Bad Hatchery Experience

[flygirl1973]

May I ask where these two hatcheries are? I’d rather not go through the stress of mail order again if possible. Poultry hollow is just too far away.

 

[larrykathy12]

I have never ordered baby chicks before. I’ve always been a Tractor Supply buyer. This year I wanted colored egg layers which our local TSC didn’t have. I did some looking and decided to order from Hoover’s (the Hatchery which supplies our TSC). Out of 18 chicks I have lost 6 so far. 4 seemed very lethargic when I picked up my shipment and they ended up dying yesterday evening. One more passed before I went to bed and I found another first thing this morning.

I have shown them to their food and water. Some still are very “tired” and don’t show much interest. I put save a chick electrolytes in their water to give them a boost after their long transit. Is there anything else I can do?? Is this how it goes? Did I do something wrong??

 

[WeSt Tn]

May I ask where these two hatcheries are? I’d rather not go through the stress of mail order again if possible. Poultry hollow is just too far away.

Cackle is in Lebanon, MO. Murray McMurray is in Iowa.

 

[flygirl1973]

Ah, thank you @WeSt Tn !

 

[Rietta]

Have you considered small breeders in your area, very local. I found my ameraucana breeder on facebook! Picked them up, total of 1 hour transit. Not to jinx myself , I have never lost a chick buying from small hatchers!

 

[h2oratt]

I haven't decided if I will go with Cackle or Murray McMurray.

Mcmurray was great for me.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I live in Iowa and I've never heard of Hoovers... I alternate between McMurray and Cackle, depending on what I want and who has a better price on it. I ordered 15 silkies that arrived on March 6 from Cackle. They sent 19, 3 had died in transit so I have 16. Since we've had them none have died so far they seem happy and healthy. In a separate shipment from them I ordered 11 Swedish female ducks they sent 12 and they are all still alive.
I get my meatbirds every year from a very small family farm hatchery Schlecht, and have only had 1 of those die in the 6 years we've been getting them.

 

[flygirl1973]

Have you considered small breeders in your area, very local. I found my ameraucana breeder on facebook! Picked them up, total of 1 hour transit. Not to jinx myself , I have never lost a chick buying from small hatchers!

I did try looking up local hatcheries on line and called 4. 3 had no voice mail. I left a message for the remaining one where at least the name was the same but I’m not convinced they were an active hatchery. I love the topography where we live, but getting things on-line that’s not a major store or amazon....good luck. I’m still new enough to the area that I don’t have the local knowledge. Honestly I even tried the BYC state search several times and had no luck getting that particular aspect of the site to work. I must be getting older, so frustrating some times. You know these things aren’t supposed to be hard.

 

[WeSt Tn]

Cackle is in Lebanon, MO. Murray McMurray is in Iowa.

Hoover's hatchery is (according to Google) is located in Rudd, Iowa

 

[julskinka]

Not that this helps with your current situation, but this is why I prefer doing hatching eggs. I couldn't stomach the idea of getting a box of dead babies - a box of nonviable eggs is a lot easier on the stomach (and wallet).