Buying chicks from hatcheries that are far away?

[Willow's Meadow]

So I want to order some chicks from Cackle Hatchery. We do live pretty far away from Cackle. Should we order from a hatchery that is closer to us or would it be okay for them to be shipped from a longer distance? Does it really make a difference? How many people order from Cackle or a different hatchery and live far from that hatchery, have you, has it worked out all right? (Don't want to say where I live )

 

[RAWR]

i dont really know...we've only orderd from Mt. Healthy
im sure it would be ok tho

 

[calista]

When we lived in Oregon, we ordered every year for over 20 years from Murray McMurray hatchery and never had a single problem with our deliveries -- healthy, strong chicks every time from halfway across the country. Of course, it's to your benefit to become REALLY good friends with your local postmaster and have him/her personally oversee getting your chicks to you right away.

 

[Alabama ee]

We bought from Mt Healthy which is in OH and we are in Al. All lived and are ok.

One thing they did that I think made a difference was the time of the week they shipped and that they did it overnight. My chicks were shipped out on a Wed., and I received them on Thurs. I have heard of some places that ship priority mail. That is a little slower. A couple of extra days could make a difference in how well they do.

 

[chicken_china_mom]

What state are you in? I'm in Indiana and I ordered chicks last year from Cackle and they all arrived just fine. I also ordered chicks from Ideal Poultry which is in Texas and the chicks arrived just fine. From the Cackle order, out of 30 birds, I only lost 1 Silkie the day after they arrived, and I didn't lose any from my Ideal shipment. I think the time of year that you order, and the postal service both are big contributing factors in the safe arrival of your chicks. Depending on where you live, and what the weather is like at the time of your order, you can safely order chicks from just about anywhere. I would order before the weather gets too much warmer. This weather where I am is pretty good for receiving shipped birds. Cackle is a good hatchery, I got some really sweet birds from them, though I felt a little screwed over because I ordered Birchen Cochins and didn't receive them. Instead they upped the numbers of my other chicks. Yet my invoice still said I had received Birchens. That irked me, and I was a novice, so by the time I figured it out, my birds were feathering in, and I couldn't reach the hatchery via phone, cause their line is always so busy. I have been dealing with private breeders since and hatching out my own eggs and haven't had to deal with hatcheries since. But I have to say, temperment wise, I got wonderful birds from Cackle, better in personality than the ones from Ideal. I have a little Barred Cochin hen that follows us around and likes to partake in family activities, like roller skating with the kids or going for wagon rides, lol. She is also the only bird I trust to NOT wander into my neighbor's yard to eat her vegetable garden!

What breeds are you planning to get from them? I got Standard Silver Laced Wyandottes, White Silkies (wish now that I had chosen a different color, those get soooo dirty!), and Bantam Cochins in Barred, Splash, Partridge, and I ordered the Birchen but didn't receive them, but the Barred, Splash and Partridge grew up to be gorgeous. My Splash girls have some beautiful splash markings and my roo is one of the most handsome splash roos I've seen. The chicks I've gotten from them have awesome foot feathering and wonderful personalities. Same with the Barred and Partridge. Good luck with your order. Your chicks should get to you just fine.

 

[elmo]

Your other option is to skip shipping altogether and buy from a local breeder. That's what I did, and I'm really glad I went this route rather than buying hatchery chicks.

 

[AZKat]

I live in Arizona, and I ordered chicks from My Pet Chicken, which ships from Myer in Ohio. All fifteen arrived healthy and happy. I think it also makes a difference where you live, Phoenix is a major city, so I got my chicks within 24 hours.

 

[blystonemichal]

I live in Pennsylvania and last year i ordered 25 chicks and ten turkey from cackel. They all arrived safe, alive, and healthy. I lost one but this was days after due to trampling. but i no longer have any of the chicks because of a dim-witted uncle who left the barn door open and multiple coon invaded, i was furious, but i guess let by-gones be by-gones.

 

[AbundantAcres]

We order from Cackle every year, and have never had an issue. We live in Central Maine!

Cackle is in MO, and we've never had a DOA chick, and we never lose more than a couple each year. This year we lost 2, one wasn't doing great on arrival, and died that day, and one just up and died the next day.

BUT, they were both very small, and just weren't thriving. So..... yes, you can get chicks from pretty much across the country and not have issues. I love Cackle! Also keep in mind that chicks have a 3 day yolk supply to live on, so they should be okay. Cackle gets our chicks from MO to ME in 2 days.

 

[Scoop]

I've gotten a shipment of 17 chickies from Ideal last year and all arrived in good health and we had no losses. All were healthy. I was real happy with the customer service department, too.