FFA/4H Meat pens - Your Preferred Souce of Chicks

[philogirl]

Hi,
I am an FFA advisor. My students have been raising meat pens for a number of years. We have generally done well at our local fair. Just wondering if you think it makes a difference where you buy your CX chicks? Where do you get your chicks? We used to buy from our local feed store, but a few years ago switched to Hoover Hatchery in Iowa. We buy in larger quantities for a much better price. I tend to think that much of a successful meat pen comes from the quality of care it gets from the young person.

Beth

 

[adillenal]

Well, here the extension agent gets them from Ideal HAtchery and since it is less than an hour away, they pick them up. All of the 4-H'ers and FFA students then pick their chicks up at the Extension office. This way, all students showing against each other have a level playing field. Not sure if you coordinate with the 4-H agent where you are.
My son raised broilers in two different counties as a 4-H'er and all of the broilers came from Ideal.

 

[terri9630]

We've won grand 2 years in a row with broilers from Whelp.