Excellent experience with Murray McMurray Hatchery

[KF0002]

Just curious, I have white leghorns in the order, and haven’t decided which breeds we are keeping yet (also splitting). How has their temperament been? I prefer not to have chicks that run away from me while cleaning and “freak out” per say….so flighty drives me crazy lol. But I really wanted to keep at least one of them!

If you spend a lot of time handling them and socializing them as chicks, they will be tame. But by nature, Leghorns are nervous, cautious, and flighty. That is actually a trait we like in them because they free range pretty well and are quick to evade predators. They have a temperament similar to our Game chickens so we are used to flighty birds. But any chicken can be tamed down if you work with them and socialize them. We are pretty hands off with our chickens and don’t handle them much when they are little so naturally they are nervous and spastic acting when you are around the brooders or in the pens. Leghorns are one of our favorite breeds because of their laying ability and hardiness.

 

[KF0002]

Just curious, I have white leghorns in the order, and haven’t decided which breeds we are keeping yet (also splitting). How has their temperament been? I prefer not to have chicks that run away from me while cleaning and “freak out” per say….so flighty drives me crazy lol. But I really wanted to keep at least one of them!

But if you want lap chickens, Leghorns are probably not it.

 

[Iluveggers]

But if you want lap chickens, Leghorns are probably not it.

Not necessary! Just want to be able to change bedding or water without anyone running for the hills & jumping the fence into the yard w our dogs! We have a variety of breeds now, and they aren’t all friendly or cuddly, but none of them are afraid of me when I work outside. Much of my entire yard is fenced for them, and my dogs sometimes run outside the fencing. I don’t want them to try to “escape” me and get themselves killed. I do let them out of the fenced area into the woods next to the grass a few hours when the dogs are inside, so lots of space to move about. I also like to be able to call them back in as needed. My flock now runs when they hear me call.

 

[Iluveggers]

Anxiously watching my email for shipping status....currently label is printed & waiting!

 

[KF0002]

Not necessary! Just want to be able to change bedding or water without anyone running for the hills & jumping the fence into the yard w our dogs! We have a variety of breeds now, and they aren’t all friendly or cuddly, but none of them are afraid of me when I work outside. Much of my entire yard is fenced for them, and my dogs sometimes run outside the fencing. I don’t want them to try to “escape” me and get themselves killed. I do let them out of the fenced area into the woods next to the grass a few hours when the dogs are inside, so lots of space to move about. I also like to be able to call them back in as needed. My flock now runs when they hear me call.

Our free ranged chickens come to us when we call them, and the Leghorns don’t run when we come near them. They will walk around our feet and do not act afraid of us. But they don’t want to be caught or handled. That is what I mean by they won’t be a lap chicken. lol

 

[Chicken Heel]

Our free ranged chickens come to us when we call them, and the Leghorns don’t run when we come near them. They will walk around our feet and do not act afraid of us. But they don’t want to be caught or handled. That is what I mean by they won’t be a lap chicken. lol

I have always had good luck with Murray McMurray chicks. Yours are very nice. And I love the quote about chickens.

 

[KF0002]

I have always had good luck with Murray McMurray chicks. Yours are very nice. And I love the quote about chickens.

Thank you! I will post updated pictures as the chicks grow.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Thank you! I will post updated pictures as the chicks grow.

I got my first order of chicks from Murray McMurray in 1975 and the mail carrier actually delivered them to my home. They arrived in Lenoir, NC in two days from the hatchery in Iowa. Times sure have changed in the past 50 years.

 

[cassie]

But if you want lap chickens, Leghorns are probably not it.

Just a comment. Murray McMurry offers an excellent product called Broiler Booster. It is a supplement formulated for meat birds. You add it to the water. If you are raising meat birds, I highly recommend it. It makes a big difference in the health of your meat birds. I would never try raising them without it.

 

[Iluveggers]

Chicks are here! Another amazing job by McMurray. Unfortunately one of the whitings looked like it got trampled by the others. No fault of the hatchery. However they added TWO extra pullet chicks (a red star and a leghorn, labeled extra pullet). Accepted by the USPS at 1:30 yesterday, my local PO called me at 1:05 to tell me they were there. Amazing job.