Cackle Hatchery Delivery Friday July 13th!! Anyone else expecting?

[MonsterClucker]

I ordered 10 Barred Rock 15 Jumbo Cornish Cross and 2 Broad Breasted white Turkey poults last week from Cackle.
Ive seen a few people have got chicks from them and had good success. Anyone care to share their Cackle chicks with this thread?

I have a couple of questions too.

What is Gro-gel? Is it mandatory for the chicks? Does the gro-gel come with the chicks?

I want to raise my chicks strictly Organic from the start, what are some things I will need except yogurt?

I am REALLY REALLY excited to get my chicks. This is my first order so I'm hoping I have good first time luck with these little ones.

Any pictures, suggestions, tips and tricks would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks everyone. Have a blessed day

 

[MonsterClucker]

???

 

[Ben Rogers]

I've ordered twice from Cackle and I'm expecting another order from them at the end of July. I'm also planning to receive a few pullets from Meyer about the same time.

I currently have 35 chicks that are almost a month old and 48 quail that are almost 3 weeks old (all from Cackle).

 

[MonsterClucker]

I've ordered twice from Cackle and I'm expecting another order from them at the end of July.  I'm also planning to receive a few pullets from Meyer about the same time.

I currently have 35 chicks that are almost a month old and 48 quail that are almost 3 weeks old (all from Cackle). 

NICE!

All were healthy? No DOA's or health issues?
Cackle seems to be one of the more reputable hatcheries? I know they were very nice on the phone.
They were out of Broad Breasted White poults online but when I called ahe said they had a few there so I ordered 2. I thought that was pretty cool as I want turkeys for Thanksgiving.

And did they come wig gro-gel? Or did you get any for them?

Thanks for the reply Ben. I'm pretty excited about my first chicks!

 

[theoldchick]

My Cackle Crew:


2 minutes out of the box


2 minutes into their new preteen pen


The World Famous Cardboard Corral



First day outdoors!



They arrived healthy and I've never had a problem with any of them.

 

[Ben Rogers]

The first batch I ordered (25) arrived with an extra one. No DOAs. I didn't see any of the blue/green gel with the first batch, because it was a surprise when I had some with the second batch--however, they had blue/green poo for a few days, so I know they had to have some. One of them died due to "crusty butt" about a week later. They were in great shape until my dog got to them 3 weeks in and killed them all. :'(

The second batch I ordered (35) arrived with two extra. One died due to a "failure to thrive" situation and another had a birth defect in its leg and couldn't move around. I thought I would lose a third to the leg problem, but she's one of my biggest hens right now and I think her early leg problems were just that she is so much bigger and couldn't support her own weight.

When I ordered the quail (50), they sent 53. One was DOA. I've lost a few more quail--down to 48, now. They're a lot more fragile than chickens...

Cackle has been really good for me. It helps that we're only about 150 miles away and we usually get our chicks the day after the order is processed.

I've found that it's a lot better to call them and ask about what's available than to order online. Sometimes one breed that you order can be unavailable and hold up the whole order--but talking to someone on the phone gets that information up front and you can modify your order. Plus the folks at Cackle are just plain nice to talk to.

Where are you located? I'm in the St. Louis area.

 

[DanEP]

I've had good luck with cackle, out of 4 orders I only got one suprise roo. Just had a feral cat attack and lost 30 hens.Right now I only have 1 hen old enough to lay a 2 year old cackle australorp and she is still laying great, today makes 18 days in a row.
Show birds they ain't but are good healthy backyard chickens.

 

[MonsterClucker]

My Cackle Crew:


2 minutes out of the box


2 minutes into their new preteen pen


The World Famous Cardboard Corral



First day outdoors!



They arrived healthy and I've never had a problem with any of them.

[

Hahaha! I love the corral! I might have to remake that lol
Imglad to see you had good success with your Giants. Are you just using them for egg production? The farmer who sold me my RIR birds says he stopped raising Cornish cross for meat and is gonna get into the jersey giants . Honestly if I have any room left in a few months those are gonna be my next pick up. Thanks for sharing. Did any gro-gel come with your chicks?

 

[MonsterClucker]

I've had good luck with cackle, out of 4 orders I only got one suprise roo. Just had a feral cat attack and lost 30 hens.Right now I only have 1 hen old enough to lay a 2 year old cackle australorp and she is still laying great, today makes 18 days in a row.
 Show birds they ain't but are good healthy backyard chickens.

Hey what's up Dan
That's good to hear they know how to sex over there. I've heard a lot about hatcheries always switching up roos and pullets and I would really hate that. Unless they were like the packing peanut chicks. Than it wouldn't be that bad. THAT SUCKS SOO BAD! About the freaking feral cat that killed all your hens! Did you ever catch it? I would really be on a mission if anything killed my handraised chicks! Are you ordering again anytime soon?

 

[MonsterClucker]

The first batch I ordered (25) arrived with an extra one.  No DOAs. I didn't see any of the blue/green gel with the first batch, because it was a surprise when I had some with the second batch--however, they had blue/green poo for a few days, so I know they had to have some. One of them died due to "crusty butt" about a week later.  They were in great shape until my dog got to them 3 weeks in and killed them all.  :'(

The second batch I ordered (35) arrived with two extra.  One died due to a "failure to thrive" situation and another had a birth defect in its leg and couldn't move around.  I thought I would lose a third to the leg problem, but she's one of my biggest hens right now and I think her early leg problems were just that she is so much bigger and couldn't support her own weight.

When I ordered the quail (50), they sent 53.  One was DOA.  I've lost a few more quail--down to 48, now.  They're a lot more fragile than chickens... 

Cackle has been really good for me.  It helps that we're only about 150 miles away and we usually get our chicks the day after the order is processed.

I've found that it's a lot better to call them and ask about what's available than to order online.  Sometimes one breed that you order can be unavailable and hold up the whole order--but talking to someone on the phone gets that information up front and you can modify your order.  Plus the folks at Cackle are just plain nice to talk to.

Where are you located? I'm in the St. Louis area.

So the first batch had blue/green poo? Do they eat the gel? Or is it rubbed on them? I've only heard about this gel one time that's why I'm asking. Someone.said it came with their chicks from cackle.

Man that blows your dog killed them! Did he even eat them or just killed them?
And yea I have hears quail are a lot harder to keep alive than chickens like turkeys are too. So I've heard.
So on your second order, just the extras passed? That's not that bad.

Yea I'm in Northern California. I think the chicks are either hatched or sent on the 11th. They sent me a July 13th delivery date. So I hope all is well for them in the incubator lol and during shipping.

I'm still curious about this gro-gel. I might have to do someore research and see what I find