Favorite Hatcheries/ Least favorite Hatcheries? Opintions?

[greensox]

Stay away from chase hatchery.They are NOT a hatchery. They have a reputation locally for having diseased birds and I was unfortunate enough to learn the hard way and watched my chickens die. They are very dishonest and claim they’ve never had a disease problem yet I have spoken to a veterinarian that has treated chickens from there for mareks where the rest of their flock tested nagative so they know it was from chase.

 

[greensox]

I've had good luck with Meyer Hatchery, only 1 out of 4 deliveries had any issues and they were willing to work with me about it. I also ordered from MPC once and mentioned Meyer and the customer service agent said they were a good hatchery. I later learned the reason why being they get their birds from them too.

Yes they are a really good hatchery!

 

[CCsGarden]

Just so you know chase is not a hatchery but only a reseller that orders their chicks from actual hatcheries. They have a very bad reputation locally for having diseased birds and I unfortunately learned the hard way. I talked to a veterinarian who has treated several birds from them with mareks disease yet chase lies and claims they’ve never had an outbreak. I’m really glad your chicks came out ok tho!

Yes,I found that out. I am not getting from them again. We had four from that hatchery die.

 

[CCsGarden]

Yes they are a really good hatchery!

I love Meyer hatchery!!

 

[greensox]

Yes,I found that out. I am not getting from them again. We had four from that hatchery die.

I’m so sorry

 

[CCsGarden]

I’m so sorry

It's okay! I was just trying out hatcheries, and Chase came up, and they looked okay. Now I know.
Thanks for all the info though!

 

[Ladybird CA]

When I lived in the states I ordered from Ideal the most. Hundreds of chicks over the years starting from 2003 until about 2015 when I moved to Canada. Now if I want to order from them have to pay $300 in health papers and if I need replacements it is the same cost.

I think I ordered once from Privett around 2011. 25 chicks I think assorted bantams got all clean legged, some of them were Cornish, some d’Anvers.

Those 2 hatcheries were closest to where I lived and all orders arrived in a day or two. I think I only had 2 DOA from Ideal out of all the hundreds or thousands I ordered from them when I lived in California and Arizona.

My friend when I lived in Arizona near her ordered a lot of birds from McMurray around 2005- I think she had a good experience. Most were bantams.

Now my options for hatcheries shipping to Canada are Ideal if I want to pay that much for the papers but most likely McMurray who charges $75 for health papers and half that cost for replacement health papers. I ordered 15 chicks from them and got a free chick. 7 gold campine, 6 gold polish and 2 buttercup. All arrived in upstate NY for me to pick up and all were alive. I had them vaccinated for Mareks and bought grogel and quik chick. I’m down to 2 chicks. We sold 4- the free gold Wyandotte (don’t know if hen or roo but took the opportunity to sell at an auction) and one of the buttercups turned out to be a cockerel. Each sold with a gold polish pullet. My intention was to keep just 3 chicks- one of each of the breeds I ordered. We had electricity issues for heating and rats killed the remaining chicks so I don’t blame MM for those losses. The heating/electricity is no longer a problem and we are working on the rats. I still plan to order from them.

Our TSC stores in Canada are called Peavey Mart and they get chicks from various sources depending on Province but the chicks I got (in Ontario)came from Hoovers. Last year I ordered 7 assorted OEGB when they had them listed for May 3rd but the same day I got informed they weren’t available. So I ordered 7 other chicks- sexed pullets. 3 EE (sold as Americana) 3 blue laced red wyandottes and a speckled Sussex. The SS actually turned out to be a bielefelder. When I picked up the order noted the Americanas looked more like what they sold as Easter eggers which on their website have single combs. So we drove back and asked for the muffed and bearded chicks which are sold as Americanas. 1 of these turned out to be a cockerel. I rehomed them all as I had seramas and read that they shouldn’t be kept with standards before I read that someone had them with orpingtons which actually kept them warm in winter.

This year June 3rd I picked up 2 chicks from Peavey. The ameraucana was a pullet but the starlight green Egger turned out to be a cockerel. I rehomed them together. I had a suspicion that he would be a cockerel from day one due to his large single comb so next time I’ll ask to see their combs. Unlike last year when we were allowed to order one chick of a breed this year it was 3 chicks per breed unless picking up in store there were no minimums. They only had a few breeds that were rotated each week though. About 5 brown egg layer breeds- barred rock which someone here said she ordered 3 from Hoovers and all 3 had issues so I probably won’t get that breed from them; lavender and buff Orpingtons, sapphire gem and I think Rhode Island Red. Possibly midnight majesty marans. The colored egg layers are starlight green Egger, prairie bluebell Egger, Easter Egger, and americana. They only had two bins, one for brown and one for colored. Some chicks from the previous week could be in the bins which might make telling them apart difficult. DH wants an Orpington so we might get a lavender along with an Americana next year. Last year they had assorted bantams listed but I didn’t order any as they are straight run. However, considering I’ve had sexed pullets out of the 2 places I ordered turn out to have a cockerel in each order but when I ordered 11 straight run lemon blue OEGB chicks from Performance who gets their chicks from Ideal I ended up with only one cockerel and 9 pullets (one died at about a week old so don’t know the sex of that one). I also bought 3 straight run silkies from a breeder in 2018 for my mom when I visited her in California and they all turned out to be pullets. So I might just cave and order the 3 assorted bantams as well, if they will be available. They could all turn out to be cockerels but I’d just rehome them as usual and consider it another experience.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello
I was just wondering from everyone what their opinions were on certain hatcheries or which ones are your favorites.
Please give some details and what you ordered from them.
How was there customer service?

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Please inform everyone else... so that they can make the best decision possible when ordering baby chicks. Whether adding to your flock... or starting it!

Personally, I don’t like those big mail order hatchery businesses. I got my first few generations from Rural King, and I like TSC, but now that I have an incubator, I only get chicks there if I have to.

 

[Velociraptors]

I’ve been using Murray McMurray for years and have only ever had a couple of DOAs from them; they’re my favorite to order from.

I’ll be avoiding Chase thanks to the above information.

While not a hatchery, and more of a family-owned business, I also really love World’s End Homestead. I made my first purchase from them back at the start of this year and I had nothing but a positive experience. They send extras of whatever breed/s you get, just in case. I lost both of my extras, and one I had paid for, two DOAs and one that died shortly after getting it home as it didn’t look too good when I opened the box. The others have done amazing. They were healthy, clean, and active and are growing up nicely. If you do buy from them, I will recommend however ordering a few more than you need, as the box mine came in was a bit too large based on how many chicks I had ordered. I believe that was what caused the issue of three deaths. They offer refunds and will give replacements with proof of DOAs (provided they have any more chicks), and are very communicative and kind.

 

[The Birb King]

So far I've only used cackle hatchery and its been pretty good. Next spring I would like to try Meyers though.