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How can it not be their fault? I didn't request small and weak chicks.
I mean I think it could probably happen to anybody.
The way the system works is very secretive, but I'm not sure the hatcheries themselves have control over the stock they receive. The parent stock are often owned by the big companies and eggs are sent to the hatcheries to hatch. There is no way in such cases for the hatchery to know the age or condition of the parent stock. If they happen to receive a batch to incubate from young stock, then the chicks are likely to be small and weak.
Probably some hatcheries own their own parent stock, but even there, they have to start somewhere. If the parents are young, they are just young. They could probably wait until they are older to start hatching them, but then that would cost them more money which they would then need to pass on to the buyer.
Of course, the backyard producer likely doesn't get the best stock, anyway. The likely goes to corporate giants like Purdue and Tyson.
I see what you're saying, but don't think that is a reasonable excuse. If it were my hatchery, I would be unlikey to sell lower quality chicks in fear of my customers not being satified with my product and going elsewhere for future purchases. I guess not everyone thinks like I do, but they have lost me as a customer.