my pet chicken reviews

[klt1975]

Ours came from MPC and they will be 1 year old on the 2nd of April. The ones we have are just wonderful. Never been sick, got no accidental roos, they are sweet as can be and they are beautiful, especially the buff orp. We couldn't be happier with our girls. The low minimum fit our needs perectly. Yeah, the shipping is high but really if you look at what ANY overnight shipping actually costs and then factor in the cost of appropriate boxes, safe packing material, the heat pack, the extra charges the drop shipper charges THEM to pay the employee that actually does the packaging... it's not really so over the top.

 

[stefan333]

I just wanted to clarify something. It is a misconception that MPC ONLY drop ships from Meyer. They drop ship from many other places, too. I personally think this is the reason for the inconsistency that some people got great chicks/hatching eggs while others had horrible experiences. Meyer has a great reputation for good quality chicks, whereas Gabbard Farms (where my eggs originated from), have a bad reputation. If ALL the chicks/hatching eggs came from Meyer I'm sure there'd be a lot less complaining.

 

[bruceha2000]

I just wanted to clarify something. It is a misconception that MPC ONLY drop ships from Meyer. They drop ship from many other places, too. I personally think this is the reason for the inconsistency that some people got great chicks/hatching eggs while others had horrible experiences. Meyer has a great reputation for good quality chicks, whereas Gabbard Farms (where my eggs originated from), have a bad reputation. If ALL the chicks/hatching eggs came from Meyer I'm sure there'd be a lot less complaining.

Knowing which breeds MPC gets from which hatchery and the results people have with that breed (starting with arrival) would be interesting information if it is available. Perhaps the data would show which breeds you really don't want to get from MPC and which you do.

I guess you could do SOME legwork and figure out which ones DON'T come from Meyer. Assuming MPC sells breeds that Meyer does not.

Bruce

 

[stefan333]

I think the only way to find this out in accurate detail would be to get records from MPC, and I don't think that's going to happen. I've tried to look on the MPC website, and I can't find any information stating they even drop ship, let alone from who. Both MPC and Meyer do have the same breeds listed on both websites with few differences, but it's possible that Meyer and other hatcheries can fill orders for the same breed. I've read the other threads on here and some people swear that they don't drop ship, some swear they only drop ship from Meyer, and others swear they drop ship from different sources -different opinions based on personal experience and has caused some arguments. I can attest to the fact they do drop ship from different sources because many people get packages that originated from various destinations other than Ohio, including mine. Just my opinion here, but I think if someone is going to order chicks why not just order directly from Meyer? They're less expensive, and you're guaranteed to get Meyer quality. Avoiding the middle man just makes sense.

Edit: Okay, this is what confuses me about MPC. If you read a lot of their FAQ's you get things like this:

Q: Are you a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)?

​

A: Yes! Our hatching facility participates in NPIP...

My point is that if you read a lot of their FAQ's they repeatedly talk about themselves being a hatchery -not a drop shipper. It seems misleading.

 

[Adenium]

What they told me on the phone when I asked about the Meyer/MPC confusion was that they have their own breeding stock for eggs but use a portion of Meyer's hatching facilities. I heard nothing about Gabbard farms. Mine shipped last June from Meyer in Ohio.

The reason I chose MPC was the ability to 1) get a small number with multiple breeds and 2) the option to get sexed bantams. All 4 of our silkies were girls as we'd asked.

 

[kynewbchickie]

Yep, that is what they do! See them in the morning when they are a few days old and again in the evening, and "WHOA Wing feathers!!"

They instinctively know to scratch for food, put themselves to bed when it starts to get dark (unlike children) and a whole bunch of other stuff. Very amazing little creatures.

I'm sure you'll be posting pictures on BYC

I did! They're in the New Baby Chicks post.

 

[kynewbchickie]

I think the only way to find this out in accurate detail would be to get records from MPC, and I don't think that's going to happen. I've tried to look on the MPC website, and I can't find any information stating they even drop ship, let alone from who. Both MPC and Meyer do have the same breeds listed on both websites with few differences, but it's possible that Meyer and other hatcheries can fill orders for the same breed. I've read the other threads on here and some people swear that they don't drop ship, some swear they only drop ship from Meyer, and others swear they drop ship from different sources -different opinions based on personal experience and has caused some arguments. I can attest to the fact they do drop ship from different sources because many people get packages that originated from various destinations other than Ohio, including mine. Just my opinion here, but I think if someone is going to order chicks why not just order directly from Meyer? They're less expensive, and you're guaranteed to get Meyer quality. Avoiding the middle man just makes sense.

Edit: Okay, this is what confuses me about MPC. If you read a lot of their FAQ's you get things like this:

Q: Are you a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)?

​

A: Yes! Our hatching facility participates in NPIP...

My point is that if you read a lot of their FAQ's they repeatedly talk about themselves being a hatchery -not a drop shipper. It seems misleading.

If you still have your actual shipping labels, you can search the pickup and/or primary USPS processing drop to figure out where chicks/eggs are coming from. Mine were shipped from Mansfield, OH.

I've had it confirmed to me that they sell for many facilities as well as their own, but the facilities are held to their expectations (NPIP, as one for example) or their stock isn't accepted.

IMHO...this is another example of free market working. Some hatcheries don't want the added workload of marketing and invoicing, so they make business for a marketing - and it's up to us as consumers to decide who we want to do business with. I'm happy with my mix-max of bird origins - shipped, TSC, True Value, and randomly donated from a local farm to the middle school. My chicks will probably be what I breed from here on out. But for anyone else who's ordering and wants to be assured of the highest-quality stock, it's up to us as consumers to make our best educated choice and go from there. Reading through a lot of the review threads, it seems many report good outcomes from most suppliers...and there are some that, unfortunately, have bad outcomes. If I were to order chicks again, I personally would want to order from a hatchery that is as close to me as possible - less possible transit stress time and distance for issues to develop. But again, that's just me, personally.

Without getting actual paperwork from these hatchery middlemen, it's hard at best for us to be able to draw solid conclusions...so our best option is research and taking a chance on our choice. :/

 

[stefan333]

If you still have your actual shipping labels, you can search the pickup and/or primary USPS processing drop to figure out where chicks/eggs are coming from. Mine were shipped from Mansfield, OH.

I've had it confirmed to me that they sell for many facilities as well as their own, but the facilities are held to their expectations (NPIP, as one for example) or their stock isn't accepted.

IMHO...this is another example of free market working. Some hatcheries don't want the added workload of marketing and invoicing, so they make business for a marketing - and it's up to us as consumers to decide who we want to do business with. I'm happy with my mix-max of bird origins - shipped, TSC, True Value, and randomly donated from a local farm to the middle school. My chicks will probably be what I breed from here on out. But for anyone else who's ordering and wants to be assured of the highest-quality stock, it's up to us as consumers to make our best educated choice and go from there. Reading through a lot of the review threads, it seems many report good outcomes from most suppliers...and there are some that, unfortunately, have bad outcomes. If I were to order chicks again, I personally would want to order from a hatchery that is as close to me as possible - less possible transit stress time and distance for issues to develop. But again, that's just me, personally.

Without getting actual paperwork from these hatchery middlemen, it's hard at best for us to be able to draw solid conclusions...so our best option is research and taking a chance on our choice. :/

My hatching eggs were shipped from West Fork, Arkansas. That's how I figured out they came from Gabbard Farms. After realizing that over half my eggs were true infertiles, I did more research. I looked on Gabbard Farm's facebook page and in these forums and found out I wasn't the only one who had these issues. Someone even posted that they had bought a full grown rooster from them who happened to be infertile, and others said the chicks that did hatch had genetic deformities like mine did. They weren't just your normal complaints of, "You gave me bad eggs, cause my chicks didn't hatch." They were legitimate complaints from people who know what they're talking about. That's where I fault MPC, in that Gabbard Farms has had sooooo many bad reviews over the past few years for infertility and genetic issues, that MPC has to know by now that they're not a good farm/hatchery and shouldn't be doing business with them.

I think it's important for us to write about our experiences in these forums for others to read. When you give a negative review sometimes people will get on your case, though. I'm constantly reading responses that might as well say, "I had a good experience, what's wrong with you?" Many times people assume that somehow it's your fault. They assume you're stupid, and frankly that's offensive. And at the same time I have read some pretty nasty reviews based strictly on opinion (example: biosecurity vs open farm) when there was nothing wrong with the hatchery. I do get annoyed at the reviews saying the eggs didn't hatch, the chicks died two days later, or I got too many roosters. All things that might not be the hatcheries fault. Regardless of how anyone feels, people should be allowed to air their grievances and warn others. It's so important for those of us who are researching to know about those bad experiences. I don't want anyone else to not only waste money, but I don't want them to be disappointed. I believe it is our moral obligation to let others know what the possibilities are if they order from certain hatcheries. As long as a customer is completely informed, then they can make a good decision, and I totally agree it is ultimately their educated choice.

 

[kynewbchickie]

My hatching eggs were shipped from West Fork, Arkansas. That's how I figured out they came from Gabbard Farms. After realizing that over half my eggs were true infertiles, I did more research. I looked on Gabbard Farm's facebook page and in these forums and found out I wasn't the only one who had these issues. Someone even posted that they had bought a full grown rooster from them who happened to be infertile, and others said the chicks that did hatch had genetic deformities like mine did. They weren't just your normal complaints of, "You gave me bad eggs, cause my chicks didn't hatch." They were legitimate complaints from people who know what they're talking about. That's where I fault MPC, in that Gabbard Farms has had sooooo many bad reviews over the past few years for infertility and genetic issues, that MPC has to know by now that they're not a good farm/hatchery and shouldn't be doing business with them.

I think it's important for us to write about our experiences in these forums for others to read. When you give a negative review sometimes people will get on your case, though. I'm constantly reading responses that might as well say, "I had a good experience, what's wrong with you?" Many times people assume that somehow it's your fault. They assume you're stupid, and frankly that's offensive. And at the same time I have read some pretty nasty reviews based strictly on opinion (example: biosecurity vs open farm) when there was nothing wrong with the hatchery. I do get annoyed at the reviews saying the eggs didn't hatch, the chicks died two days later, or I got too many roosters. All things that might not be the hatcheries fault. Regardless of how anyone feels, people should be allowed to air their grievances and warn others. It's so important for those of us who are researching to know about those bad experiences. I don't want anyone else to not only waste money, but I don't want them to be disappointed. I believe it is our moral obligation to let others know what the possibilities are if they order from certain hatcheries. As long as a customer is completely informed, then they can make a good decision, and I totally agree it is ultimately their educated choice.

I was in agreement with you.

I do believe it's a shame that some marketing companies still choose to do business with companies that have had so many bad reviews. I'd encourage anyone who bought bad stock that originated from any hatchery to write - not email - their "middle man" a very strong, fact-based letter about doing business with a hatchery that is selling infertiles of any age of development. After all, we got into this for a multitude of reasons in order to raise our own flocks, and we depend on fertile specimens in order to do that.

 

[bruceha2000]

I've read the other threads on here and some people swear that they don't drop ship, some swear they only drop ship from Meyer, and others swear they drop ship from different sources -different opinions based on personal experience and has caused some arguments. I can attest to the fact they do drop ship from different sources because many people get packages that originated from various destinations other than Ohio, including mine. Just my opinion here, but I think if someone is going to order chicks why not just order directly from Meyer? They're less expensive, and you're guaranteed to get Meyer quality. Avoiding the middle man just makes sense.

Edit: Okay, this is what confuses me about MPC. If you read a lot of their FAQ's you get things like this:

Q: Are you a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)?

​

A: Yes! Our hatching facility participates in NPIP...

My point is that if you read a lot of their FAQ's they repeatedly talk about themselves being a hatchery -not a drop shipper. It seems misleading.

If MPC has a "hatching facility" it sure are heck isn't at their New Providence, NJ strip mall address. I agree on the "straight from the source" comment. I checked lots of hatcheries until I found those that would ship a dozen birds and of the breeds I most wanted. I originally planned on 6 or 8 MAX but chicken math kicked in before I even ordered my first "starter flock"

Too many great breeds to choose from!

IMHO...this is another example of free market working. Some hatcheries don't want the added workload of marketing and invoicing, so they make business for a marketing - and it's up to us as consumers to decide who we want to do business with.

If I were to order chicks again, I personally would want to order from a hatchery that is as close to me as possible - less possible transit stress time and distance for issues to develop. But again, that's just me, personally.

That's where I fault MPC, in that Gabbard Farms has had sooooo many bad reviews over the past few years for infertility and genetic issues, that MPC has to know by now that they're not a good farm/hatchery and shouldn't be doing business with them.

I think it's important for us to write about our experiences in these forums for others to read.
.......
Regardless of how anyone feels, people should be allowed to air their grievances and warn others. It's so important for those of us who are researching to know about those bad experiences. I don't want anyone else to not only waste money, but I don't want them to be disappointed. I believe it is our moral obligation to let others know what the possibilities are if they order from certain hatcheries. As long as a customer is completely informed, then they can make a good decision, and I totally agree it is ultimately their educated choice.

Totally agree - that is how the "free market" is supposed to work. But I wonder if MPC can follow up on every order (or cares only to refund your $3+ for a dead chick). From a consumer perspective I think it would be great if they collected and analyzed all the data to determine that, in fact, the supplier they contract with is meeting standards.

That is why it would be ideal (though how to to it) if there were a database of information on tons of chick sales where one could determine (for example) that Barred Rocks from XYZ are above average (health, laying, etc) and BRs from ABC are not. Obviously there will be variation and things not necessarily in control of the business that hatches the birds nor the one selling them. The person receiving the birds may not brood them properly, it could be the transportation, maybe there was a freak sub-zero temp. But, you could MAYBE determine "If I'm going to get this breed, this is the better supplier but this other supplier would be better for that breed" then decide on a single source for your small order or, if large enough, split it over a couple of suppliers. Or maybe you can figure out that, for YOUR area, you want to wait until May to get birds from LMN but those from QRS would be OK in March.

Bruce