Murray McMurray vs. Sandhill Preservation - which one would you choose

[Laskaland]

From MM, I ordered 25 White Rock Pullets and 25 Heavy Breed BOys. I have processed the boys, but wanted an idea what certain breeds would look/act like so that is why I got the mixture...

Of the 25 White Rocks, almost ALL of them are HUGE and GREAT layers. They are beautiful, nice birds! There were 3 that haven't developed well, but those odds are pretty darn good!

Now, the boys... YUCK! I had 5 SLW- only one had the right comb and body shape. The 5 Barred Rocks were just OK- kind of scrawny for Roo's- they may have not peaked out yet? Dunno.. The 5 Rhode Island Reds were really not good looking, but they were pleasant and they were all healthy. The SLW matured early....

I have decided that small farms are the way to go! I wish more small breeders would ship chicks.

 

[SportTees]

I ordered from Ideal and all my chicks arrived in good condition except my Sebrights. 2 sebrights died in shipping and 1 within 24 hrs.

 

[Willjg]

Hey there,

I've ordered from various hatcheries... and I have to say McMurray is probably my favorite...I always got healthy chicks when I ordered from them, and they always turned into the friendliest birds in the flock...and great layers too.
I am actually considering them again this year.

Cackle is ok too....but if I had to choose, it would be McMurray.

Take Care,
Bill.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I don't get that.

McMurray is in Iowa. You are in Iowa. They drop shipped from TEXAS? What's up with that?

Yeah. I didn't get it either. I told them I chose them because they were in Iowa. Had I wanted chicks from TX I would have used Ideal. I thought my chicks would have less travel time if I got them from a place only 4 hours from me but instead they sent them all the way from TX.

Its not uncommon for them to do so, because if they had a bad hatch or oversupply of orders, they do use Ideal for that reason. I had MM last year and had no problems with the chicks. I used MM twenty years ago and their birds were better looking than the ones today which oddities popped up in the breeds more often than not. Sometimes they are a middleman for Ideal hatchery too.

Sandhill has their good and bad points. I've ordered thru them twice and the last chick order, I would not order thru them again due to high chick mortality and lack of vigor and trying to keep them alive after four months of age was a big chore and all of them died before they reached 8 months. Those were the Salmon and Mahogany Faverolles, Polish orders. The American breeds were the hardiest and all of them survived thru adulthood. I think there is plenty of inbreeding going on AND alot of their birds are not up to exhibition standards.

 

[Big dreams]

I used MM and they seem pretty good all came in healthy and happy, for some odd reason one died for no apparent reason but out of the 26 they sent I still have 25 very active little 5 week old chicks.

 

[cybercat]

Quote:
Yeah. I didn't get it either. I told them I chose them because they were in Iowa. Had I wanted chicks from TX I would have used Ideal. I thought my chicks would have less travel time if I got them from a place only 4 hours from me but instead they sent them all the way from TX.

Its not uncommon for them to do so, because if they had a bad hatch or oversupply of orders, they do use Ideal for that reason. I had MM last year and had no problems with the chicks. I used MM twenty years ago and their birds were better looking than the ones today which oddities popped up in the breeds more often than not. Sometimes they are a middleman for Ideal hatchery too.

Sandhill has their good and bad points. I've ordered thru them twice and the last chick order, I would not order thru them again due to high chick mortality and lack of vigor and trying to keep them alive after four months of age was a big chore and all of them died before they reached 8 months. Those were the Salmon and Mahogany Faverolles, Polish orders. The American breeds were the hardiest and all of them survived thru adulthood. I think there is plenty of inbreeding going on AND alot of their birds are not up to exhibition standards.

How many hatcheries do have chicks that grow up to exhibition standards. Few to none. I would check Sandhill before thinking of ordering from them. They are sold out of many breeds for this year. They are not you normal hatchery because they limited the amount the sell.

 

[luvmysilkies]

52 dead chicks from MM! Never again!I hear Meyer and Ideal have way better success rates. I only buy local now. Good luck.

 

[EweSheep]

With Ideal sometimes you will have to start your breeding program somewhere and do alot of culling. would they be show quality, nope but I have two Spitz hens that did look good but with other spitz breeders, I can continue to go for what I need to look for and CULL hard! You might get one or two of the best you have and continue to work on it. I have two other breeder lines in my flock now and hope for the best.

Sandhill may have sold out many breeds but if you look at the people that buys the chicks, they are the same and you and me, rather than going to breeders because it cost MORE and shipping would cost MORE as well for a private breeder. Its a matter of research! I can tell you they dont do alot of heavy culling in their flock, because it cost too much to lose a few pullets to keep the business going.

Some certain breeds that Sandhill got, are pretty good but others like the Polish, Faverolles, I'll get them elsewhere.

 

[dave3877]

have any of you tried x-treme gamebirds in elgin texas. i have used them and ideal mostly and i have had better results as far as availability with them than i have with ideal . both hatcheries have had great birds. i havent tried mm but i might make an order with them because they have red leghorns and i have been jonesing for some. x treme has availability year round for the most part on the common breed birdsthat are in high demand like buff o's, r.i. red, b. rocks etc. i dont know if its ok to post a link to the website but if you google them it comes up first hit just type in x-treme gamebirds. hope this helps anybody out there.

 

[herechickchick]

I have heard lots of bad things about Sandhill, poor quality chicks, chicks did not survive, etc... I have not used them personally but these are things I have heard. Do a search to read about them.