Best Hatchery?

[kyrose]

i use my pet chicken they are super nice and their chicks are very healthy

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I ordered from My Pet Chicken last spring. My chicks arrived 2 days after being shipped from Meyer hatchery. They are now 7 months and laying well. So far so good, no health problems . I think it does depend on the breed ordered though

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

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I currently have over 180 birds, approx 160 (plus 20 ducks) of them are from Ideal. I have ordered and resold over 500 chicks from ideal since August 09. I have had nothing but great birds and great stock from Ideal. Very low cockerel counts (when ordering pullets), better than their guarantee of 90%, and almost no losses in shipping or otherwise (less than 5). They always included a few extra chicks on my order of 100 chicks or more. I have also used Crackle for 100 chicks, also with success. I have never ordered from MM since their prices are so much higher. I have an order of 50 from Ideal coming on Saturday and I am going to order 100 more in March, when the breed selection is better.

To the OP: Don't take any ONE persons opinion, search around, call the hatcheries and ask questions. I know with Ideal, the prices are tough to beat.

No, I don't work for Ideal. I live in California, but I am a VERY VERY happy customer and my customers are also very happy with the birds. But, what do I know, I have only seen 500+ chicks from Ideal and more to come.

 

[Kimiko]

Just to prove everyone has a different experience...

I ordered from MPC-I kept calling my post office to see if there were chicks--no chicks. Verified they were shipped out. Had a Bad Feeling and started calling all the local post offices to find out where my chicks were. They were across town with an address label to the wrong last name, wrong zip code and with no phone number. The chicks were happy, healthy and I didn't lose any in the initial period BUT, they were all supposed to be vaccinated for Marek's. They all died of Marek's within 6 months of being released outside. (I had them necropsied).

I got my last batch from Ideal. I kept adding to my order--no problem. The chicks arrived--no problem. 2 were lost in the first 2 days and they refunded the cost. They are all now almost a year old and are happy, healthy, nice birds and they lay large numbers of delicious eggs. I'm planning my next order.

 

[jbrushab]

Although you may have had your chicks vaccinated, Marek's still affects 5% of vaccinated birds.

 

[Wynette]

Welcome to BYC!

Thre are many breeders right here on BYC as well - take a look through the Chicken Breeders and Hatcheries section for more options.

 

[Three Generation]

I have had great results from Ideal Poultry they are in Texas. I have bought 50 chickens from them in the month of December and could not be happier with the results

 

[herefordlovinglady]

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just went to their website very nice site...thanks for the info.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

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it's kind of funny, I have had excellent chickens from Ideal and the only chicken that ever died on me came from McMurray, she had a heart defect, and only half of the hens that I ordered from them even layed.

My ideal chickens lay very well and are very healthy.

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

I ordered mine from Murray McMurray Hatchery - http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com