Murray McMurray hatchery???????

[cluck-cluck]

I think, unless the bantams are bred to be feather sexed or can be sexed from their down, the bantams are simply too small to vent sex and that is why they're straight run only.

 

[jakeflock]

The quality they ship is the best!

 

[HughesFowlFarm]

I been reading through this thread (read most of the 142 post). I was wondering of ordering 3 breeds from McMurtry.
Rhode Island Red
Delaware
Barred Rocks
Has anyone oredered these from McMurray? I'm 16 and this will be my first time ordering from a hatchery. I was wanting 5 of each breed (4 hen and 1 roo). I was thinking of ordering 4 hen and one roo or maybe just ordering 5 hens of each breed and hoping that there would be at least one "accidental" rooster in each breed. I mainly want these 3 breeds because they are my favorite from what I've seen. I also like the idea of being able to mix them and gettin black sex links (black star) or red sex links (red star). Anyone have any ideas on what I should do, advice, tips, etc. ?

 

[cluck-cluck]

well, aside from creating sex linked birds, what other goals do you have? If you really want to try your hand at breeding to the SOP, I suggest sticking to one breed. At the same time, it can also be a good idea to try out several breeds to see which breed you like best. I chose which breed I wanted, then at the last second, got a few of another breed I was thinking about, and wouldn't you know it, I fell in love with that breed! Now I'm going to try my hand at an attempt to bring them closer to the SOP..

I guess my suggestion would be to do as you said and try those breeds you are interested in. Then, you can follow your heart with them. Keep reading about those breeds and learn about their faults, etc... Try your hand at showing (where you will learn even more) and see where it all takes you .

Good Luck!

 

[Kelsie2290]

I been reading through this thread (read most of the 142 post). I was wondering of ordering 3 breeds from McMurtry.
Rhode Island Red
Delaware
Barred Rocks
Has anyone oredered these from McMurray? I'm 16 and this will be my first time ordering from a hatchery. I was wanting 5 of each breed (4 hen and 1 roo). I was thinking of ordering 4 hen and one roo or maybe just ordering 5 hens of each breed and hoping that there would be at least one "accidental" rooster in each breed. I mainly want these 3 breeds because they are my favorite from what I've seen. I also like the idea of being able to mix them and gettin black sex links (black star) or red sex links (red star). Anyone have any ideas on what I should do, advice, tips, etc. ?


I've had about 10 of their Barred Rocks and 20+ of their RIR, also had 1 Delaware in an assortment once. Both the RIR and BR were good layers, 5-6 eggs a week when young, neither were broody at all, they were on the small side for their breed compared to birds from heritage stock, but they layed better. The Del layed 4 eggs a week, she was medium sized. The BR and Del had nice temperaments, they were no problem with the other birds, the BR are very people friendly. The RIRs were for the most part very dominant birds, and they tended to cause trouble with the other breeds, I sold most of them because of that, they are fine in a flock by themselves or with birds of similar temperaments, still have a couple of them that had mellower temperaments. I had I think three BR roosters from McM, they were actually nice sized roosters, much bigger than the hens, they were nice roosters temperament wise, no people aggression. Color wise, the BR had decent baring, fairly crisp, the roosters did have 1 or so dark feathers in their tails. The RIR were not as dark as a lot of the heritage birds. Only had one Del and she was on the light side without many barred feathers.
I've also had 20+ of their NHR, actually like them better than their RIR, they lay almost as well, and are a bigger bird and have a nicer temperament with everybody else. If you are actually looking for egg laying ability, their best brown egg layer in my experience is their red sex link, or what they sell as a Red Star.
Sexing wise, they actually have been better than 98% accurate in the birds I have gotten the last couple of years, so I would not count on any accidental roosters... if you want roosters I would order one.
So far as breeding them. Remember McM is a commercial hatchery, their birds are bred primarily for egg laying ability, not to a standard, they are recognizable as the breed they are, but they are not going to compare size or type wise to good heritage or show line birds from private breeders. In my experience, they do lay better and have less of a tendency to go broody though.

 

[Elena2424]

I'm suppose to get mine from MM tomorrow

 

[NewerChick]

I have a chicken with the same problem. Swollen, Hot legs and is now starting to walk pigeon toed. Poor baby is actually starting to step on her own feet as she walks. She's 3 1/2 months old.
She eats well. Plenty of Fruit, grain and bugs. Bugs however are becoming few and far in between as she sits more now and is only getting the bugs that seem to cross her path. Vary clean housing. A friend that looked at her said she is at a very healthy weight and is puzzled by what might be wrong with her. PLEASE, does anyone has any ideas?? Do you think Antibiotics will help? I have Penicillin 250 mg on hand but wouldn't know the dosage for a chicken.

 

[cluck-cluck]

You should really ask in the emergency thread, and if you can, take pictures. Somebody will be able to helpp!

 

[NewerChick]

Okay, Thank you I will.

 

[HughesFowlFarm]

If I do order from them. Should I go all out as to make sure they
-Ship with Grow Gel
-Get both Marek's and Coccidiosis vaccinations
- and order quik chick drinking water aid
????????
Also, I was wondering about what some people may have received with their "Free rare exotic chick"