Murray McMurray Hatchery

[silkie1472]

I just received a large order of chicks from McMurray Hatchery. From what I’ve heard, they are a great hatchery, but many of my chicks that came in are very weak. Also, 3/48 have already perished.

I understand that shipping can be very hard on chicks, but some of them don’t seem good at all. One of my Salmon Faverolles is making a very weird noise. It sounds like mucus in her lungs, but her eyes and nostrils are clear, and she eats fine. Does this sound normal?

Also, they said I have 48 hours to report anything wrong. I receive credit for the perished chicks, and if enough die, they replace them. However, in order for them to be replaced, they have to fill the minimum (which is 25 at the moment). What if they were chicks I really wanted? I’m really leaning toward not buying from this hatchery again.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

The shipping isn’t their fault usually. The transit is the responsibility of the USPS.

 

[silkie1472]

Poor shipping I can understand, but bad quality chicks for the high price compared to other hatcheries is disappointing.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Poor shipping I can understand, but bad quality chicks for the high price compared to other hatcheries is disappointing.

It’s the stress from shipping. It causes all types of issues. Every hatchery has that issue. I usually order from cackle hatchery but I’ve had poor chicks from the shipping stress.

 

[LRH97]

There are a lot of variables when it comes to receiving chicks from hatcheries. Where you live can help or hurt you a lot. McMurray is out of Iowa, so if you live a ways from there, that's all the longer the trip was for the chicks. Also depends on the weather. They could've passed through several different climates, depending on the length of their journey. Then, of course, how USPS handles things, which isn't always with the greatest of care.

Definitely report losses to their Customer Service to get a refund. It sounds like you're like me and would definitely like replacement chicks over money, but if the minimum is not met, shipping usually isn't an option. That's a major downside to buying from hatcheries.

I will say this though: I have ordered from McMurray several times in the past and I haven't always been satisfied. I ordered three different batches of Silver Gray Dorkings in the same year and all were weak and arrived in poor condition. Many died, hence the several orders. There was also an order I placed another year that took heavy losses well after the 48 hour mark--when they should've been stronger.

I'm not saying that's the hatchery (it very well might be too), but I've since moved to Cackle and I've had very good luck with them. They're about four hours from me, much closer than McMurray. Since I've had good results from them, I've stuck with them. However, if McMurray offered something that I wanted that Cackle didn't, I would order from them again. Hope your birds perk up for you!

 

[AltonaAcres]

3 out of 48 is pretty good. And yes, Murray Mcmurray is the best commercial hatchery by far. Great prices, breeds, website, etc. I had an order of 15 meat birds, and one of the little chicks was in really rough shape hen she arrived. Splayed legs, gasping, could barely breath. After two days, fully recovered, couldn't even tell her apart. Keep up hope for the little sick ones! Bantams have a harder time with shipping.

 

[ldrchickens]

I have never ordered chicks so cant speak from personal experience but i have heard and read far more negative reviews about mcmurray compared to others, especially against cackle.

 

[Kessel23]

I got 75 chicks from them last spring that spent 48 hours shipping and ended up at the wrong PO. Only one died within 48 hours.

It's not the hatchery it's the shiping. You have gotten lucky to only lose 3, it's possible to lose them all in the PO and get a box of dead chicks.

My family has been getting chicks from McMurray my entire life. I have a lot of complaints about the hatchery, their stock, their sexing abilities, and dumb cockerel giving games but shipping has never been a problem for me, neither has the health of their birds.

 

[silkie1472]

Don’t worry, y’all. I’m not saying that it’s a bad hatchery and I know that shipping has its consequences. I just figured that for the price I paid for the birds that the packaging would have been better. They included several extra males which, in my opinion, was unnecessary for the number of birds I ordered.

These were all standard chickens. Two weeks ago, I ordered bantam Cochins from ideal poultry. They included extra Cochins with the order, packaging was great, bird quality was great, and most importantly, it was way cheaper too.

They both shipped the same distance pretty much. I live in Arkansas, and Ideal is in Texas and McMurray is in Iowa.

 

[ShrekDawg]

If you’re ever looking to order any more chicks, I ordered my original birds from Meyer Hatchery and they have been great. All healthy and great layers. Even the extra bird was female. And their minimum is only 3 April through November and 8 December through March (was 15 in winter, they recently lowered it). They are in Ohio and I am in MA and mine arrived next day and they even included a heat pack free and I ordered mine the very end of October. I got 9. (8 plus I added a free chick). 7 are still alive. 1 hawk attack last year and one died as a chick but it wasn’t Meyer’s fault or related to them. My inexperience. The others have all been great. They turned 3 in October. I have 5 more coming in April. Didn’t add the free chick this time, no room. But Ohio I think is relatively close to you too and I really like that particular hatchery and my birds.