Ideal, Meyer, Privett, Murray McMurray...all these hatcheries and no telling how many more (can't remember at the moment). I've read that hatcheries carry different strains of the hybrids/breeds(?) they offer.
Can anyone who's ordered from these hatcheries comment on their success or failure of how their birds thrived in general? A RIR and/or Production Red from Meyer may be different from a RIR and/or Production Red from Ideal because of their original strain. And, would anyone know what places in town order from which hatchery? That would be interesting to note. Like a heads up...."don't buy from [store] because they order from [hatchery] because their stock is not hearty." For now, I would only like 6 hens maximum, and can't do the 25 minimum order directly from a hatchery.
I've done alot of reading over the years, looked at many hatchery catalogues and read hundreds of posts, only to discover that "what you see is what you don't get." Don't let the shiny, pretty pics fool you. They depict a pure-breed, when what you actually get is some type of cross. Not to bash those breeders who supply those eggs, or even if they do it inhouse...just an observation. Pure is not an issue with me, just want a small flock for pets, for the most part, that lay reasonably well and won't drop dead after 18 months, being declared a "spent" hen.
Just curious as to what is available locally so I don't have to go through the mail order thang with those high shipping rates. I hope my posting did not offend anyone. --BB
Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
Can anyone who's ordered from these hatcheries comment on their success or failure of how their birds thrived in general? A RIR and/or Production Red from Meyer may be different from a RIR and/or Production Red from Ideal because of their original strain. And, would anyone know what places in town order from which hatchery? That would be interesting to note. Like a heads up...."don't buy from [store] because they order from [hatchery] because their stock is not hearty." For now, I would only like 6 hens maximum, and can't do the 25 minimum order directly from a hatchery.
I've done alot of reading over the years, looked at many hatchery catalogues and read hundreds of posts, only to discover that "what you see is what you don't get." Don't let the shiny, pretty pics fool you. They depict a pure-breed, when what you actually get is some type of cross. Not to bash those breeders who supply those eggs, or even if they do it inhouse...just an observation. Pure is not an issue with me, just want a small flock for pets, for the most part, that lay reasonably well and won't drop dead after 18 months, being declared a "spent" hen.
Just curious as to what is available locally so I don't have to go through the mail order thang with those high shipping rates. I hope my posting did not offend anyone. --BB
Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
However after looking into what we can have it would not be
