HATCHERY

Cool Peeps

In the Brooder
7 Years
Sep 25, 2012
93
2
33
What would be the best thing to do to the chicks when you order them from a hatchery
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put 2 tablespoon of sugar to every quart of water. helps with the stress of shipping. I do this even with the o0nes I hatch
 
I have ordered 3 batches from Ideal this year and they have arrived healthy and happy with only 1 DOA in the first batch.
When you first take them out of the box, gently dip each little beak carefully in shallow water to give them a drink right away. Do not dip their beak in more than a little, you do not want to get the water over their nose holes. I give them each a couple drinks of plain water and then put them in their brooder. I sprinkle some feed on the papertowels I have layed over the pine shavings in the brooder and watch to make sure everyone is able to find their water and feed and warm spot (I use a Brinsea EcoGlow instead of a heat lamp).
Some people recommend SavAChick; some sugar; and some organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I used Apple Cider Vinegar in their water, one day a week (for a quart jar I put in 1 tsp of vinegar - never put vinegar in a galvanized waterer as it can cause a poisonous erosion of the metal that will harm your chickens).
Enjoy your new fluffy bottoms!
 
Open box, put chicks in whatever you are using as a brooder, turn on heat source and give them water and food. I have gotten 8 shipments from 3 different hatcheries this year. With 50+ chicks each order and a farm and business to run I dont have the time to dip 50 beaks in water. My last order was 150 chicks. Maybe lost 5 chicks to trampling. Dont over think it :)

Edit: Orders from Meyer, Ideal and Cackle hatcheries
 
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Sugar idea is a great idea, here is another one, egg yolks for your new arrivals, i'll but yolks in their pen for about 2wks and let them eat as much as they like. I also have starter food in the same pen along with the yolk to give the chicks a balance diet.

I've ordered from McMurray, Crackle, and Ideal. My best order came from Ideal, then the other two are a toss up, had a few losses from McMurray and Crackle. Ideal chicks came all alive, I've ordered chicks in late Oct, two times, March 2 times, over the last year, Temp. has been around 35-50 degrees every time. Now here is why i like Ideal over the other two hatcheries, all chicks arrived alive, healthy, active, and very friendly, great customer service, and last, but another great thing was no shipping charge which help save money on my end. One thing I wished they would do like crackle and McMurray would be give a discount to 4-H kids on their orders. Here are the chicks that I ordered from these 3 hatcheries; McMurray: easter egg package. Crackle: farevolles chicks and ancona ducks. Ideal: Brahma chicks. My favorites so far are the Farevolles and hoping soon to be the Brahmas.
 
Ideal Poultry does"nt look like Tx. It is very clean, orderly, huge and well laid out. The place looks like it came out of a book. I have never lost a chicken from Ideal ( xx ). LOVE their product and their attitudes towards customers. Visit the town, its fun.
 
Ideal Poultry does"nt look like Tx. It is very clean, orderly, huge and well laid out. The place looks like it came out of a book. I have never lost a chicken from Ideal ( xx ). LOVE their product and their attitudes towards customers. Visit the town, its fun.
 

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