Calling all McMurray customers w/ deformed chicks!!

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I just got off the phone with the feed store whereI bought my chicks, she ordered them from McMurray.

She said that her complaint was the only one that they said they've received. I know that she ordered about 90 chicks and has had 8 known returns for deformities.

That's a huge percentage. They have been in the Ameraucana's (EE's) and the Silver Lace Wyandottes. McMurray cannot fix what they don't know is broken so please
call them if you've had ANY birds with deformities, whether you ordered through them directly or purchased them indirectly at your feed store. They want to know (at
least that's what I've been told).

The local feed store said she's ordered from McMurray for 17 years and has always been happy--no problems. This is the first year so there is obviously something
gone amiss.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Could have been something to do with incubating tempss.... I agree though that folks should inform the hatchery so they can watch for trends...

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Sorry folks, didn't realize I went overboard with this!! LOL

Anyhow, the birds were found to have been fed a bad batch of feed. The feed company said it was human error. The birds were tested by UCDavis, as was the feed. The birds were found to have Ricketts due to a lack of vitamin B3 and Calcium. Of the 90 birds the feed store owner received more than a dozen known birds died or had to be culled because they were developing in a way that they would not survive anyhow.

 

[jannew]

I found your post interesting. I ordered from the same hatchery. Chicks received 3/1/10. I have 5 golden laced wyandottes. 2 of the hens are showing the exact same deformity! Same hip/leg. Same growth....strange. I have sent 2 emails to contact them but so far haven't heard back. I also ordered 6 blue/red laced wyandottes. These were why I ordered in the first place. I thought they were beautiful. Anyway, my 2 roosters are nice. The other 4 hens are a golden/reddish color. None of them have any blue/gray....color on them anywhere. Will this develop later? They are approx. 4 months old. Thank you.

 

[halo]

If you read the post above yours you will see it wasnt a hatchery issue, but a chick feed issue. Check your feed.

 

[jannew]

I am new to all of this so forgive all the questions, but wouldn't there be signs in my other 20 hens if the feed was a problem? Or would it just affect a few? I'm not blaming the hatchery or anyone, I am just attempting to figure out why my 2 hens are growing on one side and not the other.

 

[halo]

It seems from the above posts that not all the chicks were affected, just a few. Maybe change your feed and see if it makes any appreciable difference in the ones affected.