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

[l'uccello]

Quote:
I don't get that.

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

They don't hatch everything they sell and have contracts with other hatcheries to provide some of the stock they advertise. I know that most, if not all of "their" ducks and geese come from California.

 

[Sweetfolly]

I would ALWAYS choose Sandhill over McMurray - but then, I keep ducks, not chickens, and I LOVE Sandhill's selection (and prices!). Plus, they're just one state away from me, and I'm nervous about ordering from too far away - having a box of dead babies would be devastating to me.

The trick with Sandhill though, is knowing what you want and placing your order well in advance. I placed this year's order last fall and am expecting my new bunch of ducklings the middle to end of next week. If you don't get on the list early, expect your order to be delayed from your requested hatch date. Also, try not to be too picky - let them sub another breed if they can't quite fill your order. It's a wonderful surprise, and all their birds are lovely.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Sandhill! No comparison there!

I'd never order from McMurray.

 

[ChickBond 007]

Quote:
I don't get that.

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

I got my chicks in less than 4 hours from shipping a McMurray to arrival at my P.O.
No problems, no deaths, even the rare chick lived.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Quote:
I don't get that.

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

I got my chicks in less than 4 hours from shipping a McMurray to arrival at my P.O.
No problems, no deaths, even the rare chick lived.

Maybe they have gotten better since Nov. when mine got shipped from TX and only 9 survived. I'm still not going to order from them again though.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I had an excellent experience with McMurray and it really makes me sad to read all the negative feedback. I know that some people have had legitimately bad experiences... but when I read something like, "52 dead chicks from McMurray - never again!" I think - come on! If that were common from MM, they wouldn't even be in business. That had to be some kind of fluke problem. Why would they want to send out chicks in a way that would cause all of them to die?

My order of 25 chicks +1 free rare chick came earlier than I even expected (before dawn on a Monday morning). They also included an extra chick. All 27 were alive and healthy and peeping. I am a first-timer and when I called before my order arrived to ask them how to best tell my breeds apart so I could split the order with another lady... they were very nice and helpful. Of the 27 that came in the shipment... we lost a total of 2 over 24 hours, which can be expected. The other 25 (I keep in touch with the other lady) are all healthy 10 week-olds now and are all beautiful with no flaws of any kind at all. Perhaps they couldn't be show birds - I wouldn't have any idea, but I get comments on my photographs on BYC that they are beautiful birds. I am very happy with my experience with them and would recommend them and use them again. I also am in contact with another person in my local area and she and her father both have ordered from MM this year and are very happy with their birds and their experiences. I have to think that the horror stories are the results of fluke accidents for the most part.

*Note* for pics of my chicks and my whole story of ordering them from MM, etc, check out my blog (link in my signature).

 

[The Poultry Peanut]

My family has had good exprernces with MM. The only problems we've had was the last time we ordered I bought bantams and my parents bought standard breeds. Well 4 of the 12 bantams I bought died but MM was very good about crediting my loss back.

We do have a problem with keeping the rare chick they throw in alive

they are stupid birds b/c they don't get in the coop one night and are gone the next day. Not MM fault though

 

[Calebs Acre]

I had great experience with X-Treme. Fast shipping. All birds survived and great communication. I would use them again anytime.

 

[The Poultry Peanut]

Quote:
Whats their web site?

 

[dave3877]

look at my signature theres the link to x-treme. john's a great guy and his customer service is above par