Murray Mcmurray

[sdsmowen]

We ordered the Rainbow layer collection last spring from MM and got 2 extras plus the mystery chick (EE rooster his is a hoot) They all did great and are happy healthy laying machines today we got 21 eggs and 2 of them are currently broody and sitting on eggs!

 

[James the Bald]

Anyone have any more photos they want to share?

As for me, for a very long time, I was interested in raising wild turkey, but the more I read, the more I was disillusioned with the regulations placed on raising wild turkey. I had several websites for hatcheries saved in my favorites just in case I decided to cut the red tape and raise turkey illegally for personal consumption. Fast forward about 10 years, and I find myself trying to find "healthier" ways of eating, which took me to raising Japanese quail for eggs. Many google searches on raising quail led me back to this site, where after a few months, I decided to become a member. They are small birds compared to chickens, so I figured that they would be something to invest in. I've built 2 cages to hold quail that I will keep on a screened in porch. The only reason I did not purchase any quail from MM is that they don't offer the breed that I was interested in. I received a shipment of 18 quail eggs Thursday afternoon, and went into the incubator in a small egg laying party/ceremony with my 2 kids. I let both of my kids pick out 2 eggs for them to keep... looking back, that wasn't the brightest idea as they may not hatch. My 6yo son is so looking forward to holding his own baby chicks in 16 or so days. I'm about a day or 2 from starting a blog about raising quail (like the internet "really" needs that), which will show how I built the cages, and will show my daily or weekly trials and tribulations.

How about you? You've been asking other members for their thoughts and experiences; do you have anything to share with us?

 

[Lone Wolf]

No I don't. I want to get some birds soon but I wanted to figure out the best hatchery to order from first.

 

[James the Bald]

Lone Wolf, some times your local Co-Op (or Farm extension) could help out. They may be able to recommend a local farmer who is willing to sell some eggs or several birds. Another thing is that if you are lucky enough, you can find out if they know somebody local who can mentor you.
Depending on where you live, The Tractor Supply Company sells week old chicks. Our local store has their "chick days" going on right now.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks! I will check it out

 

[wickedwindfarm]

I used to love McMurray, but found the last few years the quality of the strains has been falling. The past 2 batches of hens have been somewhat more aggressive, egg eaters, not as healthy looking as they used to be (same breeds as we always get). The chicks are usually healthy and not many losses though. Also I've been getting my cornish x from Mt. Healthy the last 2 years and they've been the biggest birds we've ever raised. Just my experience. They do have good customer service though.

 

[LFchixranch]

I am new to chickens and I placed an order with McMurray last Oct for 47 chicks, 7 Jumbo X rocks(Currently attending freezer camp), 5 RIR, 6 BR, 15 assorted, and 15 Rainbow layers. Chicks hatched Nov 7 got them the tenth. 2 died first day, 1 about a week later (he/she never seemed right). I called after the deaths and customer service was great and gave me credit. after the 3 rd death I had another acting like he was drunk, called again and they again gave me credit. At about 14 weeks I had called again to inquire what exactly they sent. I had gotten the specific ones I had ordered but I needed to know which were part of the Rainbow layers and which were the 15 assorted. Once they were old enough to determine sex/breed I received 5 BR Roo's (I ordered 1) and 9 hens (ordered 5 and now I see one is a barred rock mix


darker than the other BR pullets and that tail is not BR).
), 1 RIR Roo and 4 hens which I ordered all, now the assorted...

..... I have a pair of Cochins, a pair of SLW, what I think is a pair of Buff Orp's, 6 Dark Cornish 1 roo and the 5 pullets, 2 Jersey Giant pullets, 2 EE Roo's one bearded and tufted, the other just green legged, One unknown hen MM says its an EE but I find that hard to belive since it has a straight comb and willow legs.


. 4 Red stars pullets and a Roo (looks like a delaware but is showing red in cockles now in the above photo directly above her tail).
All and all it was a good experience. Being I got them in Nov and only lost 3, 2 on shipping which I cannot blame on MM but the PO. As for the assorted bunches, I would not do that again, my rainbow layers all turned out to be brown layers except for the Roo's which wont lay. I am not impressed with the brown rainbow assortment I got. As for the 15 assorted I am gla I got so many pairs but the quality compaired to breeding stock is noticeable. I spent about $150. Bang for the buck is there, if your only looking for eggs, yes the pullets will lay. I was highly disappointed with the rainbow collection. From the advertisement I was hoping for a white,blue brown shades but I got no white no blue and no dark brown Cuckoo. After I had ordered I had found this site so THEY may have biased me

, but if I did it again I would go with breeders. There's is a couple in my area that I would love to purchase from that have Orp's, Maran's and Top Hats

but hind site is 20/20.
So in my opinion, McMurray did only minor misleading things as for advertising and me expecting more than I had received. Would I ever order from them again.. I don't think so. I think the $$ spent with a breeder will give better quality chickens/eggs. Now if your only looking for bang for the buck and you want a barn yard flock for eggs that's fine they can do that.

 

[CedarCluck]

Here in Cedar Rapids IA we did a big batch order from McMurray through our local nature center. I am going to go and pick them up with my partner on our CLUC Page who organized all of it. I plan to take photos at the hatchery and also take photos of all the chicks. She and I are starting our first flock of meat birds, but we are doing heritage breeds and are sticking to Delawares for our first batch. I am also getting my first Japanese Bantams from them as well *crosses fingers they are show quality*. I will definitely have to post pictures for you all. I have never gotten any from McMurray before but our nature center has been doing business with them for a few years now and they have liked them.
Cam

 

[Lone Wolf]

I will look forward to hearing about it!

 

[Kelsie2290]

I've ordered from MCM a couple of times a year the last three years. Have pretty much been happy with them all around, they are my favorite big hatchery. I do think they have the best website / order set up and customer service of all the hatcheries by far. (Have also gotten chicks from Mt. Healthy, Meyer, Ideal and Sandhill in that time frame). Only problem I have had with MCM was when the post office lost a box of chicks, and a lot were doa, MCM sent replacements right away with no problem. Quality of the chickens is "hatchery" not "show" in general, some are better than others, but they are generally pretty recognizable as what they are supposed to be and some are very nice. They have been quite healthy in general, and they have always sent extras in the boxes, often quite a few. I have had four of their Wyandotte colors in the past, BLRW, SLW, GLW, and White. 10 total of the BLRW and 2/3 of the other colors. The BLRW were ordered in two different times, 7 were ordered as BLRW and 3 came in an assortment... I wound up with 6 Splash hens, 2 Blue roosters and 2 Splash roosters. I do have 2 BLRW from Sandhill, 1 splash hen and 1 Blue rooster, the hens from SH and MCM look pretty alike to me, the SH rooster is def prettier than the MCM ones were. Temperament wise I found the MCM BLRW to be pretty friendly and easy going birds, I found them pretty, nice lacing to me and while the girls were all splash, they were a pretty color. The Whites were a lot like the BLRW in temperament. The Silvers were probably the most skittish of the bunch, did not like their colors much either, they did not have very good lacing, really dark. The Golds were just kind of there, rather boring birds, did have nicer lacing than the Silvers and found them prettier. With the free "exotic" chick, I have never gotten an EE for some reason, which it seems is what everyone else gets, have had polish, cochins, hamburg and a cornish, think I have had 2F/3M of the ones that I kept long enough to be able to tell.