Differences between your hatch and mailed chicks.

[seminolewind]

I have found no difference. I have found a difference in the number of chicks that I have. Like 2-3 seems to make friendlier chicks than 10.

 

[Grog]

I will say that as a plus for hatchery chicks you are not already attached to them. So if they do arrive dead you dont feel as bad. At least I dont

 

[cjwaldon]

Soooo, that's what's going on . . . I never made the connection, having always bought from a hatchery. The last day of August 2011 a broody hen successfully hatched her first, and my first, home hatched chicks. Circumstances required that I bring them inside for a few days. These chicks were so calm, even in a fairly busy part of the house, that it was borderline creepy. I noticed that they didn't seem to get upset by people or our dogs passing by, unlike the hatchery chicks which tended to panick every time I got close.

 

[crazypetlady]

We were hatching chicks in our kitchen and my hussband who passes gass loudly walked into the kitchen the morning the chicks hatched and let one rip there was a big response to the noise from the chicks in the incubator "daddy daddy daddy" they must have been used to the sound from when they were in the eggs. I have also noticed home hatched chicks seem to grow faster as well.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Well, they are a few days older AND have survived shipping stress, etc., so they kinda have to be survivors by the time you get them. The weak ones generally aren't sent to customers.

Matter of fact, when I do buy feed store chicks, I like to pick the oldest ones which have been there the longest, because they have survived past the early days when they are the most vulnerable.

 

[Oregon Blues]

It would be logical for home hatched chicks to be less stressed. However, it might depend upon who is running the incubator. You know that the hatcheries are incubating with everything perfect. Occasionally, a home hatcher isn't doing quite that good a job (read all the "help me" notes about hatching).

My experience with shipped chicks is that they arrive strong and healthy and lively if they arrive in fewer than 24 hours. The ones that take 2 days are showing signs of stress and dehydration, and any longer than that and I suspect that the chicks would be in real trouble.

I have received ducklings in the mail from a very well regarded breeder of show quality birds, and those little guys were so fat and calm that it was very noticeable that they were different from hatchery ducklings. So I suspect that temperament plays a big part, and that is genetics.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I'm also thinking that the feed and care for the brood hens makes a difference. I suspect that many of us have poultry that is eating a varied diet and getting good exercise. So it's possible that they lay stronger eggs than a battery hen on a diet of one type of feed might lay.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
Well, they are a few days older AND have survived shipping stress, etc., so they kinda have to be survivors by the time you get them. The weak ones generally aren't sent to customers.

Matter of fact, when I do buy feed store chicks, I like to pick the oldest ones which have been there the longest, because they have survived past the early days when they are the most vulnerable.

Exactly, I'm not as concerned about how friendly they are. The strongest ones are the ones I want.

 

[Illia]

Aside from the expected fact that mailed chicks are less healthy, unhappy, louder, and more skittish because of the trip. . .


I find hatched chicks generally healthier because the eggs they hatched from were better eggs ( remember the diet and lifestyle of parent stock from hatcheries people

) but beyond that it really depends on what breed and what strain we're talking about. I think in general there isn't much difference, but I'm sure the shipment does plenty stress on them as well as the lack of nutrients in the eggs they hatch from.