Hatchery Preferences - Opinions?

[CowgirlHC]

Hi everyone,

I know we've all experienced/heard good and bad about a lot of different hatcheries, companies, etc., but if you were to order some day old chicks, from which hatchery would you choose or not choose? Have you had any good and/or bad run ins with any of them? If so, what? I'm not trying to start a debate over hatcheries or anything, I'm just becoming overwhelmed with narrowing down the one to consider. Thanks!

 

[sparrker]

You will be overwhelmed with everyone's opinion. I would choose a hatchery close to your residence, who wants to see chicks shipped across the country, not me. And a hatchery with the birds that you want, that is closest to you. Some people have good luck with one and the next one will have terrible luck. But remember 99% of the time it is not the hatcheries fault, it's the postal service.

 

[gabrielle1976]

I havnt orderd chicks so I cant give you advice but I do have links to some of the hatcheries that show how they incubate there eggs and handle there chicks. I woudnt go with anyone that does large large scale though I think those hatcheries are mainly for egg or meat birds just becuase they treat the babies horribly and kill the males .

This is the only thing I could find for mypet chicken

 

[CowgirlHC]

Thank you both! I wouldn't have considered location, but great suggestion!

 

[Roxannemc]

Farm and garden stores sell popular breeds in spring or Craigs listis another place There may be a chicken swap on facebook for your state too.Better places or allterative if a hatchery isnt near you Also you may find swap meets if you ask on your states thread here on byc.Good luck

 

[CowgirlHC]

Thanks! I'd prefer any day to buy from an individual or local farmer, but it seems everyone near me does breeds I'm not looking for or something random comes up. I've found a handful of hatcheries from bordering states (none in WV). I'd prefer to get my chicks sooner versus spring near Easter because I want them to be at POL early spring rather than late summer. I'll see if I can't find someone close by though, there has to be someone

 

[bamachicks8]

I haven't ordered chicks either but one of my decisions to buy locally is can't decide what day they deliver on and if you work and can't take off that day this is a problem if you buy local you can plan to buy on a day your off

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I can't disagree with any of the comments above. However, I have ordered one batch of 8 chicks from My Pet Chicken and they all arrived on the day expected in great shape. The following year I ordered 35 Freedom Rangers from the Freedom Ranger hatchery and recieved 36 healthy chicks on the day expected. I had spoken with the post master at our local post office in both cases and had a backup (my mom) who was on standby in case the chicks arrived when I wasn't home. Both days I received a call at 7:30AM to tell me my chicks had arrived and I was there by 7:40 to pick them up. If there was a local place I could go and pick them up, I would probably do so, but so far both experiences have been positive.

 

[Roxannemc]

Thanks! I'd prefer any day to buy from an individual or local farmer, but it seems everyone near me does breeds I'm not looking for or something random comes up. I've found a handful of hatcheries from bordering states (none in WV). I'd prefer to get my chicks sooner versus spring near Easter because I want them to be at POL early spring rather than late summer. I'll see if I can't find someone close by though, there has to be someone

I understand that is true for me as well.
Hatchery didnt have but 2 of the breeds i wanted and colors so i bought an incubator and hatched them myself.If you get a nice bator with auto heat setting like a Genesis 1588 from Hovabator (most important part of the whole hatch keeping the temp at 99,5) you just have to watch the humidity and 21 days later wallah babies
.Only problem..... its VERY addicting but VERY exciting and shipped eggs hatch rate is pretty low usually.
However i do have some really nice chickens now saome for a lot cheaper than buying the chicks.One very rare color I hatched.... one chick sell for $75 on auction on RAREBREEDS and i paid $60 for 7 eggs got 4 chicks and can breed more if i want more now or sell too.....All from hatching them
Eggs are on BYC for sale all kinds of breeds colors and on Ebay also.
Bought Lavender EEs eggs from a lady on here and havent seen them on Ebay or any place sofar.. And purchased my part english orps eggs Hatched One gorgeous guy last summer oh hes pretty ahd HUGE so bought more from her and just hatched 3 last week and this week hatching more of them 2 so far today...,.so very nice chicken eggs on here.
You might think about it
Good luck
.

 

[ShellLea]

The deciding factors for me were location then customer service then breed availability. I can work with the breeds they have if we're good on the first two things.