Is Cackle Hatchery reliable?

[Old Ben]

Hello, one of my hens is starting to act like she’s going to go broody soon. I’ve lost 3 hens already to sickness, and I’m going to have to get rid of one rooster (accidentally got two...) so my beautiful flock of 12. Is soon going to be down to 8. I’m wanting to buy some hatching eggs for my broody to hatch, I wanted to buy them instead of hatching more Wyandotte’s because I wanted a little more color in the flock. But on the two website I’ve heard of before, one charges $35 dollars for 3 eggs! And the other is $50 for 10. Which isn’t bad, but... I’d rather not pay that much. Especially since I don’t have room to add 5 more chickens, not to mention 10. I found a website called “Cackle Hatchery” they seem to have fair prices but.... I don’t want to get ripped off. Can anyone tell me if it’s a good/safe place to order from?

 

[RyRe2010]

I've never actually used Cackle but I know a lot who have and seem to be happy with them. They have been around for a while. You may also see, if you use FB, if there are any local chicken groups to your area that sell hatching eggs. Could save you some money that way.
Most hatcheries have a pretty hefty shipping charge and eggs can be pretty expensive depending on breeds and such. Good luck!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

 

[Redhead Rae]

I've ordered over 50 chicks/keets from Cackle, only ever lost 1 chick.

However, the biggest issue people run into is how long it takes USPS to deliver the chicks, rather than the health of the chicks when they leave the hatchery. I get chicks from cackle usually less than 36 hours after they are shipped, but the mail route between me and cackle is VERY direct. The chicks go from the hatchery to a transfer station in MO, to the transfer station in my state, to my post office. If my mail carrier is there when the chicks arrive, he likes to bring them to me so his wife can see the chicks (she rides with him). That is a VERY direct route. Depending on where you are, your chicks may go between 3-5 transfer stations. Your best bet is to talk to your look feed store(s) and see who they order from. They usually know who gets chicks to them the quickest. It does them no good if they get a box of dead chicks.

 

[imnukensc]

I've ordered over 50 chicks/keets from Cackle, only ever lost 1 chick.

However, the biggest issue people run into is how long it takes USPS to deliver the chicks, rather than the health of the chicks when they leave the hatchery. I get chicks from cackle usually less than 36 hours after they are shipped, but the mail route between me and cackle is VERY direct. The chicks go from the hatchery to a transfer station in MO, to the transfer station in my state, to my post office. If my mail carrier is there when the chicks arrive, he likes to bring them to me so his wife can see the chicks (she rides with him). That is a VERY direct route. Depending on where you are, your chicks may go between 3-5 transfer stations. Your best bet is to talk to your look feed store(s) and see who they order from. They usually know who gets chicks to them the quickest. It does them no good if they get a box of dead chicks.

The OP is not asking about chicks. They're asking about eggs for hatching.

 

[Redhead Rae]

The OP is not asking about chicks. They're asking about eggs for hatching.

Ah sorry, no experience on that.

General wisdom is that shipped eggs should be incubated in an incubator because shipping can cause the air cells to become detached making hatching harder. I would use local eggs if you want her to incubate them.

However, I have had experience grafting shipped chicks onto a broody. You need to be set up to brood them if she rejects them or if they aren't doing well. You should get them in the morning, make sure they are eating and drinking well, and then, after dark, put them under the hen from behind. If she has been sitting steadily for over a week, she should accept them.

 

[1cock2hens]

Cackle hatchery is an awesome company, great service and quality for a lot of there breeds is really good. you can see videos of there breeder flocks on youtube. I reallly want the hatchery surprise this year.

 

[Old Ben]

Thank you all for the replies! I appreciate every comment.

 

[cppeace]

I live less than 2 miles from Cackle. They are overall a great hatchery. Their supply is often decent quality (Some even show quality occasionally). I'm sure they will ship the eggs safely as possible, but shipping eggs is always risky. If possible I always recommend going with chicks.
I've only purchased in person so I have no experience with the eggs being shipped but I know folks who have hatched them locally and they did fine, but again not shipped.

 

[ChickenLeg]

Ive never ordered eggs from them. But if you go ahead and buy chicks they are available now and they are reliable.

I dont buy any shipped hatching eggs, its always a poor hatch rate when using shipped eggs.