my hatchery comparison - McMurray, Nature's, MPC & Ideal

[slackwater]

So, I've ordered from four different hatcheries so far. Here's my results:

McMurray - ordered 31 chicks, got 33. One DOA, four more died w/in a few days. Chicks seemed *okay* health-wise. Lost a few here and there from "failure to thrive"
*very quick to respond to customer requests & make order changes

Nature's Hatchery - ordered 45-ish - got something like that. One DOA, one died w/in a few days. Chicks seemed *okay* health-wise. Lost a few here and there from "failure to thrive."
*Almost impossible to get ahold of, could not tell me when order would ship - it just showed up one day! Never seemed to know what breeds they would have & when.

MPC - ordered 25, got 25. One almost DOA (died w/in hours), one w/dysfunctional leg. Chicks were fairly lively.
*did not contact customer service, so no basis for comparison.

Ideal - ordered 18, got 24. All alive on arrive, all still doing well.
*placed order directly w/customer service, very friendly. Long wait to have call answered.

Not sure if that will help anyone make any decisions, but...that's what I've done so far!

Oh, and ordered runner ducks from Metzers - all made the trip well, and are doing great!

 

[usschicago1]

Thanks ! Great Feedback What One Was the Best in your opinion?

 

[slackwater]

Well, for me, Nature's hatchery is out. I really didn't like not being able to speak to anyone, not having anyone reply to e-mails, not knowing when my order would ship, and what it would have in it.

McMurry was *okay* - but that order lost the greatest amount to failure to thrive (unidentified chick deaths). Good prices and selection, but...probably would not do that again.

MPC - the chicks from this group were the second-healthiest (despite one almost DOA and one cripple). Oh, I guess I should add - not sure about the sexing of their Wyandottes. All are 9-ish weeks and are already pretty red. Will be upset if all four are roos! Of the four hatcheries, this was the priciest. Would probably only order hard-to-finds or deals (25 for $50, shipped) from them.

Ideal - great pricing, the only chicks that were attempting to "fly" the day after I got them. DId not like to order by phone, but probably would have helped if I had been more prepared (they called me on a Tues afternoon about a breed I was on the wait list for - I had about an hour to call back and place my order to ship the next day). I can't speak to how they will turn out, but expect them to be at least as happy & healthy as most hatchery birds.

I guess, put it this way - I've checked out the "deals" on both Ideal's and MPC's websites. Check McMurray's occasionally. Haven't even gone back to Nature's Hatchery.

 

[usschicago1]

Thanks! Ideal Seems to always get great feedback

I ordered from stromburgs last year and there stock comes from ideal, and all very healthy with 4 extras. I Guess ideal and mcmurry are the ways to go.

 

[slackwater]

So...Strombergs, huh? I actually went to that site first, way back when, but never read any reviews on it here. You liked them?

 

[WisconsinChickenWhisperer]

I ordered mine from Ideal. All arrived well, although I am really glad that the postal warehouse called me from their location 30 miles away and ask if I would like to pick my chicks up there as they had already been "on the road" for 2 days. As thirsty as they were when I got them home, I'm not sure how many would have made it alive to my post office the next morning. Anyway, all of my chicks survived, all are happy and healthy, and growing like little weeds. I have not lost one!

I ordered on line, and spoke with customer service 3 or 4 times before my chicks arrived. Every rep was very nice and very helpful. I will defineatly order from them again!

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
I did. It was 64 $ For 24 (really 29) Bantams with shipping. Very Polite on the phone and received them on estimated ship date. No DOA Very Healthy.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I ordered my first and only order from Nature's Hatchery. The first installment of 35 chicks came will all alive and hopefully properly sexed (it looks like it from the way they are growing) with an extra chick. Although I had to call more than once they have called me back and been very helpful over the phone.

I am awaiting the rest of the chicks which should be coming soon. I am giving them a 4 out of 5 because of the phone tag issue.

 

[Tylt33]

Quote:
I had the same experience with Nature's Hatchery, which ruled them out in my book. I also had the same experience with Ideal... very healthy birds!

 

[Crossbreedchicken]

when I ordered from McMurray, I ordered 25 got 26 cuz of the free rare chick they give you. I lost 6 chicks the first week and the rest of them have thrived, except i ordered 4 golden sebrights and i didnt get one, they just sent me 3 extra silver sebrights that were added on to my order of 4 ssb already, the birds are some what decent and i have a couple out of the 20 i have left that are close to standard and might be able able to win a county fair show or something like. good costumer service, good company for people just starting out in poultry.