mail order chickens???

[ranchhand]

Quote:
There it is! (said very tactfully, I might add!)

 

[TammyTX]

I've ordered from McMurray with very good results; nice, stout chicks. BUT, check with your post office and ask what their policy is in getting the chicks to you ASAP. My local post office even let me pick up on a holiday. The chicks will come in a cardboard live animal carrier and you may consider taking a blanket to wrap the carrier in if it's chilly.

...McMurray is a middle-man? I got this from their hatchery virtual tour:

Our eggs come from our own breeding flocks, which are located within a 100-mile radius of the hatchery.​

 

[Missouri Maiden]

I know I thought it was so strange that you could ship chicks through the mail in a cardboard box lol

 

[RickysChick]

My grandchildren sent me in SD 25 assorted chicks from Belt Hatchery in Ca they went out the aft and I got them them by 6:00 am next morning. I thought the postmisteress (neighbor) was pulling my leg when she said I had a package would you come up, till I got there. All the carriers waited for me so they could see, taking pics with cell phones. They still call for eggs and to see how they are.
They all were very healthy and side note.
CA has poultry vets. and they are on call. My dear daughter in law had a couple get "curly toe" she called Hatchery and they referred her to "Chick Vet". He is the most interesting guy to talk to about chickens ailments etc. Found out we knew people in common and he is from a NE town about 100 miles from us.

 

[meezermom]

We were VERY pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from the post office on a Sunday morning to come & get our chx we ordered from McMurray's.

Also, from a private breeder, we got some

blue orpingtons (or variations thereof...)

 

[CARS]

The best thing I have ever heard was "Chris, you need to come and get your package". Those chicks were driving the ladies crazy!!! I swear that they have never experienced the joy of chicks before!

 

[desertgirl]

OK-here's a wierd questoin, but are these breeders humane? I am very concerned about the suffering of the mothers in the breeding process (a la puppy mills). Do you guys have any information on this? I would hate to support someplace that is unkind to chickens...

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Though I'm sure there are those that would argue differently, the large hatcheries are not IMO humane in how they treat the chicks, especially the excess baby roos. I'm not sure how you could find out if the breeders the hatcheries get their eggs from are humane or not. It would make sense to me that they would treat their breeding flock with good care, since they are their bread and butter. Still not sure how you could know for sure.
If it is of upmost importance to you, you might try locating a private breeder that has the breed(s) you want and ask questions.

 

[desertgirl]

Good call. Will do.

 

[ghulst]

Townline will ship you very good chicks. www.townlinehatchery.com