getting ready to order chicks- Best hatchery? McMurrays?

[canada-goose]

I like Cackle Hatchery. Last year we got in on two orders, one from Cackle and one from McMurray, the Cackle chicks are happier and friendlier! (But it could be the breeds)

 

[ChickLit]

My 6 RIRs came from My Pet Chicken, also. I ordered from them because they didn't require that I order 25. They shipped the girls by Express Mail on Monday; we got the call from our local post office at 6:30 AM on Wednesday.

As everyone above said, they were happy and healthy and immediately starting drinking & eating upon arrival...and exploring their new digs

I didn't even have to dip beaks, and none of them ever got the dreaded pasty butt. They will be 10 weeks old this Sunday and are active & gorgeous. MPC also sent a link to their Care of New Chicks e-book, which was extremely helpful since this was my first group of babies.

This is them at a couple of days old, a week old, and then at about 5 weeks on their first day in the big girl coop

(Couldn't resist sharing, but I just realized I need new pictures! LOL)

The one thing I was not happy about with MPC: You get one email with the date your chicks will ship, in my case Monday, June 29th, and they could arrive anywhere between Tuesday and Thursday (so be ready). This didn't affect me so much (though I was nuts with anticipation!) because I work at home, but I imagined that it would be very difficult for someone who has a job outside the home to schedule that sort of arrival window.

MPC also cautions that the delivery is not late unless they don't arrive by Thursday, so please don't call until then; they want to be left alone to handle "real" delivery issues.

Just something to consider.