getting ready to order chicks- Best hatchery? McMurrays?

[CHIC]

Any suggestions on which hatchery to use? I was thinking mcmurrays because they have so many options. Anyone used them? what do you think?

 

[hcammack]

I like Meyer better because you have to order less chicks I have only once ordered from a hatchery though so I don't really have another to test it against.

 

[oaklandathletic]

I always have used McMurrays...I have bought from them about 20 times with no problems..Great healthy chicks everytime....

 

[happytxchick]

I used Cackle and was very pleased -- they have a 15 chick minimum and the shipping is $15. I didn't realize that Ideal is in TX, though. Next time I am going to use them...their shipping is a little cheaper and they have a $25 order minimum, not a chick minimum, which I like. Plus, they are closer to me so the chicks don't have to travel too far.

 

[chickendude]

Murray McMurray is who I used. I ordered 25 RIR day old girls. They sent me 28 RIR and a free exotic that turned out to be a Silver Laced Polish roo. They all arrived and very healthy. I didn't lose any at all. So based on that I recommend them. Only down fall is you have to order a min of 25. Best of luck to you.

 

[HeirloomHeritageFarms]

I really hate MMcM... I rarely get the breed I asked for - they are getting really good at sending mixed breeds anymore. My hatchery of choice is Ideal, and has been for about 4 years. I have bought several hundred chicks from them, if not about a thousand by now. Privett is my second choice.

Dawn T
Heirloom Heritage Farms
Spanaway, WA

 

[Matt A NC]

Most Hatcheries are sold out of most breeds for the year.

I have used McMurray and Ideal in the past with no problems, but some folks have been having trouble with Ideal chicks dying this year.

I have heard good things about Cackle, but have never ordered from them. The local got their chicks from there this year and they looked nice and healthy.

Matt

 

[journey11]

I've only used McMurray's, but I have had good business with them. I like their selection. However, their Aracaunas are actually mutts, but still nice birds.

I have had a very low chick loss rate from them too. Healthy birds. (And they give you much guidance how to get your chicks off to a good start.)

 

[Nostalchic]

You'll read lots of opinions, but I have had really good luck with McMurray's, 100% survived the trip (shipped in spring) and their "chickhood", could get them vaccinated which I wanted, got exactly what I ordered, really beautiful healthy chickens (now pullets at point of lay) and - of 48 pullets ordered, there was not a single rooster! (Though we did end up with one roo - our 'free exotic', Puff (see below). I used to order from them years ago - always had excellent customer service and super nice chickens. Good luck, Chris

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

I have used McMurray, Ideal, and Cackle Hatchery. Of the 3, McMurray was the best in my opinion.

Our chicks from McMurray arrived healthy and after about 5 months every single one of them is still alive and healthy (and laying eggs now!) We have not had one single problem with our McMurray chicks and I am impressed that every single one of them is still alive and healthy after over 5 months has passed. A couple of our friends have ordered from them also and had good luck with them.

The chicks we received from Cackle Hatchery were great and have grown into some beautiful chickens. Their shipment stayed in the mail too long and a lot of them arrived dead, though. This could have been the fault of the post office. The ones that I still have are very pretty. I would order from them again if they could offer faster shipping to my area.

I would not recommend Ideal. My chicks arrived over night, so I was so pleased at first. They had too-long beaks that had to be trimmed, some failed to thrive and eventually died (they just would not grow), and the overall quality of the chicks we received was poor. I think many of them had trouble eating because of their long beaks. I have been told this is a sign of inbreeding, but I am definitely no expert. I will never order from them again.