Is buying from hatcheries a no-no?

[Trish1974]

Thank you all for the information. I think I will be placing an order with Murray McMurray in the spring!

 

[tmarsh83]

Thank you all for the information. I think I will be placing an order with Murray McMurray in the spring!

Any idea what you want to order? All of my stock comes from there, happy to share any thoughts.

 

[Trish1974]

Any idea what you want to order? All of my stock comes from there, happy to share any thoughts.

Definitely silver laced wyandottes and easter eggers. Also thinking of some kind of marans, barred rock, light brahma and welsummer.

 

[tmarsh83]

Definitely silver laced wyandottes and easter eggers. Also thinking of some kind of marans, barred rock, light brahma and welsummer.

Of those, I've only had the marans from MCM. Darker eggs, but not as dark as breeder versions you see here, but they stand out from the rest of the basket. My barred rocks came from different stock, so I can't speak to MCM there.

 

[Cacique500]

All my birds are from Meyer Hatchery and I've been extremely pleased with them. All arrived safely and thrived, and all were able to be vaccinated for Mareks. More importantly, all were hens as ordered (no roosters allowed here). My chicken goals are to have them for eggs and as pets. The nice thing with Meyer's is smaller ordering limits (I think in warmer months you can get as few as 3) and they offer the vaccination service...very important things for me. They also have a really good selection of different breeds...went from two types in the original batch to 7 types in the new batch (all breeds I specifically wanted). I also really like where they post the hatch/ship dates so you can coordinate for the new arrivals. It may take a little juggling to get all the breeds you want on the same date, but it's definitely doable.

I've never done business with a breeder, but from what I've gathered you can normally only get "straight run" birds from them (males and females), and very few offer the vaccinations. I know there are many reputable breeders out there, but in the back of my mind I see the potential for bringing bad things into an existing flock...maybe not so bad with chicks, but definitely more so with started birds.

 

[dheltzel]

There is nothing wrong with a healthy live bird. If you are getting started, go with that. Good luck, you have years to play with this hobby, trying out different birds, different breeds. If you ever want to go with a bit higher quality bird, you might check out Sandhills Preservation. It is a mom and pop hatchery, I have had good luck from these people, and I think that their birds are a bit better genetically, a little higher quality bird.

But if you want birds, go to the ag stores in the spring, and 10 to 1 you will do just fine.

Mrs K

Sandhill would be a great place to look for chicks. You would be supporting their effort to maintain heritage stock. Another good hatchery for heritage breeds is Whitmore Farm in MD. Both of these hatcheries sell only straight run chicks however, and that might be a problem for you.

As others have mentioned, large hatcheries are not bad places for getting production birds, and you can get sexed pullet chicks for a good price. You might consider advertising for others in your area that are looking for chicks and do a larger, combined order with them, or just buy extras and sell them locally to recoup some (or all) of your investment. You can find others with a similar desire to buy chicks here on BYC, on FB, or even advertise on Craigslist. There are likely 20 other people in easy driving distance that are thinking of buying chicks and are in similar quandry.

 

[AUChickenGal]

Quote:
I received some chicks (my first) from Murray McMurray two weeks ago. My order included a Silver Laced Wyandotte, Easter Eggers (ordered 2 but I think they sent 3), and Welsummers (they only offer them straight run, so I got 3 - jury's still out on their sexes). I also ordered a Barred Rock, but I don't think they sent that one. You will be asked at check out whether substitutions are acceptable; I said yes so that my order wouldn't be delayed or short any birds. I ordered 8 chicks and ended up with 10 (I also ordered a Speckled Sussex, and they sent two extra chicks - they look like they're probably Rhode Island Reds). My chicks are still very young, but I've been happy with them so far. They are growing and very healthy.

 

[Trish1974]

Thanks for your input everyone! It is very helpful. Cacique500, I will check out Meyer as well.

 

[ellend]

Years ago my son drove to a Norwalk, Ohio hatchery and picked up two silkie day-old chicks to slip under our broody Old English Bantam (a better mother cannot be found!) I don't show, so I don't know the standards, but those two (who turned out to be cockerels, of course...) were FAR more beautiful in plumage and splash coloring and comb & wattle than ANY we have seen at the many shows we've gone to, and were very healthy.

 

[Trish1974]

Thanks, that's good to know!