Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[TiaRC]

This is the first year of having chickens. A few weeks back I got a few of the breeds I wanted from a local feed store. Still wasn't satisfied, so placed an order from meyers hatchery that was delivered yesterday morning. No heat pack, all the holes in the sides of the box were punched out. I am missing two chicks, and 4/6 of the bantams have died since (one was DOA). The main reason I went with meyer was because of the bantams and now I've only got two left. The rest seem fine, and I will be calling tomorrow to get credit/exchange for what I lost, but I think bantams are out for the rest of the year (SO SAD!). And of the rest, I am not sure what I did/did not get, all 6 easter eggers look the same (woe) as what I think? are the wyandottes (golden and blue laced reds). Just disappointed as I've heard good things about this hatchery, but at this point I don't think I can reorder replacements.

So sad. Sorry for your loss. Fortunately, they will credit you the chicks you've loss or didn't receive and the shipping will be free. So if I were you I would reorder. I once lost all 20 doa and I called and they replaced and shipped with no hassles. They were very apologinic and thanked me for my business.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My guys are a month old!

 

[christine9]

This is the first year of having chickens. A few weeks back I got a few of the breeds I wanted from a local feed store. Still wasn't satisfied, so placed an order from meyers hatchery that was delivered yesterday morning. No heat pack, all the holes in the sides of the box were punched out. I am missing two chicks, and 4/6 of the bantams have died since (one was DOA). The main reason I went with meyer was because of the bantams and now I've only got two left. The rest seem fine, and I will be calling tomorrow to get credit/exchange for what I lost, but I think bantams are out for the rest of the year (SO SAD!). And of the rest, I am not sure what I did/did not get, all 6 easter eggers look the same (woe) as what I think? are the wyandottes (golden and blue laced reds). Just disappointed as I've heard good things about this hatchery, but at this point I don't think I can reorder replacements.

Also, availability changes pretty regularly. They may become available again.

 

[autumnhearth]

Not really specifically Meyer and I'm going to make my own thread in a sec but have you guys ever had any trouble with hawks? Just wondering cause I just saw one circling overhead and I've been seeing a lot more lately but this one worried me because he was circling for kind of a while before my dog came out from under the bush, you could tell he was looking for lunch and if I had had chickens, my precious little babies would have been it.

I assume you are planning on free ranging most of the day? Hawks are definitely a problem. You will want to provide some sort of cover/shelter for your chickens to hide and consider building an enclosed run for when you aren't home, bad weather etc. There are many articles on free-ranging, tips I suggestions I remember are planting trees or bushes, hanging tarp or bird netting or erecting one of those small covered pavilions, I think someone on here has one of those. We only do supervised free-ranging here, we have a small backyard and yes we do get circling hawks and have had some close calls but no casualties.

This is the first year of having chickens. A few weeks back I got a few of the breeds I wanted from a local feed store. Still wasn't satisfied, so placed an order from meyers hatchery that was delivered yesterday morning. No heat pack, all the holes in the sides of the box were punched out. I am missing two chicks, and 4/6 of the bantams have died since (one was DOA). The main reason I went with meyer was because of the bantams and now I've only got two left. The rest seem fine, and I will be calling tomorrow to get credit/exchange for what I lost, but I think bantams are out for the rest of the year (SO SAD!). And of the rest, I am not sure what I did/did not get, all 6 easter eggers look the same (woe) as what I think? are the wyandottes (golden and blue laced reds). Just disappointed as I've heard good things about this hatchery, but at this point I don't think I can reorder replacements.

So sorry to hear that

My guys are a month old!

Love the Wyandotte chick!


We have successfully integrated our flock (I say we but my husband is out of town). The chicks have been spending almost all their days outside in a portable pen for two months and have been free-ranging with the big girls for a month. Earlier this week they showed an interest in the run and wandered in there during free range time. One day I brought them in with the big girls enclosed in there. It was chaos, mainly because just one the big girls, Amelia, whose at the bottom of the pecking order, started chasing them and sent them running and flapping which of course freaked the big girls out. So I made some hiding places for the little girls (I looked at buying a dog crate but they were too expensive in store and I decided to try a couple free solutions before ordering from Amazon). I cute out opening in an old laundry basket, but it was a tight squeeze for wide hipped Pema then I cut some openings and vents in a long but low cardboard box and put it under the coop. They didn't hide in them so much as on or behind them but things eventually calmed down, especially after removing Amelia and Baby for a time out. With no one to chase the chicks, Clara and Victoria realized the wee flappy things aren't so flappy. So things are relatively peaceful, occasionally Amelia will chase them away from the food but they've gotten better at taking turns and finding different parts of the run to keep to, not just hiding anymore.


Wednesday


Last evening when I came home from dinner out with my siblings


Pema and Cora, this morning.

Here's to a less stressful bedtime tonight. Last night the neighbors behind us, corner by the coop, were mowing, weed whacking and leaf blowing from 8 to 8:45 pm, I seriously thought about giving up and bringing the little girls in but eventually the big girls went up and I put the littles in, checked on them once at night and early in the morning, the big girls stayed in their spots, Clara had edged a little closer and was watching them intently.


Clara "guarding" the chicks while they were resting in the shade this morning, she did this yesterday too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I assume you are planning on free ranging most of the day?  Hawks are definitely a problem.  You will want to provide some sort of cover/shelter for your chickens to hide and consider building an enclosed run for when you aren't home, bad weather etc.  There are many articles on free-ranging, tips I suggestions I remember are planting trees or bushes, hanging tarp or bird netting or erecting one of those small covered pavilions, I think someone on here has one of those.  We only do supervised free-ranging here, we have a small backyard and yes we do get circling hawks and have had some close calls but no casualties.

Yeah, I was planning on free ranging! Those are all good ideas though, thanks! I guess it will have to be supervised and/or I'll try some of those ideas. I'll probably want to be outside with them a lot anyways. Oh and I do plan on having a run too, I just also wanted to let them out

 

[Allisha]

I liked Meyer Hatchery a lot, actually. They sent me hardy chicks, considering the temps were in the 20's. We ordered 5 Golden Cuckoo Marans, 10 Salmon Faverolle's, and 1 Meyer Meal Maker which turned out to be a White Leghorn. Here are a few pics of them as babies, and then when they were a month old. Nearing their 6th week, Monday!

The Golden Cuckoo Marans Rooster!
Some of 'em as chicks.

 

[nicdu]

It's been a loooong time since I posted on this thread, because I have been waiting for my babies! But they are here! They arrived on Tuesday, and I picked them up from the PO @10:30AM. Gotta love Express mail. I am glad I live far enough away Meyers sent them overnight/Express. Everyone arrived safely, and as perky as could be (chicken breeds in my sig)

They started eating and drinking right away, and so far so good. They are soooooo fluffy and cute. I just can't stand it! These pics are from arrival day.

 

[autumnhearth]

It's been a loooong time since I posted on this thread, because I have been waiting for my babies! But they are here! They arrived on Tuesday, and I picked them up from the PO @10:30AM. Gotta love Express mail. I am glad I live far enough away Meyers sent them overnight/Express. Everyone arrived safely, and as perky as could be (chicken breeds in my sig)

They started eating and drinking right away, and so far so good. They are soooooo fluffy and cute. I just can't stand it! These pics are from arrival day.

Cute cute cute! Great breed selection, that's a lot of blue and hopefully a lot of blue and green eggs in a few months! Love the names as well, Parsnip, Butternut, Rubarb and Rutabaga are my faves

 

[nordicacres]

Very cute! What are the blue chicks you ordered?

 

[nicdu]

Very cute! What are the blue chicks you ordered?

A blue cochin, a lavender orp, and a blue ameraucana. I also ordered a blue copper marans, but the chick is a black/blue. I am not sure who will be blue, who will be black, and who will be splash

I was just perusing this thread for chick comparison pictures.

I placed my order in mid-December, and I was only able to add the blue Ameraucana via the last minute availability option. They have been sold out since then! I feel like I have waited forever for them to get here!