Murray McMurray hatchery???????

[lungewhipqueen]

...They will mark chicks by sex or breed if you ask them to.... you have to ask them to do this on the phone so far as I know....

I wish I'd known this when I placed my order online! My friend and I split an order. She got the heavy breed special with 25 chicks. I ordered Light Brahma, Buff Orpington and Ameraucana pullets. I have no idea which chicks are mine! Except the Brahmas since they're the only feather footed breed in the order and they only sent the number I ordered. (They could have been included in the heavy breed special). And they threw in that free exotic but I'm not sure which one it is either! I THINK it's one that looked tiny when they arrived, but it's caught up to many of the other chicks now, two weeks later. There are three chicks in the whole order that don't seem to have any matches in the group, so I just don't know. I will say, it's been fun researching online and looking at all the photos I can lay eyes on to try and guess. There are just too many variables and I'm afraid time and growth are the only things that will solve the mystery!

But to stay on topic, I've ordered from McMurray several times over the years and have always been very pleased with their service. I don't know a thing about showing birds, but mine have all turned out beautiful IMO. I find myself looking for excuses to order more chicks. (good thing I have a few acres!)

Teresa

 

[LTygress]

It seems to me that most of the losses I am reading about happened in the coldest months of the year - January and February!

I ordered mine way back in February, but for the prime hatching time of the year - April 22nd. The early order, prime laying/hatching time, and warm weather, all seemed to be a perfect timing choice. I got all 18 chicks in perfect health with no lack of chosen breeds.

But yes, I do believe they tend to throw in the males as the "free rare exotic" one, as a means of getting rid of the excess cockerels. People usually want hens anyway, so they are left with the surplus of nature's choice.

I would just suggest sticking with good weather, and prime breeding times. Off-seasons may be a good idea for the rarer breeds, but you are also subject to "seasonal" laying hens at the hatchery.


And above all else, remember that hatcheries breed for quantity, NOT quality. So it's never a good idea to buy a show bird from them - ESPECIALLY when you have no clue what the parents look like!

 

[jakeflock]

I placed my order with a local feed company that gets their chick from McMurray. They were very healthy and have turned out to be beautiful girls. One chick was killed by our cat and got replacement from local ranch store..not the same hatchery. Noticed a lot of paste on those chicks. So over all I would totally suggest McMurray!!! Try placing order with local feed or ranch store then you don't have to order minimum you can pick and choose.

 

[Kelsie2290]

I have gotten two mystery chicks in an order before, so there is that possibility on your unknowns. The mystery chicks that I have had or known the sex on do seem to run pretty close to the 50/50 expected straight run, your luck may run one way or the other and have a streak one sex of course. Also, I think that sometimes when you have a short order (ie, you have 45 chicks) they will just fill up the box if you have ordered some sort of assortment or they have extras of something you ordered.
I also place my orders quite a bit ahead of time to have a better chance of getting what I want. With shipping, I think a lot depends on the route to where you live, I live in Ohio and have had a February order the last three years and have not had a problem, while other people with the same ship dates have.
Quality wise, they are hatchery/ pet quality, but they are generally very recognizable as the breed, they usually are good layers for their breed, and are generally not as broody, ymmv.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I think pasty butt comes from the stress of shipping, and I think the fact that McMurray put a glob of their gro gel stuff (whatever it's called) in the box really helped my chicks. I just don't know if they do that for everyone or just for those who bought a package of it with their order?. But I got no pasty butt this time arround!

 

[jakeflock]

Also McMurray offers alot of breeds where you can choose between straight run or pullet. That's a nice option.

 

[cluck-cluck]

indeed. The Crevecoeurs I got last week were pullets. I think I'll be able to sell the extras easily once they grow out and I choose those I want to keep

 

[jakeflock]

Next year I want to add a couple bantams but McMurray has limited pullet selection with bantams. Those usually straight run.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Unless they have changed recently, I think all McMurray bantams are straight run. I have gotten bantams from them before, both individual breeds and their clean legged assortment, actually have had more than 50% pullets each time... of course it was just luck.

 

[MaineiacJay]

have to say, so far i am pretty impressed with MM for their customer service alone. i placed my order maybe 4 days ago. after i placed it, i called and asked if the "mystery breed" can be cold hardy so it wont just die off in the winter (gets below 0*F here) and they happily marked my order. then i sent a message (cause i forgot to ask on the phone and hate calling back so soon! feel silly!) and asked if they can mark the chicks by breed/sex (because i have 7 different breeds coming and im selling off some of the chicks and dont want to have to wait so long) and they replied in about an hour saying they marked my order to be marked by sex and breed. checked my order and each one has a note next to it to be marked. THEN, my mom (who is buying them - for my birthday 7/13 - said she actually wanted 2 EE pullets and apparently asked me but i dont remember that... so i messaged them AGAIN asking to change the order and take off 2/4 NH Reds and add 2 EEs instead. it took about 3 days to get back this time, but happily changed the order, including:

"No problem, we rather have the order correct before the chicks are shipped! Glad we are able to help! Enjoy your new babies! "

so far, im impressed, ill have to see the quality of the chicks, but id order from them again