I've ordered from 3 hatcheries total.Years ago hubby used to order his sex links and such from McMurray.Never any problems other then maybe 1 or 2 residual shipping losses.
This year I found Ideal and Cackle.Cackle totally sucked I had to wait a month for the 4 varieties I ordered,then only received 3 varieties and only a total of 18 chicks instead of 40.5 DOA then 1-2 a day until I ended up with 2.Still have them but are about to cull as they should be MUCH larger than they are and just not thriving. When I contacted them on arrival concerning the number and the dead,I got really poor service and no refund or replacements.Not even offered.
Ideal has been great to me.I have ordered a lot of different varieties,mostly OEGB,but also cornish,wyandottes,broilers,and some others.I have some buff and or red silkies in the brooder right now from them.Over the course of the year I've probly ordered 300-400 or more birdsIn about 5 or so orders..Total loss of maybe 20-25 due to shipping(usually none),and the average squooshing and such. I have been really pleased with my experience.Theyhave always been wonderful,always willing to help out in any way.I had an order of OEGB quail and it was a few short(late in the season) well the next week I get a call from my P.O. telling me I have peepers to pick up? It was more Quail OEGB.Not only had she refunded for the missing,but she shipped me double what it was.At no charge to me.I have had some come out not so favorable looking in color or plumage,but I've also had some very nice ones come out too. I already have my first order pending for first hatches of a few.
Here are a few of my Ideals: Of course these were the keepers,obviously since you always get roosters,I had a few to go through...