Best hatchery?

[Swalla]

Planning to order some mallards. I’ve looked at a few hatcheries online but wanted recommendations on who you have used. I also want them sexed & I know some don’t offer that.
Who have you ordered from & received healthy ducklings??

 

[nuthatched]

most members here order from Metzer farms, I've heard wonderful things about them.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

I ordered sexed ducklings from Metzer Farms last year and they all arrived healthy in two days from across the country. I was happy with them.

 

[Isaac 0]

The best hatchery can end up being the worst if you are not mindful of the location the birds are being shipped. Extended transit is a large cause of mortality in shipped ducklings. Your location may be helpful to see.

 

[LucyLovesDucks]

Metzer customer here as well. Nothing to complain about. They arrived fast and were in great shape.

 

[Miss Cheep]

I recommend Metzer farms. Ordered ducks from them and were very good.

 

[Quatie]

Metzer is setting up a second location in Memphis Tennessee for better shipping to the rest of the US. They are suppose to start shipping from there sometime this year.

The perk of big hatcheries is sexed ducklings. You could likely find a local breeder, but they won't be sexed.

 

[3xhhheather]

I’ve ordered from Metzer & Ideal, all super healthy ducklings that turned into beautiful adults.

I would say watch out for My Pet Chicken, I ordered 3 geese — Buff Dewlap females, one turned out to be a male, another is an American Buff lol of course I rehomed the only female before knowing but she was a basket case

 

[Birdsonghill]

The best hatchery can end up being the worst if you are not mindful of the location the birds are being shipped. Extended transit is a large cause of mortality in shipped ducklings. Your location may be helpful to see.

Using aircraft to deliver at 500 mph there s only a few hours difference when half the country is involved in the delivery. The usps is the wild card and how your shipment is handled is of the higest importance , regardless of the distance involved! A delivery distance of two thousand miles is only a few hours longer than 500 miles! They do not use trains to deliver anymore! My deliveries from the West or East coast arrive to the heartland in great shape if not tossed around and exposed to terrible weather/temps or handling delays/errors by the USPS employees.