BEST HATCHERY?

[abluechipstock]

through the years i've ordered from hoffman hatchery in pa, belt in ca, murray mcmurray in iowa, meyer hatchery in oh and ideal in texas, i've gotton good results from all of them but i decided to go with ideal again this year, my orloffs should be here next month, now i need to choose one for blue slate turkeys

 

[Scratchn By]

Like my father always said... Sometimes you get what you paid for.

I read the book by Robert Plamondom, "Success With Baby Chicks" and he suggests you spend the extra dollars on the more expensive hatcheries based on his research and personal experiences. Fig. 4 (What you can expect from low-priced and high-priced hatcheries) says the high-priced hatcheries include more "extra" chicks, have less DOA, less cockerels in all pullet orders, less death during the growing period and superior egg production.

Plamondom also states, if you have two equal hatcheries... Go with the closest. But, if the distant hatchery seemed better (better press...) order from them without hesitation.

I ordered from Mcmurray and had 100% DOA. I don't believe it was Mcmurray's fault, however. The poor souls were at the mercy of the USPS. I then started reading about Mcmurray and read some bad press, here on BYC and elsewhere. I think you can probably dig up some bad press on all the hatcheries. True?

Ideal is the closest to me and that's who I've decide to get my new chicks from. No matter how good the hatchery is, the chicks will be at the mercy of the transportation system. I hope the chicks that Mcmurray was going to reship to me will go to a closer home and survive.

GL!

 

[atlantachickenwhisperer]

Hey,

I will be interviewing the owner of Ideal Poultry this Saturday on my radio show, "Backyard Poultry with the Chicklen Whisperer". Make sure to listen because I have many good questions I will be asking her! It's every Saturday at 9:00am EST.

Listen Here: http://www.radiosandysprings.com/index.php?id=3

 

[Scratchn By]

Can we call in and ask questions?

 

[Three_Blessings]

I ordered meat birds from welp last year and did not have any problems.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
If they are good hatchery you should be able to do that.

I ordered from McMurray last year and had some problems, but they have great customer service.

I'm hatching my own this year.

I bought some juvies that came from Cackle and the grower that I got them from swears by them and says they are the least expensive. They are beautiful birds. A BO, LBLH, WLH, Cinnamon Queen, California White X Porcelain D'Uccle and an EE. They are great layers.

Good luck.

 

[Scratchn By]

Talking about the radio show on Saturday...

Yep, I like hatching my own. Then we know who to blame...

Thanks!

 

[Southerngirl]

Cackle has healthy, beautiful stock. Also Hoovers hatchery, Ideal and McMurray have also the same results. Hoovers and Cackle are the cheapest also; especially Hoovers for the broilers. I have used all and have good luck with them. It is best to order chicks from a hatchery closer to you to decrease the shipping time on the babies. Ideal is in Texas, McMurray and Hoovers in Iowa, and Cackle is in Missouri. Good luck !!

 

[Faverolle]

I've ordered from most of the large hatcheries at one time or another and for me anyways I had the best results with Ideal. Within reason I would not let $$$ determine where you get your birds from however. I prefer to but more so from private breeders who have good examples of the breed I want rather then the hatcheries and primarily use the hatcheries for meat birds now.

 

[iajewel]

I agree that hatcherys are for meat birds and production layers. When I buy anything else, I do it from privet breeders.