Best hatchery to order from with a minimum 3 chick order?

[mbsidden]

I ordered today from my pet chicken. Got 5 polish of different colors. I had thought about ideal but all were straight run and didn't want any more roos. I've never owned polish excited to get them. I have silkies, cochins, welsummers, black star, isa Brown's, and EE. All mine are pets that give me eggs. Love all my birds

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I got my 25 chick order from Ideal yesterday. Overall it's been a great experience thus far. I've posted more detailed info on the hatcheries review thread for Ideal. Got to me overnight, all 25 very active and clean, no losses overnight and they seem healthy. Not even any poopy butts! Knock on wood.

Getting them from someplace nearby with minimal time in transit is key, in my opinion.

 

[PolishPeepers]

Have you checked out Ideal Poultry? I cant remember the minimum, but I don't think it's very many. Make sure you tell them to buy a heat pack, or else they will send you extra roosters. They have just about every breed imaginable! I ordered from there this spring. Had two die, but I usually have couple chicks that die In the first few days.

Hi, yes, Ideal doesn't have a minimum number of chicks, ducks etc, but you must have a $25 minimum order. There's a $7 charge for under full box, and $7 fee for small order, but they will add males for warmth if needed. I love their customer service.

 

[chickenE]

Does Ideal check with the customer before adding extra roosters? I would be super upset about getting extras...

 

[bruceha2000]

My 2012 Faverolles from Ideal are "smutty", not "salmony" at all, broody several times a year (1 is in the buster as I type), poor layers of eggs that SOMETIMES make USDA Medium. I got 12 girls from Ideal and they were 100% on sexing them. 6 breeds (2 EE, 2 Faverolles, 2 Black Australorps, 2 Anconas, 2 Cubalayas, 2 Partridge Chanteclers. Their website was MUCH better back then, IMO it sucks now.

Got 7 girls from Meyer in 2015 (3 EE, 2 BA, 2 White Rocks). 100% on sexing. One of the EEs died last summer from fatty liver disease. The other 6 are doing well.

Got 7 chicks (2 Barnevelders, 2 Welsummers, 2 Exchequer Leghorns, 1 EE) from Meyer in April, they screwed up and one of the Barnevelders is a cockerel. They have an excellent website with lots of info about each breed.

I can't speak to the quality of Meyer's Blue Ameraucana but they are one of 2 big hatcheries that sell ACTUAL APA Ameraucanas. They got their breeding stock from one of the people who developed the breed. The ancestors of the APA Araucana and APA Ameraucana were called Araucana and were "mutts" that could have any combination of characteristics we associate with APA Araucana and APA Ameraucana. The common feature was the blue egg gene. An Ameraucana will ALWAYS be sold by color. Every other big hatchery that lists Ameraucana and/or Araucana are selling EEs. There are NO big hatcheries that sell APA Araucana, none. I called Ideal on their claim that they sell true Ameraucana and they claimed they did because there is no EE breed. There isn't a black star, red star, Cinnamon Queen, Golden Comet, etc APA breed either but they don't have a problem selling sex links by their common names. I don't know why they can't sell the VERY popular EE under that name. They are NOT selling APA Ameraucana and I won't order from liars.

Shipping is the "per chick" cost killer for small orders.

My chickens aren't pets so I don't concern myself with whether or not they want to have a nap on me I agree though that my EEs tend to be more skittish. Persephone (2012 EE) will leave the nest box if I try to give her morning BOSS. Other girls will make sure I know if they are on the job and insist I bring them "morning snacks in bed". While they all know who brings the treats, none of them are "sit down so I can climb in your lap" chickens. Dogs are better for that

 

[The Moonshiner]

Does Ideal check with the customer before adding extra roosters? I would be super upset about getting extras...

No they do not check with the customer first. They do it so there is enough chicks to keep warm.
May be super upsetting but better then getting your chicks and having them all dead.

 

[mbsidden]

I ordered 5 chicks from my pet chicken. Do they add extra? I wouldn't care if they do, just wondering

 

[The Moonshiner]

I ordered 5 chicks from my pet chicken. Do they add extra? I wouldn't care if they do, just wondering

I personally wont buy from them but our neighbor has gotten two small orders from them and they did not add extras. His came with heat packs

 

[CBabs]

So I was just poking around on ideal and you can request no extra males but need to buy a heat pack and insurance. They also have a $25 minimum (not including shipping and handling) so I had to cart 7 chicks in order to meet the minimum (I only want 3 as well). My estimated charge was ~$45 total (which included a small order fee and a 1/4 box fee) to SC which still wasn't bad! They have a good selection but i couldn't order from them without splitting with someone

 

[chickenE]

Good info cbabs - thanks for clarifying.