Murray McMurray?

[Judy]

The vast majority of DOA chicks are not the hatchery's fault, and in spite of this, they routinely replace or credit for DOA chicks. The problems have to do with the PO and weather, almost always. That said, keep in mind that many hatcheries don't hatch and ship the chicks from their location, they drop ship, sometimes from several states away.

My personal gripe is with hatcheries that do their shipping on a Friday, which means the chicks are likely to sit in a warehouse on Sunday. Other than that, they are what they are, high volume shippers of interbred chickens bred to lay for 2 or 3 years at best, and be replaced.

 

[woodmort]

Over 25 years I've bought a couple hundred chicks, both layers and meaties, from MM. Never had a dead bird; lost , maybe, one after they arrived and never had a deformed bird. Last year I got 43 chicks from them all but two are now laying--one got take by a hawk and the other is a rooster.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I've used most of the big name hatcheries. The Best birds, & Customer service comes from Cackle.(They used to be hard to get ahold of)
The worst, well, I won't mention them, but Buck Creek Chickens did!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I've always ordered my chicks from McMurray, they have a good selection of the breeds that I want. I've gotten ducklings from them too and been happy with what I got. Only one time were there a couple of DOAs, in that order were also a few with spraddle leg (only one breed) but the hatchery gave me credit for them. I don't show my birds, just have them for backyard production, but when I've entered them in the county fair they all win blue ribbons & many win trophies.

You'll find a variety of opinions about every hatchery, and often the folks with a gripe will be the most hasty to post negative remarks. I figure that MMH couldn't have stayed in business for as long as they have if they really were as awful as some people say.

 

[NYREDS]

McMurray's been in business for almost 100 years. If their products & service were routinely problematic they'd have fallen by the wayside long ago.

 

[flowerchild59]

I have ordered from MM several times in 10 years. I have lost maybe one or two birds with each order. Will they win awards at a show......no, yes, maybe, ...........do I care???? No I don't do shows, I don't care about standards and all of that. I care about friendly, egg layers and that I have. I have an assortment of 10 breeds that are friendly and talkative and the high light of my day. Isn't that what it is all about???
Maybe some day I will get into breeding and that stuff. Frankly I deal with too much crap and heavy stuff on a daily basis.........I don't need the hassle. Hatchery birds are ok with me.