Hatchery Recommendations?

[DB_Tex]

I also can throw out a reccomend for Ideal in Texas. Great customer service and great birds, and when I found out one of the feed stores 'round here orders from them... well lets just say whenever I tell hubby I stopped in to browse he asks what kind of birds I bought

at 6$ apiece it's just too much temptation to resist sometimes when I know I can expect a good quality chick for my trouble.

I might be lured into trying out cackle for a hatchery choice surprise bundle (Cackle excells in the package marketing) but Ideal is my go to full service hatchery, and metzer for waterfowl.

 

[fricknfricassee]

Good to hear your approval for "Ideal Poultry" in TX. Our chicks should arrive in 4 days and we are so excited! And, yes,
I had a very good experience on the telephone with the customer service folks.

 

[Gagirly]

I'm also a fan of Ideal. I got 25 polish chicks in February. They arrived healthy and alert. Didn't lose any and they are growing like weeds. I'll be making another order at the end of this week.

 

[Joe.G]

Hoover has been great to me, I did end up with some roos, and three chicks out of thirty did die, I called them up today and they are sending me 30 chicks be here on Fri and they allowed me to pick what ever I wanted. They were very nice no charge for anything, Ill be giving chicks away.

 

[fricknfricassee]

Good to hear your approval for "Ideal Poultry" in TX. Our chicks should arrive in 4 days and we are so excited! And, yes,
I had a very good experience on the telephone with the customer service folks.

So sad, though. I was supposed to pick up my babies this morning from the Post Office and when they called it was to report that all the chicks were dead. I called Ideal Poultry right away and they are sending a replacement shipment next week. They said this was so unusual and that the chicks probably got left on a loading dock outside somewhere during shipment. I was bummed, for sure. The post office said that they don't usually see this, either, that they get tons of chick deliveries for their postal customers all of the time and they are fine. This is my first experience with getting chicks, so it wasn't a good one. The weather is supposed to be warmer next week, so I am praying my babies make it here alive and well.

 

[fricknfricassee]

I received my replacement shipment of 25 assorted chicks this morning from "IDEAL Poultry" and all were alive and chirping, making my heart melt. I met them at the Post Office as the truck was unloading and got them home safe and into the brooder a.s.a.p. Now, to get the coop finished!

 

[ESofVA]

Hello,

I would like to order a batch of chicks this April, and was hoping I could find a good-quality hatchery that sells quality chicks. I know a hatchery most likely will not have the best in appearance and such, focusing more on egg production usually, but if there are reputable hatcheries out there that do mind having standard birds, I would like to know. I've ordered from McMurray and Cackle Hatchery before, and was not that impressed with egg color, nor the health, as several had cross beaks, bad toes, and a lot died within a few years. I am willing to sacrifice some egg production for better quality in everything else.
The reason I don't want to order from a breeder is because of the limited choices and no assurance of recieving pullets, as the chicks cannot be sexed. Below are some hatcheries in the same side of the country as me. If you have any experiences or recommendations you would share, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Larry's Hatchery (Colorado)

C. M. Estes Hatchery, Inc. (Missouri)

Farwest Htachery (Oregon)

I just placed my first ever order and looking at sites online, I finally picked Cackle...needless to say I didn't read the comments in this forum first! I am just hoping no; health problems, sickly, crossed beaks, bad toes...broken necks, half eaten, etc, chicks,
I will keep my fingers crossed! I am not interested in showing, but I DO want nice birds!
Deb