ethical hatcheries or breeders?

[truebluehikaru]

hi, looking for ethical hatcheries and/or breeders, who sell sexed and vaccinated chicks. i wanted to hatch my own, which a few breeders near me and online that i'm interested in do offer, but i think i'd find it too difficult to contend with the roosters.

the breeders local to me aren't selling sexed chicks anymore, or aren't able to this season.

i don't want to support somewhere like meyers. either that or i'll have to wait until next spring to get chicks...

 

[SilverBirds]

Are there any breeds you are looking for in particular? A lot of hatcheries are still selling sexed chicks.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

What do you mean by “ethical”? Is Meyers unethical? I usually just get chicks from the feed store so it’s up to who they use but I never thought the hatcheries were doing anything wrong so I am curious what your thinking is.

 

[truebluehikaru]

What do you mean by “ethical”? Is Meyers unethical? I usually just get chicks from the feed store so it’s up to who they use but I never thought the hatcheries were doing anything wrong so I am curious what your thinking is.

it's just that they're sort of like puppy mills and focus on producing as many chicks as possible as opposed to the chick's health and wellbeing. i've also seen people say they're not as healthy usually as breeders' chickens.

 

[truebluehikaru]

Are there any breeds you are looking for in particular? A lot of hatcheries are still selling sexed chicks.

yeah, ameraucana, opal/cream legbar, silkie, black copper maran, silverudd's blue or isbar, easter and olive eggers, and some bantam breeds maybe

 

[Laurasb65]

Depending on where you live. I've order chicks from Mt. Healthy Hatcheries. There in Ohio. Never had any issues with them. But this late in season you may not get all the breeds you want. I live in Michigan so I get breeds that can handle both seasons of winters and summers.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

yeah, ameraucana, opal/cream legbar, silkie, black copper maran, silverudd's blue or isbar, easter and olive eggers, and some bantam breeds maybe

I would definitely consider Greenfire Farms. Their chicks are packed very well and they send extras. I like their mission to help preserve rare breeds and they are pretty transparent about their setup and their adult stock seems well cared for. If you’re looking for more traditional APA breeds, I would go towards an exhibition breeder. If you’re looking for any breed in particular, give me your location and breed you want and I can research some since I am familiar with what to look for! I also am very much against large hatcheries and have my qualms against mass breeding without a purpose!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

it's just that they're sort of like puppy mills and focus on producing as many chicks as possible as opposed to the chick's health and wellbeing. i've also seen people say they're not as healthy usually as breeders' chickens.

That makes sense. A lot of hatchery birds aren’t shining examples of their breed. I have a BCM right now I wouldn’t know was a BCM if I didn’t trust the person I bought her from. She came from a hatchery but I have no idea which one. Since I am not breeding her for any specific reason (if at all) I’m not really worried about it but I can see how being more mindful about the source would be good for everyone. I think Rhodebar Lover has the best suggestion—look for a breeder. It will take longer to build the flock you want but it will be a more conscientious process.

 

[Slothinc]

I would recommend breeders where possible. However, you won’t be able to get sexed silkies or bantams unless you get older chicks, or DNA sexed chicks which raises the price quite a lot. Hatcheries only sell bantams/silkies as straight run as well as they are too small and fragile to vent sex (it can seriously harm them to be vent sexed.)

Also many breeders don't vaccinate their chicks, so if that is important to you, then a hatchery may be the way to go!

 

[NyxKnocks]

I actually love Meyer Hatchery. I’d consider them ethical. I. Know they don’t euthanize extra cockerels or excess chicks. I am lucky enough to only be a 45min drive from there, so I went in person to pick up my chicks. The chicks in the bin were all lively. All of mine have been healthy and active without issue and they’re 20 weeks old now. One out of 14 turned out to be a rooster and they refunded me under their gender guarantee. (But I love him and I’m keeping him as long as the city lets me. lol)