Meyer hatchery - never again

[ChickenFox]

@OasiVerde I am so sorry for the loss of your chicks. I'm happy the pullets you have left seem to be thriving though! As for the little roo maybe he's just a late developer? I hatched out some cockerals that were very slow to get their feathers compared to the females but they didn't seem weak, just lagging behind. I wish you and your chickies good luck!

As for getting chicks from Meyer's I did order a group of 8 about 3 years ago. I didn't have them shipped and instead picked them up as I was going to be in the area visiting family anyway. They were all very healthy and lively and all lived to adulthood. Sadly I can't speak much as to the longterm health. The last 2 were taken by a fox just a few days ago. I had to give them to my mother due to my needing to move last year and my new place not allowing chickens in city limits. She let them freerange everyday and they were still healthy as horses until the fox attack. Overall just from that order though I will most likely be ordering from them again when I'm able.

For clarification I can't speak as to the long term health much because that entire group was taken by predators over the course of 3 years. Not without fight though. My Dark Cornish, Big Momma, survived 2 different fox attacks until this last one! She was a fighter to the end.

 

[OasiVerde]

@ChickenFox I am so happy your chickens were healthy. I am sorry they all got taken by predators. The 4 survivors are doing well.

I tried to get them all 4 in one picture. They are very tame and come running to me when I get to their pen. Maybe because I have given them so much care and attention when they were little and fragile.

Two weeks ago I got a new batch of chicks, this time from Ideal hatchery.

It was a couple of hours drive, but so worth it. 100% survivors and they are much more active and lively compared to the Meyer chicks. They are two weeks now and growing super fast. Very active and strong. I still believe the Meyer chicks had (separate from the shipping) some illness or genetic weakness in them. Maybe bad luck, I don;t know. But what I do know is that the chicks from Ideal are super strong and healthy. And I am a happy chick mom

 

[ChickenFox]

Oh I miss having little chicks! They look strong and healthy!
Also I have a correction for my post. I logged into my Meyer account and I actually had those girl for 5 years not 3! Wow... I'm getting old.

 

[Alexandra33]

@ChickenFox I am so happy your chickens were healthy. I am sorry they all got taken by predators. The 4 survivors are doing well. View attachment 1672580
I tried to get them all 4 in one picture. They are very tame and come running to me when I get to their pen. Maybe because I have given them so much care and attention when they were little and fragile.

Two weeks ago I got a new batch of chicks, this time from Ideal hatchery.
View attachment 1672592

It was a couple of hours drive, but so worth it. 100% survivors and they are much more active and lively compared to the Meyer chicks. They are two weeks now and growing super fast. Very active and strong. I still believe the Meyer chicks had (separate from the shipping) some illness or genetic weakness in them. Maybe bad luck, I don;t know. But what I do know is that the chicks from Ideal are super strong and healthy. And I am a happy chick mom

Just beautiful. Maturing quite nicely, too, I see! Thank you for updating us on their progression.

What breeds did you order from Ideal?

~Alex

 

[OasiVerde]

Just beautiful. Maturing quite nicely, too, I see! Thank you for updating us on their progression.

What breeds did you order from Ideal?

~Alex

Thank you for your kind words! I am very happy with my new batch of chicks.
I have 6 Welsumer pullets, 2 Welsumer cockerels and 2 Plymouth Barred Rock pullets.
My goal is to breed two different chickens. I choose the Welsumer because I am originally from the Netherlands. And the second breed should be an American dual purpose breed for my homestead.
I already have Java hens that just started laying. When the Barred Rocks are fully grown I want to decide which one to breed.

This is one of my Javas. Beautiful bird. And very docile.

 

[CayugaMama]

I am SO upset.
Ordered 16 chicks (and a meal maker) from Meyer hatchery in Ohio and they arrived 8 days ago.
Within 48 hours, 4 chicks died.
Then another 1 died two days later, and another 1 two days after that.
Last night 3 died, this morning 2 more. Some have trouble breathing, some have diarrhea (started Corid), some just die. I have them under a heat plate in a heated room (room temperature - advise from the hatchery). I keep them under the same conditions as I did with my previous batch of chicks with 100% survival. IMHO, and I am not an expert at all, if chicks keep dying under these conditions, there is something wrong with them. They either have an illness or it is genetics.
From the 17 chicks total I am down to 6 left . And who knows if they are going to make it

Chatted with the hatchery and of course they will only replace the 4 that died in the first 48 hours. That is their policy. Well, thank you. I will NEVER order at Meyer hatchery again.
Just my experience, unfortunately.

Wow- I really wish I had done some research and seen this before I ordered. I got 6 chicks on Wednesday from Meyer. 48 hours later, 3 are dead and one looks like she’s on her way out. I cannot diagnose what is wrong with them and I am trying everything! Makes so sense. I am so sad and furious at the same time. My son is totally traumatized.

 

[People who like chickens]

I am SO upset.
Ordered 16 chicks (and a meal maker) from Meyer hatchery in Ohio and they arrived 8 days ago.
Within 48 hours, 4 chicks died.
Then another 1 died two days later, and another 1 two days after that.
Last night 3 died, this morning 2 more. Some have trouble breathing, some have diarrhea (started Corid), some just die. I have them under a heat plate in a heated room (room temperature - advise from the hatchery). I keep them under the same conditions as I did with my previous batch of chicks with 100% survival. IMHO, and I am not an expert at all, if chicks keep dying under these conditions, there is something wrong with them. They either have an illness or it is genetics.
From the 17 chicks total I am down to 6 left . And who knows if they are going to make it

Chatted with the hatchery and of course they will only replace the 4 that died in the first 48 hours. That is their policy. Well, thank you. I will NEVER order at Meyer hatchery again.
Just my experience, unfortunately.

I thought I read that use of a heat plate is not adequate to maintain desired temp for chicks especially just after arrival from shipping. Need a heat lamp, they say. I don't know, we have always used a heat lamp.

 

[CrazyChickenLady123]

I am SO upset.
Ordered 16 chicks (and a meal maker) from Meyer hatchery in Ohio and they arrived 8 days ago.
Within 48 hours, 4 chicks died.
Then another 1 died two days later, and another 1 two days after that.
Last night 3 died, this morning 2 more. Some have trouble breathing, some have diarrhea (started Corid), some just die. I have them under a heat plate in a heated room (room temperature - advise from the hatchery). I keep them under the same conditions as I did with my previous batch of chicks with 100% survival. IMHO, and I am not an expert at all, if chicks keep dying under these conditions, there is something wrong with them. They either have an illness or it is genetics.
From the 17 chicks total I am down to 6 left . And who knows if they are going to make it

Chatted with the hatchery and of course they will only replace the 4 that died in the first 48 hours. That is their policy. Well, thank you. I will NEVER order at Meyer hatchery again.
Just my experience, unfortunately.

I 100% agree with you! That's dumb how they would only replace four. I highly recommend Murray McMurray Hatchery, they deliver fast and even add in extra chicks.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's dumb how they would only replace four

They replaced the ones that fell in their warranty. Most hatcheries wouldn't even do that since it sounds like they didn't tell the hatchery about any losses for at least 5 days and they require claims within 48-72 hours once the package is delivered

 

[CrazyChickenLady123]

They replaced the ones that fell in their warranty. Most hatcheries wouldn't even do that since it sounds like they didn't tell the hatchery about any losses for at least 5 days and they require claims within 48-72 hours once the package is delivered

Yeah, it just sucks how they couldn't do anything about it. I feel bad for the chicks that's pretty long to be in a box being shipped who knows where.