienced something similar?