Buying Broilers from Ideal Hatchery...asking for experiences...

[Nodaksnakelover]

I'm just curious, is there really a difference where you get your broilers from? I'm on the fence right now who to get my broilers from! But aren't most hatcheries getting their eggs from the same broiler breeders anyway, or do different hatcheries have their own broiler breeders? Right now I'm between Ideal Hatchery or McMurray Hatchery. Last year my mother in law went with McMurray and we lost 7 chicks out of 83. I expect some losses. Anyhow, just thought I'd throw this out there. Ideal has a few rare breeds I'd like to try to include in the order. Thank you ahead for all replies given. Much appreciated.

 

[greyartist]

I can't answer the question about the eggs but I have bought from both McM and Ideal. My first chicks were from McM, about 6 yrs ago, brown egg assortment. All arrived alive, I did get 1 mean roo. I think it may have been that free chick they offer. Some of those hens are still around. The next order was from Ideal last year, feather footed assortment. My mom and I went in together and she got bantam silkies. Over all she lost 3, I think, 1 on arrival. But I think having heavy and bantams in the same crate was not a good idea. I'm thinking of getting some broiler this year and will most likely go with Ideal because they keep having email specials and I hope to get in on one of them.

Carol in NC

 

[Nodaksnakelover]

thanks for the reply. The whole point of this year's order was to get a batch of broilers for meat. And then a few extra chicks for fun. I ended up going with McMurray because they are so much closer. I'm in North Dakota. I just felt there would be less stress involved in shipping from a closer hatchery. I also had good success with them in the past. And I ended up not ordering so many extra just for fun chicks. I went with a trio of brahmas. One light rooster, and a light and dark pullet. Plus 6 Buff Orpington pullets for a friend. So I get to look forward to it. We got broilers from them two years ago and I was bothered by losing seven in the first two weeks. After that they all went on to do well. Except for a few that weren't as big as the rest. We also found out through this forum that they were having troubles with disease. So that might be part of the losses we were experiencing.

This year I'm going all out for my little bunch of 27 broilers and extras. I'm glad there is a forum like this. I also breed and raise snakes as a hobby. There certainly are forums for that sort of thing. This year I sought out this forum as I had remembered my mother in law showing me several years back. Anyhow, I look forward to having our own chickens in the freezer again. I miss the wonderful dinners they make! And I frankly enjoy the work of raising and butchering my own.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I never ordered broilers from McMurray's, but I sure did receive some. It was a freak accident. I had really ordered the commercial eggs layers special, which at that time was a combination of 3 different white leghorn breeds. I already had a few leghorns in one of my brooders for 3 weeks by the time I received my chicks and all seemed fine, except they sure looked chubby in the feet. But they ate and ate and ate and the feet got huge and I called inquiring about if one of the 3 breeds had huge feet and they said they think they mixed up my order and sent me Jumbo X Cornish and just to raise them a few more weeks and kill them and they sent me my correct order, so I had free chicks. They were melt in the mouth texture and very healthy looking. I was not disappointed.

 

[Nodaksnakelover]

thanks for the story. I know all too well that it's so hard to put a guarantee on something that is hardly in your total control of! Things happen when it comes to breeding and selling animals. It's enough to make you want to throw in the towel at times! But anhow, just curious if anyone had ordered from both and if there was any noticeable difference.

 

[chickenjoe]

Not sure about ideal, but my sister and I ordered 36 broiler from mcmurray last year, only lost 3. One was a day or two after delievery.

 

[Nodaksnakelover]

Yeah, losing a few seems sort of expected. I should have ordered a few more Buff Orpington pullets just in case. But I ordered 27 of the broilers to help ensure I'll end up closer to 25 total. And that number is not so high that if I get stuck with all 27 making it, that I won't feel I have enough room in the freezer. I know I read one book to expect a certain percentage of loss and order enough over your target number.

 

[ghulst]

Try Townline Hatchery.The price is better and I am almost sure that service and quaility of stock will better then Ideal or Murry Mcmurry. We ship all over the US. www.townlinehatchery.com

 

[KellyHM]

I've used Welp Hatchery 3 times and never lost a single broiler, which I think is quite amazing. Plus they're cheaper than any of the other hatcheries...and shipping is already included in the price of the chicks. The only other place I used was Ideal one time and I lost quite a few, so I'll stick with Welp from now on.

 

[danschicks]

I tried Ideal for the first time last Fall and got 25 Barred Rocks. All are alive, large, and doing well. I have an order of 50 meat birds coming from Ideal next month. I have ordered from several hatcheries in the past and they have all been pretty much the same. I found the meaties cheaper at another site but you could not order on line, or see their shipping dates. I'll pay a little more to be on my schedule.