Murray Mcmurray Hatchery do they sell good birds?

[Laingcroft]

I have ordered chickens from McMurray every two years on average since 2001. I have had peeps arrive dead (usually delivered in February) and been promptly compensated either by payment (less than three passed out of 27 -- yes they do throw in a few extras) to an entire new order when 80% died within the first three days due to winter storms en route delaying delivery for five days. As for whether their chickens are "good" - my McMurray chickens have been healthy, hardy and decent representatives of their respective breeds. I would even go so far as to say a couple may have been show quality (note I don't show chickens.)

The following is my OPINION only based on experience with other species:

A breeder/exhibitor a.k.a. fancier, is going to breed to win so they are going to keep their best and cull the rest. A purchaser is buying those culls. Breeder culls can range from show quality, pretty close to show quality (has one or more DQ) to merely superior in type/substance to hatchery birds; whether they still produce lots of eggs is a trait the breeder may or may not be selecting for. Sometimes breeder culls are inferior to hatchery birds - you have to know your breed and your breeder.

Hatcheries are businesses, the more eggs they produce, the more birds they can sell. If you want egg production, hatchery birds are generally the way to go. On the other hand, breeders are hobbyists and/or farmers. Some are passionate about their chickens (fanciers) and raise truly superior birds, some focus on dual purpose chickens and also breed for production characteristics - eggs (not judged) or meat as well as type (judged), and some breeders don't produce quality chickens because they don't exhibit, don't know how to judge their birds against the standard (barn blind) or don't understand the genetics/heritability of traits.

 

[Summer98]

I'm planning on ordering from them for the first time soon. I want Brahmas, EE, and Australorps. Are the EE from them bad? Now I am getting concerned after hearing about aggressive EE and crooked beaks. Should I avoid their EE or what?

 

[Laingcroft]

If you don't want aggressive roos, then order only pullets. McMurray's sexing has been pretty good.

I haven't had any aggressive roos from them, but up until this year, I didn't keep any roos beyond maturity because I didn't want peeps. None of my hens have been aggressive. Now I am getting into raising my own - purchasing from fanciers and studying poultry genetics. And I'm still purchasing from McMurray to keep the egg customers happy!

Over the years I've ordered a variety of breeds to see which ones suit me so I've purchased each of the breeds you reference at some point.

EEs - I order some of these in every new batch. I've received a few wheaten hens but mostly brown leghorn type, some had crooked toes; may have been genetic or injury as peeps. Had some insist on going through the wire in their growing pen and getting stuck. Had a couple lay dark khaki colored eggs, but most gave me pale green or very pale blue. None have laid the nice blue of the true Ameraucana.

Brahma - Last ordered in 2003, decent birds but didn't reach "full" size even after two years.

Australorps - last ordered in 2009, pretty birds with dark (soft) eyes, gentle disposition and of good size. Lay LOTS of eggs. Unfortunately, the local Fox seems to prefer these too.

All three breeds gave us lots of eggs. Before we started selling them at farmers markets I had to give/throw away so many extras.