Murray McMurray Fayoumi quality?

[S-t-o-n-e]

Is Murray McMurray a good hatchery? I have seen mixed reviews, some having great success and others terrible. While the Dead on arrival is not as concerning as thats *mostly* the fault of USPS, some people were saying they had a lot of randomly dead chickens in the first weeks and months of raising them, or just ill chickens which barely laid, which makes it seem like the Hatchery has bad stock for certain breeds (it could also just be the fault of the owners of course).
The main breed I am looking for is Egyptian fayoumi, has anyone gotten Fayoumi from Murray McMurray and how did they fare? And any breeds to avoid from the hatchery?

 

[Debbie292d]

I searched and found @JustBabyMargo did, and posted pictures.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...is-this-a-good-hatchery.1549671/post-26179560

 

[Iluveggers]

I’ve ordered many times from McM and never had a sick chick. I have ended up w a cross beak which was refunded. Fayoumi aren’t good in my climate so I can’t help you w that specific breed, but have had wonderful experiences with the company.

 

[Folly's place]

We had good success with birds from MMcM, and the one time we got a Fayoumi cockerel as the extra chick, he was lovely. He started crowing at 28 days of age, beyond cute!
Mary

 

[servant_of_fluffs]

My 30-ish chicks were shipped all the way to Alaska and there wasn't a single DOA which is admittedly very impressive. However the RIRs I had were very, very sickly and depressed looking. There were about 7 RIRs and I think 6 died in their first two years (out of chickhood) There were a few girls who have been a little more prone to disease than the rest of them, but everybody else was fine. However I would not recommend them for their bird quality, as they are a major hatchery (quantity over quality.) The Wyandottes were definitely not what I would consider dual-purpose, as they are very light and one of the Black Australorps seems to have a little Serama in her (she's tiny and weird tail posture.)

Fayoumi are gorgeous. If I lived somewhere warmer, I would have hundred of them

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

My 30-ish chicks were shipped all the way to Alaska and there wasn't a single DOA which is admittedly very impressive. However the RIRs I had were very, very sickly and depressed looking. There were about 7 RIRs and I think 6 died in their first two years (out of chickhood) There were a few girls who have been a little more prone to disease than the rest of them, but everybody else was fine. However I would not recommend them for their bird quality, as they are a major hatchery (quantity over quality.) The Wyandottes were definitely not what I would consider dual-purpose, as they are very light and one of the Black Australorps seems to have a little Serama in her (she's tiny and weird tail posture.)

Fayoumi are gorgeous. If I lived somewhere warmer, I would have hundred of them

fluffs,
What time of the year did you order your chicks? Now that hatcheries will ship smaller orders I would stick to smaller orders unless I had professional type of brooder to house 18-20+ chicks. TSC offers some of various sizes.
And please no extra cockerels unless they are the same breed I ordered!! Ha Ha

 

[servant_of_fluffs]

fluffs,
What time of the year did you order your chicks? Now that hatcheries will ship smaller orders I would stick to smaller orders unless I had professional type of brooder to house 18-20+ chicks. TSC offers some of various sizes.
And please no extra cockerels unless they are the same breed I ordered!! Ha Ha

I ordered them in June or July (2020?. All the chicks were awesome for classic old egg laying, especially the Wyandottes and "easter eggers." The 3 "easter eggers" we got were kind of shy, but laid well even as 4 year olds! The RIRs just didn't do well. The last one had some sort of beak issue and was very scrawny when all the other hens were totally fine. And I don't think she was at the bottom of the pecking order or anything.

We did get an extra rooster. He was evil.... His daughters are pretty sweet, thank goodness!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

I ordered them in June or July (2020?. All the chicks were awesome for classic old egg laying, especially the Wyandottes and "easter eggers." The 3 "easter eggers" we got were kind of shy, but laid well even as 4 year olds! The RIRs just didn't do well. The last one had some sort of beak issue and was very scrawny when all the other hens were totally fine. And I don't think she was at the bottom of the pecking order or anything.

We did get an extra rooster. He was evil.... His daughters are pretty sweet, thank goodness!

What breed was the evil rooster?
Evil roosters always have a home with us ... in the freezer!!

 

[servant_of_fluffs]

What breed was the evil rooster?
Evil roosters always have a home with us ... in the freezer!!

Black Australorp. I don't know why we put up with his abuse for so long

 

[Folly's place]

Many of us have kept that first evil rooster too long! And then we try to 'retrain' the next awful jerk, and eventually we learn to only keep the good ones!
I haven't ordered from MMcM is several years, but they would send an extra who was always a cockerel of a different breed. That's how we got our one adorable Fayoumi.
Cackle has sent extra birds every time, always of breeds already in our orders, at least so far.
Mary