Hatcheries and breeders ("farms") are both excellent choices when sourcing chickens, however which is better will depend on what you're looking for in your flock. If you want birds which:
- Can compete in exhibition/show
- Are very true to the standard described appearance, personality, and size of the breed
- Will make good meat or dual purpose birds
- Are a true heritage breed
then you would do best going to a breeder. Good breeders work hard and pay close attention to things like correct appearance and good personality, as well as producing healthy stock. Breeder quality birds are also usually larger and heavier than hatchery quality birds (depending on breed), meaning that they make far superior meat birds and dual purpose fowl.
If you want birds which:
- Are mainly good layers and pets
then a hatchery is the best choice. While hatchery stock often does not represent the best example of the breed (many birds having incorrect body shape or color), they will be superior layers by far, as that is what they have been selected for. Many also sport excellent personalities, making them good pets. They are also typically less expensive than breeder stock. Most large hatcheries are also NPIP certified, meaning they have their stock tested for disease regularly so you can be sure you are getting healthy chicks. (Some breeders - though not all - may also be NPIP).
As far as hatcheries go, I'm a big fan of Cackle Hatchery. They have very healthy birds which are a bit truer to type than other hatcheries. However, I've found Ideal, McMurray, and Belt to be good as well. I've never dealt with MPC personally, but you should note that they are not a hatchery - simply a middleman. They get their birds from various other sources, including some of the ones I mentioned above.
