Murray McMurray Hatchery?

[nicodemuschickenfan]

My advice is just to order from the hatchery you feel the most comfortable ordering from. If you don't like the birds or they screw up your order, then choose a different hatchery the next time.

I guess I'll have to do that then. I know large scale companies have a lot of negative feedback just because they're so large but McMurrays seemed a bit higher then normal. Just so long as I get most (preferably all) of my chicks alive and with thier feet. I'm still here in Oklahoma so any hatcheries near me? I'm getting these chickens for their personality not to eat them, so temperment is a must. But I hear alot about McMurray's having mean chickens. I really do want good egg layers but the temperment is so much more important. Any local breeders with great RIRs?? I live in Enid; just north of OKC. I also won't be buying till spring btw.

PS. I Love their catalog. Great read if nothing else.​

 

[ChickenToes]

The chickens temperaments will depend on how they are raised. If you handle them and socialize them from day one, they are more likely to be friendly. Some breeds do tend to be more flighty, however.

You're in OK? Try looking up Ideal Poultry, they are located in Texas. A lot of people here on BYC order from them. There are also lots and lots of other, smaller hatcheries to choose from, such as Meyer and Privett and Stombergs and the list goes on.

And yes, if you can find a local breeder or order hatching eggs from a breeder here on BYC, you'll get better quality birds.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

Quote:
I've ordered from MMH, the last order I recieved was in June, everything was great. Couldnt be happier, all arrived alive and well. I was not aware that MMH offered sexed Cuckoo Marans. The 08 Catalog only offers SR. I ordered two SR cuckoos and ended up with a pair. Guess I was lucky because thats what I wanted.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

We recieved 15 rare bred chicks from McMurray this past spring. (we combined orders with friends) Everything was perfect, every one was healthy, and thrived. Sadly we did loose one baby at 3 weeks old because he developed cross bill which is a genetic deformity. McMurray handled it professionally and offered credit immediately. Some times the way to judge a big company like that isnt so much by the amount of bad feed back, but by looking at how well they handle the problems. Mc Murray is going to have a massive amount of negative, simply because of the MASSIVE volume they do! They are the largest in the country! We are extremely pleased with all of our birds, and we made it hard too, we ordered in ones and twos! they marked all the chicks for my order with a little reddish dye on thier tiny heads, so we could seperate them out quickly and easily from the other order!

One thing to keep in mind tho.... McMurray does not sell show stock. There is a big difference from backyard chickens, to show birds. Our birds are big and healthy, but they do not meet show standards, by any means! the difference from our McMurray cochins and our show cochins is like looking at two different breeds! So, if your hope is to show anywhere other than your local fair, you probably dont want McMurray. If however you just want a bunch of really cool and different types, and dont need fluffy show genes, then by all means McMurray is Great!

As to thier birds being mean.... well, that is debatable, ours are mostly lap birds! Only our young blue laced red wyandotte roo has ever pecked me, and thats cause I tease him! Its a game!

Here is our Golden Campine, Goldie Girl. Does she look mean?

Good Luck!

 

[halo]

Ive ordered several times from McMurray and plan on ordering again this spring. Ive been extremely happy with them. Last year I placed my order very early in the year, before they started shipping, and I literally changed the order a dozen times before it was finally shipped. Each time I called and changed it, the gals were very friendly and helpful. When the order came, they were healthy and happy and I didnt lose one. I ordered from them 20 years ago, and had the same experience. And there hasnt been a mean one in the bunch.

 

[chickiebaby]

I love McMurray's. I have only ever ordered from them or got birds from breeders. I could not possibly think more highly of them, and have never been anything but satisfied. The ONLY time there were deaths, they offered to replace everyone no questions asked. I did not take them up on it as it didnt seem to be their fault at all.

I love every bird I've ever got from them.

 

[sunnychooks]

Over several years I've ordered over 130 chicks from MM. I only lost 3 to shipping stress and 1 to some type of neurological problem. Overall, I'm very happy with them and will be ordering again. I'm in NJ and always get my chicks on Sunday AM (they mail on Saturday). Be careful of the weather conditions and make sure they will be sent when the weather is not too cold (regardless of where you order from). Be aware that large hatcheries buy eggs from various sources so there will be genetic variation from hatch to hatch, even within the same breeds. Even though there are pics of people winning prizes in their catalogs, if you want to show you would be better off finding a private breeder. And be sure to handle your chicks! I've never had a mean one, even the roos!!!
Good Luck!

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

I have only had one experience from McMurray Hatchery. I bought some chickens this year from them and half of them came dead. I lost about another 25% of them the first day. But we called them up and the chickens I lost were replaced. The 2nd batch came all healthy and didn't lose any. I would rather use Welp Hatchery though. I have never had any problems with them.

 

[Bex]

I have ordered from MMH twice. Once was early '07 when we ordered 30 assorted chicks, almost all of them from the first batch arrived dead or died shortly after. They replaced the order immediately - sending all 30 over again. Out of that batch we DID have several mean roos. We also ordered this year in July we ordered ducklings. The box was slammed in an airplane door due to fedex, which left 3 survivors and even though it was not their fault MMH replaced the entire order again. They did however, missexed a few of the ducklings. The last dealing with them, they weren't as friendly as before. It also took our orders 2-3 days to arrive here from MMH.

I've heard other horror stories about MMH..

Our recent order of chickens we ordered from Ideal Hatchery and I prefer them 100% over MMH now. I like the fact that we can mix species (ie, we ordered 2 ducklings with 8 chicks) and they really don't have a "minimum" order - if you order less chicks than they think will be safely shipped they throw in extras free of charge. The people we talked to were also VERY friendly. We got our order the day after it shipped with Ideal.

 

[idealpoultry]

Since you are in OK, you might check with you local Atwood's. We ship to them each week beginning about mid- February. I don't know if you are looking for special items or not but they get pullets, st. runs, ducks, geese, bantams and turkeys each week.

If they don't have what you are looking for give us a call.

Teri,
Ideal Poultry
254-697-6677