How Is Cackle Hatchery

[scbatz33]

If you don't "bother to call or complain" to them how will they know they have a problem or that anything need to be fixed? How long were they in transit? Maybe this is a shipping problem not a hatchery problem.

My order was shipped on a Wednesday and arrived on a friday morning. I lost 2 in transit - a bantam and a LF. Everyone else was fine. However, I had a WC polish chick die about the 3rd day.

I ordered, polish, turkens, geese and the hatchery surprise - which contained bantams, ducks, geese and a variety of LF including cochins and barred rocks.

You really should let the hatchery know what is going on.....IMO

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
I got them within two days - after a 5 month wait on the order (order ship date put back three times).

I suppose I could call them just to let them know, but I seriously doubt they will do anything about it.

I expect a bit of death in shipped chicks - but not such a high rate of failure to thrive - these 6 week old chicks look to be the size of three week olds (with more feathers).

The brahmas (after two deaths) finally got into shape and began to grow well - I believe it is the Delaware stock more than anything which is bad.

I was not going to bother to call, simply because they do not know me, they have no idea how I raise my birds, and would probably write me off as an ignorant chicken owner - and I don't need that aggravation. At this point (without calling) I am simply dissapointed - if I call and they talk to me in a condescending manner, I'll be angry - I'd rather not get angry.

Hence my warning to others without calling them to complain.

meri

 

[IggiMom]

I got 25 chicks from Estes Hatchery a few days ago. I'll post an update some time, but so far these chicks loos very good.

In fact, I would have to say they are probably the best chicks I have ever received from a hatchery.

They are 15 Welsummers, 5 Ameraucanas, and 5 RIRs.

Catherine

 

[Country4ever]

Its been at least 5 years since I ordered 15 pullets from Cackle. They messed the order up a little, but that's okay. It wasn't a big deal. (1 too many of one breed and 1 too little of another).
They sent me 17, and they were all pullets! Not a single cockerel. I'll bet that was a first!
They were all healthy and in great shape when they arrived.
I would definitely order from them again. I originally ordered from them, since it was the only place I knew of that would send 15.

 

[ivan3]

Our chooks are from Estes (4yrs old and still going strong). Our turks are from Cackle (also 4yr.s). Our feedstore gets all its chicks from Cackle (excellent selection of breeds this year - self control is important). They have their problems owing to the enormous increase in demand. Their acquisition system is a bit different from the big hatcheries. They are still, essentially, trying to run a mom and pop operation.

Here is an article on Cackle: http://www.ruralmissouri.org/08pages/08MayCackle.html

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I have ordered hundreds upon hundreds of birds from Cackle and have always had awesome service and healthy birds. Very few deaths and only once did anything not survive the shipping and that was only a few out of a 150 order. I highly recommend their Cinnamon Queens if you are looking for layers. The people that answer the phones at Cackle are very nice and pleasant to work out any issues that may arise. The price can't be beat and the birds have always been packaged nicely.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

I ordered 50 NHR pullets in early May. June 2, 51 arrived. All alive and alert. Only problem I got no e-mail or phone call saying they had been shipped. So had to get the brooder ready when the Post Office called saying they had them. 5 weeks later all 51 are still alive and growing daily. And from the looks of it. All 51 are pullets.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I received healthy birds that were "Backyard Classics" rather than the breed requested.

 

[aveca]

I was talking on one of the other boards in here that I saw a couple birds at a show, a cayuga duck and a chicken both won thier classes, we asked the girl where she got them, she said cackle hatchery. Her family bought a lot of birds so she had a lot to choose from to show.The cauga duck has won every show entered so far and best waterfowl, only lost once to a runner duck.(beautiful bird, I wished I could have one a shiney metalic green duck) They were impressive birds.I know at one time the cayuga duck was very popular here in NE. especially cayuga lake NY in watkins glen. You can see thier stock in pics online at :
cacklehatchery.com

The girl told me if you tell this hatchery what your looking to do , from just backyard well loved flock to showing, they try their best to accomdate you.

It takes several days to breed the birds gather the eggs then 21 days to hatch. many breeders actually breed in december for show to have more mature birds for next year show season. I dont do that I know people who do. They just have special settings for younger birds and winter.

I might look at a few from them for outcrossing our birds (australorps) our lorps came from various breeders. After next year I will need the outcross, and dont feel like running all over to find birds like I did last time and was mostly disappointed. I did find a few pretty good ones along the way and brought them home from shows last year.
One farm I went to was a state away and the birds had white feathers peppered all over the necks of the hens. a few nice roosters but there is a gene that is passed throu generations that causes that but I cant remember the name it starts with H. Its pretty tough to travel far to see birds and something like that happens.

There is no guarentee if you buy from a hatchery, just like anything . You might get some super birds but you never know .but it seems a few of hatcheries seem to be trying to keep decent stock. Its thier livleyhood and they have to compete so cackles it seems aims to please.

Im not sure about the other hatcheries, like I said its thier living so they better try to be good to earn peoples trust and get return coustomers

Certian breeds are pretty easy to find through good breeders and at shows, others are very very hard to find, but these hatcheries might be able to help. they carry some rare breeds.

I was reading a thread at another site where one man is trying to rebuild an extinct breed of chicken, somewhere back in history other breeds became popular and people quit breeding this particular bird . hes having some trouble finding some of the base birds. Cant remember the name of the chicken but it was interesting how passionate poultry people can be and dedicated.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Hi Everyone,

I just received my order from Cackel this afternoon. I had ordered 10 Blue Silkie Bantams, 5 Silkie Assorted Batams and 5 Cochin Bantam Special. They are all here safe and sound and they sent me three extra chicks! Not "packing peanuts" two extra cochins and 1 extra silkie! They are all eating and drinking and doing great.

They were shipped out yesterday, after a week's delay. The original ship date was July 1. Cackel did call me last week and told that there would be a week's delay for my shipment. I didn't mind waiting...I understand sometimes eggs don't hatch like they should.

I expected to get a call from my local post office tomorrow morning...instead the Omaha Post Office called me at work today and one of the postal workers offered to drop the chicks off at my house on his way home from work! I was so surprised and pleased! He wanted to make sure someone would be at the house. As luck would have it, my 15 year old son was home at the time - so he was able to accept delivery of the chicks.

Needless to say I would order from Cackel again. I've had success with Ideal, Murray McMurray, Metzer Farms and now Cackel. I haven't lost any chicks due to shipping at all this year.

Hopefully, these chicks will do well for me and stay happy and healthy. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll do so this weekend.