Murray Mcmurray - 1 year later

[I Love Layers]

McMurray is the best hatchery in my opinion. They have great service, and they do so well on the shipping side. They are also great at sexing! I have ordered over 100 chicks from them, all pullets and never once have I gotten a cockerel. I have also only had 3 deaths out of all of those. And what they have as breed description is always what the bird turns out to be personality and laying wise!

 

[I Love Layers]

A lot of the time I feel it isn't the hatcheries fault either, it is whoever is handling the chicks throughout shipping or the buyer. What you have to understand is stuff happens in shipping, and that is not the hatcheries fault they do all the can to prevent it. It is also on you to look ahead at the weather and think "It looks like we might have an icestorm or blizzard around then, maybe I should postpone a week" or "It is supposed to be 90° ad boxes are often 10°warmer on the inside I shouldn't order chicks those days"

 

[Mongocaver]

At this point we have bought chicks from two different hatcheries, bought chicks from Tractor Supply, hatched our own eggs and hatched 3 batches of shipped eggs. The only issues we have had were with the shipped eggs, 3 of 26 hatched. I recommend all but hatching shipped eggs.

 

[Sylie]

I didn't mean to offend or make anyone feel defensive, it is just my experience with them. I had 7 out of 7 chicks die witin 12 hours one year and 4 out of 6 died within 36 hours the next. Orshelns was using them both years and dropped their contract with them because everyone was returning dead or sick chicks. This is just my experience, I definitely did not mean to get anyone up at arms. Murray McMurray Hatchery is about 2.5 hours from where I live, the shipping problems really don't actually apply since they come in the hatchery's own van because of the close proximity. If something happened to these chicks in transport, it is because of their own driver. Please forgive me if I upset anyone with my opinion.

 

[I Love Layers]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I respect that. I am just pointing out that most people that "have troubles with a hatchery", that the hatchery is rarely at fault

 

[Mongocaver]

Sylie,
Like I said, there have been some very sad things happen and nobody disputes that. I don't think you upset anyone. You are one of the unlucky ones and should tell your story. Stories like yours help folks who don't know any better to see that not everything always ends up rosy. Congratulations on not letting what happened to you stop you from having chickens!

 

[Sylie]

If I was an isolated incident I would totally agree with what you have both said but the fact that a major farm store chain dropped their contract with the hatchery because of poor quality chicks tells me something isn't right. I don't begrudge anyone their right to choose and I am honestly very happy to hear the success stories, I just won't buy from them again, ever. It's too horrible to watch the babies die in my hand.

 

[Tiller]

I've ordered 15 chicks from them on 4 separate occasions over the last 7 years, each time receiving the mystery chick. Each order has had a rather wide range of breeds. My last order are ready to join the rest of the flock. I have only had one chick DOA from all 4 orders, and it was my mystery chick. All the chicks have been healthy and happy after delivery. If I order chicks again I will order for a 5th time through Murray.

 

[TheGoldenGirlz]

I am so glad to see this. I was getting so scared of what the outcome would be when I order chicks in the spring!

 

[Folly's place]

I've also had very good experiences with MMcM, and also with Cackle. I've ordered several times from both places, and it's been fine.
Getting chicks in midsummer, or the dead of winter, is so chancy, I'd never try it! Spring or maybe fall is best.
Mary