Good Hatchery/Breeder for shipping small orders? (to Northern Calif)

[EggSighted4Life]

How long did it take for Meyers birds to arrive at SFO? I am about 3 hours from the airport. Did you have them hold your order at the airport?

Usually the arrive close to midnight and if sent out before the truck leaves, will arrive at my post office around 6 am on day two... day 3 if the SFO hand off is missed.

Chicks shipped Express are actually handed off to Fedex and then back to USPS. There is NO such thing as express to my location paid for or not. If fed ex is shipping dry ice they bump chick to the next day.

Shipped priority... the package stays with USPS... less chance (in my experience for my route) of missing it's connection at SFO. Sometimes the missed connection will take the next one out which arrives 2 hours south of me the day it should have been here. That post master always calls if I want to pick up they will stay late... but 4 hours round trip plus gas just isn't feasible for me. 8 pm once.

My local post master always calls me immediately upon arrival and I pick up at the back door around 6 am. I always make contact with my local post master the day of shipping so they are expecting my chicks. Those scanning things for tracking are very delayed, at least 2 hours behind... if they get scanned at all.

3 hours out from SFO... *should* arrive at your local PO the following morning...

I agree about sell ability... I had rare breeds... barely sold any... I bred Silkies for a few years and I can sell them ALL day long EVERY day! Only place that sexes bantams is MPC, that I know of... they (Silkies weren't my favorite, so I moved on), but my buyers are clamoring for more.

I would probably go for the leghorns (white or brown), production reds, barred rock, or Easter Eggers, maybe speckled Sussex.

Looking forward to your pics!

 

[ezeo]

have you checked out cackle hatchery they can ship as little as 3 chicks but if you only buy 14 or less they have a $20 fee for warm purpose but just looked at their website the lakevender breed is a 5 start rating

I did not know cackle could do small orders, thank you for letting me know. Looks like their Lakenvelder is unsexed though... I think it is hard to get rid of unwanted roosters.

 

[joydix]

I want to get just four chicks. I'm most interested in Spitzhauben and Lakenvelder breeds. I know Meyer and MyPetChicken sell them, but am worried about shipping such a small order all the way across the country.
Are there hatcheries/breeders in the West Coast with these breeds so they don't have to travel as far?

The other idea is to order 15 chicks (for safer shipping), raise them until they start laying, keep a few and sell the rest. Has anyone been successful with this strategy? What is the easiest breed to sell if I want to rehome extra hens?

I have ordered spitz before. They don’t make the journey well. They r not bantams but they are very small hens and tiny chicks. Check for north coast breeders. What about hatching eggs?

 

[ezeo]

I have ordered spitz before. They don’t make the journey well. They r not bantams but they are very small hens and tiny chicks. Check for north coast breeders. What about hatching eggs?

Thank you for the info. Where can I find info for north coast breeders? Hatching eggs is an option and could be fun to try, do you know anyone selling spitz eggs?

 

[ezeo]

I have ordered spitz before. They don’t make the journey well. They r not bantams but they are very small hens and tiny chicks. Check for north coast breeders. What about hatching eggs?

BTW, which hatchery did you use for spitz? It is good to know that they don't ship well...

 

[joydix]

I want to get just four chicks. I'm most interested in Spitzhauben and Lakenvelder breeds. I know Meyer and MyPetChicken sell them, but am worried about shipping such a small order all the way across the country.
Are there hatcheries/breeders in the West Coast with these breeds so they don't have to travel as far?

The other idea is to order 15 chicks (for safer shipping), raise them until they start laying, keep a few and sell the rest. Has anyone been successful with this strategy? What is the easiest breed to sell if I want to rehome extra hens?

So I just looked on eBay and there r quite a few selling spitz eggs one stood out to me Tennessee so a tad far but good time of year for eggs to ship. I think called Martin ridge farms you can google that she is NPIP great reviews looks like good birds and good farm. I have had almost all great lunch with eBay eggs but I follow their recommendations for how to handle when they arrive. You let them settle for a day I’m sure u can contact her tho most I have purchased send instructions I have used Broodie hens and also incubator she had different prices. She seemed professional

 

[joydix]

BTW, which hatchery did you use for spitz? It is good to know that they don't ship well...

Mine were from ideal one time and maybe Meyers. Only 2 survived and I had split order with friend so she got one. Lillie was not well and barely made it. I took her to the vet at 3 days old. She is a chicken vet. $50!!! She said seemed like she needs to be encouraged to eat, keep hand feeding, keep giving water in dropper with baby vitamins with no iron. She made it and is lovely but a tad pricey

 

[joydix]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/153435609276

 

[MagpieDucks]

I’ve had excellent luck with Meyer and would definitely recommend them.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you for the info. Where can I find info for north coast breeders? Hatching eggs is an option and could be fun to try, do you know anyone selling spitz eggs?

50% is considered a good hatch rate on shipped eggs. Breeder chicks and hatching eggs will 50% roosters..
Since you already expressed concern about being able to re-home roosters, it indicates you aren't planning to breed and I would stick to a hatchery and take the chance. Live bird guarantee means they try to get your birds there alive.

BTW, Meyers even included a heat pack with my shipment that I wasn't charged extra for.

Maybe order a few extra spitz that way if some don't make it you still get some and refund for the others or sell the rest.

Hope you end up liking the breed... maybe even order extra and keep the ones you like best.

Good luck!