Murray McMurray Rainbow and Ornamental Layers?

[SeaHen]

Wondering if anyone has ordered these particular collections and what your experiences have been. I would love to get more Easter Eggers, Turkens, White Rocks, Barred Rocks and ornamental chicks, but I'm driving myself crazy with all the choices and trying to limit it to a manageable number - plus I'm intrigued by the element of surprise! Were you happy or disappointed? Would you do it again? What did you get as a free chick?

 

[EweSheep]

It was many years ago I had the Ornamental Layers. I had a good selection and quite pleased with many varieties such as Polish, Hamburgs, a Phoenix, Buttercups, EEs, Blue Andalusians, and Cochins. But I never got to see them reach maturity because just about3/4 were murdered by a family of weasels. I was sick about it for a week and determined to try again with selected breeds I wanted to buy for laying, ordering mostly EEs and SSH.

I don't know about MM now, since I ordered from them a few years ago with White Orpingtons and more EEs, sadly disappointed with them. They had some disease that just wiped them out and I've not ordered from them since then.

If any hatchery I would choose from, it would be Ideal Hatchery. Marti's Hatchery (no longer in business, owners retired) was exceptionally very good for their EE bantams and bantam breeds. Estes used to be good but fell out of quality it used to have on their Welsummers which was bought out from Calicowoods. You would be hard pressed to find quality Welsummers there anymore and it is getting very disappointing results.

Whatever your decision may be, I wish you all the luck and pleasure out of the Rainbow or Ornamental Layers you choose from MM.

 

[sjrogers]

It's been about five years ago since I last purchased chicks through the mail, but I ordered two groups of the rainbow layers, after having previously ordered my own custom mix and match batch. With respect to the Rainbow Layers, I was very pleased! I recall a good variety of excellent laying hens. I can list all the kinds I've raised from McMurray, but my memory might be faulty as to the breeds that came with that particular selection. I know some Turkens came with one group (I would never have ordered those on my own, but they were fabulous chickens in every way!), some Ameracaunas of course, some Reds (can't remember if they were New Hampshire or Rhode Island), Buttercups, Silver Gray Dorkings, Orpingtons of some kind, Partridge Rocks, and of course some Pearl White Leghorns (which, although I love all chickens, seem to me to have very stunted/boring personalities). The most exciting part was trying to guess what breed the little cuties were! I had excellent luck with McMurray. Good luck to you whatever you decide!

 

[SeaHen]

Thank you both so much for your replies.

EweSheep, so sad about your loss to predators - that is always so devastating. I appreciate your feedback about MM with regard to the illness in the EEs and Orpingtons as that is always a major concern.

Sjrogers, I agree with you about the wonderfulness of Turkens! I've never owned a leghorn but your description of their personalities seems pretty typical. I think it would be so much fun to trying to figure out the different breeds in the bunch

I will let you know what I end up doing!