Hatcheries

[LuggNutt]

Going to be ordering chicks before end of year for delivery early next year.

I have been told that I should use McMurry but don't need 25 birds. Any hatcheries that can be recomended that don't require a min of 25?

BTW, everyone has been so nice and friendly since I joined, you all are a great bunch.

 

[fordmommy]

Tyler Adam Danke 920-472-4068
Owner of Purely Poultry http://www.purelypoultry.com/

 

[GardeNerd]

I have read other posts saying Ideal has a minimum purchase price, not #of chickens. I think some folks have gotten as few as 15 there. MyPetChicken does allow purchasing as few as 3, but shipping is pretty high for that few.

I organized a group order to make the minimum at the hatchery I ordered from. I found the other folks here and on www.craigslist.

Maybe this part of the BYC forum might have more answers to hatchery questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=16

 

[gritsar]

MPC allows you to order as few as three, but only if you live within certain zip codes, i.e., in a major city.

Ideal (the only one I've dealt with) allows you to order a min. dollar amount, not a min. chick amount.

They will throw in packing peanuts ( free little roos) for warmth. If you don't want packing peanuts, you need to specify that when you order and pay a small shipping insurance fee.

 

[RedStarDaddy]

Cackle Hatchery's minimum order is 15 chickens from the end of March through summer. It's 25 from the beginning of February to the end of March.

RSD

 

[michickenwrangler]

Meyer Hatchery allows a min. of 3. They put in some kind of heating pad. It costs about $30 more, but if you only want a few chicks, it may be worth it.

www.meyerhatchery.com

We got our Plymouth Rock and Dominiques from them two years ago. The guy that has them now hasn't had any health problems with them.

 

[thespinningcottage]

We ordered 8 from Meyer Hatchery back in March. They were extremely friendly on the phone. Unfortunately there was a mix-up at the post office and they sat in the cold for 7 hours. The heating pad cooled off of course. This was not Meyer's fault. They packed the chicks nicely with a nutrient gel which I could tell they had pecked at. I would order from them again.

 

[elmo]

Have you considered trying to find a local breeder to get your chickens from? This is what I did, and I'm very glad of it.

I got to see verify myself that the breeder's birds were kept in a clean and healthy surroundings, plus the chicks didn't have to go through the stress of shipping. I encountered no pasty butt or chick mortality.

And I also found a local chicken friend!