Is buying from hatcheries a no-no?

[wamtazlady]

Chickens are living animals, not Egg Pez Dispensers, so if for any unforeseen reason they don't have a hatch as good as anticipated, they'll most likely fill older orders first and then list the breed as "limited availability" on their websites.

Exactly. I decided to see what those Whiting True Blues are like so put in my order last week for April delivery. They are already showing up as "limited availability" for the week I chose.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I've ordered from My Pet Chicken twice and they have the nicest customer service people you could want. I will say that the Speckled Sussex that they grow out of Meyer Hatchery space seems to be a bit fragile. None survived in my first order and none hatched for my second order. There was also bit of a mixup involving my second order, but they made it right and then some. I also got guineas and geese from Cackle Hatchery and ducks from Metzer.

This was my experimental year so I ordered from commercial hatcheries, from small private hatcheries, from individuals, and bought from feed stores. I figured out who I liked, what breeds I liked enough to continue with, what husbandry methods worked for me, etc. and so forth. I did avoid swaps and local auctions because of potential disease issues. I also am not interested in showing, though there are a few rare breeds I would like to start breeding in the spring so I'll probably learn a bit about specific SOPs and genetics over the winter just so I'm coming from a place of knowledge if I decide to deviate. A fun hobby indeed!

 

[Trish1974]

Exactly. I decided to see what those Whiting True Blues are like so put in my order last week for April delivery. They are already showing up as "limited availability" for the week I chose.

Oh, so you can preorder and specify when you want them delivered??

 

[Blooie]

Yep, and it's the best way to go!

 

[Ridgerunner]

 
Exactly.  I decided to see what those Whiting True Blues are like so put in my order last week for April delivery.  They are already showing up as "limited availability" for the week I chose. 

Oh, so you can preorder and specify when you want them delivered??

Each hatchery is a separate business, often family run. They have their own policies and procedures. Not all hatcheries are identical. You need to check with the individual hatcheries to see what their policies are, but yes, many allow you to do that.

 

[wamtazlady]

Oh, so you can preorder and specify when you want them delivered??

Yes. You can also choose whether to allow the hatchery to substitute breeds if they don't have enough of something you ordered at Murray McMurray. . Since I really want the 3 breeds I ordered I chose to not let them substitute. This means that if their hatch is bad that week my order might get delayed to another week. I chose the first week of April for delivery which is also the first week that hatchery will let you order just 15 chicks instead of 25. It's a popular week for getting chicks from MM.

 

[Blooie]

Each hatchery is a separate business, often family run. They have their own policies and procedures. Not all hatcheries are identical. You need to check with the individual hatcheries to see what their policies are, but yes, many allow you to do that.

Oooh, good point, RR!

 

[pv46sd]

Thank you, Ma'am.. am looking forward to next Spring when I have my enclosed run. Came home from town today & my poor 3 hens & the roo were scared, big time! Huddled right by my deck on the house. Walked out & they all followed me right to the quonset, where they sleep! Sooo many hawks around here, it is just sickening!