Cackle Hatchery reviews

[oldrooster]

Steps:
1. Pull up the breed you are looking for
2. Click "Breed Facts"
3. Scroll down to "Breeder Farm Source"

Almost every breeder out-sources some breeds to a local farm or something.
However, just by looking at the site many (if not all) of their birds appear to come from their farm.

So, everybody out-sources?

From what little I read some outsource more than others. it looks to me many out source a ranger variety or cornish cross (many not all mind you).
a few will outsource certain breeds of other chickens but many many seem to outsource oddities like ducks and other water fowl, and also many outsource guinese, turkeys, and peafowl. there are some hatcheries that do breed some on their own and some will focus more on the non chicken birds.

 

[cppeace]

Cackle basically works with some farms they own and some farms the contract from. They work with both small and big breeders. They overall have decent quality on most I've had experience with.

 

[FarmersDaughter1913]

OK yall. I don't have a problem with hatchery quality birds. BUT you need to research! Really? Do you really think one place breeds and maintains that many birds? ALMOST all hatcheries work by starting up someone with a flock of a certain breed. Meaning they pay for the chicks from wherever and get you started. You are then responsible for feed and care. The hatchery buys the eggs from you. You can have as many flocks as you want. That means unless you know the actual breeder and visit them you don't know for sure breeds aren't mixed by accident. Most hatcheries also never visit the place your eggs come from. Never make sure they are raised in a humane way. Fed correctly. Or are free of disease. The breeder sends them a shipment of say Orpinton eggs and the "Hatchery" assumes they are right. Its a HATCHERY. Not a breeder. It says it it right in the name. For the most part Cackle sends out decent birds. But many are mixed. They are misleading in the naming of their birds. Their "Heritage birds are really "Production Heritage" birds but they wont tell you that unless you have a problem. Its like a well....say Labrador breeding place that sells. BUT they want to sell dogs that have the biggest litters because buyers want producing dogs. They will cull the dogs that fit the standard to keep the dogs that have more babies. Eventually you have a dog that "sorta kinda" looks like a lab. Genetically its a lab. But put it next to a lab and you have what??
If you are looking for extreme egg laying then YES the hatchery is where to go. They have spent decades developing an egg layer. I don't knock that. Not in the least. But if you are looking for the real deal go to a reputable BREEDER. You take any breed from one of them and put it next to a hatchery bird of the same breed and you will understand.
(ok...off my soap box) lol

Hi there! I agree that most hatcheries are not actual breeders themselves. However, our farm and hatchery (Townline Poultry Farm) actually does produce and manage our own breeder flocks on site for most of our breeds. And knowing our industry, Cackle Hatchery does too, though not on site. I am not sure of how much direct involvement they have with the flocks, but they are certainly educated and have helped our farm out many times with breeding particulars. Production heritage breeds do differ from show quality breeds which is more of a specialty niche. Just wanted to clarify!

 

[oldrooster]

Hi there! I agree that most hatcheries are not actual breeders themselves. However, our farm and hatchery (Townline Poultry Farm) actually does produce and manage our own breeder flocks on site for most of our breeds. And knowing our industry, Cackle Hatchery does too, though not on site. I am not sure of how much direct involvement they have with the flocks, but they are certainly educated and have helped our farm out many times with breeding particulars. Production heritage breeds do differ from show quality breeds which is more of a specialty niche. Just wanted to clarify!

Thanks, I forgot to mention that aspect of the hatchery farming that you could own the stock and out source the raising and breeding of the stock that you hatch, similar in a respect I know for other the other side of poultry farming for the grocery store processors I live an hour or so away from farmers that raise baby turkeys (okay poults for those who want me the correct terms) until they are big enough to process for a certain big name turkey processor, different yes but still very very similar in a way to what we are talking about here.

 

[tmarie623]

I ordered the Rare Breed Assortment from Cackle and I'm happy with the experience and chicks but slight red flag for me. Chicks arrived when they were supposed to and I was given 2 extras. All chicks survived although 1 needed a bit more care after it arrived. The one that needed care seemed to have an injured beak (suspected it got pecked). It had pasty butt and took a couple days to catch up with the rest eating starter. I had to make a mash. I was lucky enough that they ALL made it and had contacted Cackle by email to say all was good, I was happy with my order and I was just looking for guidance for care on what looked like an injury that occurred in the box. I got a quick response sounding like they were wanting to help. They asked for a pic, which I sent. After I sent pic....nothing. They never responded back. We are now at 4 weeks. The chicks beak closed up but it does appear to have some developmental stuff going on now which may have had to do with hole. Just this week I noticed my Sumatra's beak is beginning to look odd. Maybe it's nothing, but if it continues I'll be posting in the health section soon . Many factors could be involved with my 2 chicks but overall I have happy, healthy chicks. It does bother me how quickly they shut down communication though.

 

[northeastDad]

I recently ordered from them for the first time . Chicks arrived healthy and energetic with 3 extra . 3 weeks later they are still all doing good

 

[oldrooster]

Chicks arrived when they were supposed to and I was given 2 extras... All chicks survived although they ALL made it... and had contacted Cackle by email to say all was good... I got a quick response sounding like they were wanting to help. They asked for a pic, which I sent. After I sent pic....nothing. They never responded back. We are now at 4 weeks... I have happy, healthy chicks. It does bother me how quickly they shut down communication though.

I edited down you post to summarize above, I think it may be that the company may be too busy since it is the busiest season for their year, and it is 2 chicks (and they did send you 2 extra) and they are doing good now, I'd let it go at this point sure they should have followed up, but you could have emailed back also asking for more advice, you can try someone else next time but you might find some of the same issues with the next company if you get a couple of less than perfect chicks...

 

[daydreamtime]

I ordered the Rare Breed Assortment from Cackle and I'm happy with the experience and chicks but slight red flag for me. Chicks arrived when they were supposed to and I was given 2 extras. All chicks survived although 1 needed a bit more care after it arrived. The one that needed care seemed to have an injured beak (suspected it got pecked). It had pasty butt and took a couple days to catch up with the rest eating starter. I had to make a mash. I was lucky enough that they ALL made it and had contacted Cackle by email to say all was good, I was happy with my order and I was just looking for guidance for care on what looked like an injury that occurred in the box. I got a quick response sounding like they were wanting to help. They asked for a pic, which I sent. After I sent pic....nothing. They never responded back. We are now at 4 weeks. The chicks beak closed up but it does appear to have some developmental stuff going on now which may have had to do with hole. Just this week I noticed my Sumatra's beak is beginning to look odd. Maybe it's nothing, but if it continues I'll be posting in the health section soon . Many factors could be involved with my 2 chicks but overall I have happy, healthy chicks. It does bother me how quickly they shut down communication though.

I just ordered this same thing, I'm pretty excited.

 

[tmarie623]

I just ordered this same thing, I'm pretty excited.

You will love it!

 

[HenX]

I just received my order from Cackle Hatchery this morning and lost 13 out of 27 so far. They arrived in very bad shape, with 7 dead upon arrival. We've tried saving the other 6 with no luck. We're waiting on another cochin, but it's not looking good. The largest percentage loss is currently the bantam silkies and cochins. But I did lose 5 standard pullets. At least one was caught under an internal flap inside the cardboard shipper. The dead chicks were trampled flat. I sent them an email midday (I waited long enough to note our progress) but did not hear back from them yet. Tomorrow will tell. I can't say if I will choose to have them replaced. We've placed orders in the past from other hatcheries but this is a bad experience.