Need help on picking a hatchery

[Miss Red]

Okay so I just got a call from my Aunt.[Well not JUST, but earlier today and I took the time to calm before posting] All the eggs she put in the bator for me, only two hatched. I'm SO asdfjasdf!! right now it's unreal. Which means, that I will only [if they are] have two 'show quality' birds... She wasn't planning on hatching out again for another month AT THE LEAST, not for me at least, because her birds are presold. She places customers before me, as I wasn't paying to begin with. >>

I want chicks now, I've been dying for show birds but I'll be happy with hatchery stock until I can get some. I'm on the hunt for a hatchery. So far here are my choices, E Fowl a few of my friends use they seem to have no problems BUT what are ya'lls takes on it? ...


Cackle - 25 BA pullets, 2 BA roo's, 10 RSL pullets, 1 RSL roo = 90.80 with shipping/handling all that I'd be REALLLY happy if Cackle has good birds.

))) This is my favorite choice so far.
-- Cackle also has a Happy Cackle Special right now I REALLY want... it includes 1 pair geese, 1 pair ducks, 2 turkeys, 10 pullets, 1 rooster, and 10 assorted rare chickens for ONLY 69.25 Any takes on how this flock would mix together in one big pen?? This option ends in [July?] and I want to do it in June so I have time to build another pen.. or a few more...
Ideal 20 BSL pullets, 2 BSL roos, 10 GSL pullets, 1 GSL roo = 80.18 with shipping/handling all that Pretty much all Ideal has large egg layer right now is SL's so I chose between two I liked.

I really want to go with the best quality birds I can get. I was REALLY hoping for some B Austers but almost everyone is sold out except for E-fowl... But I also REALLY want some RSL's. Cackle has the best deals that I've seen... but are their birds any good?

Also, if there are any breeders in Texas willing to ship me some LIVE austers, that'd be great... I am hoping for a flock of 20-30 of them with only 1 or 2 roo's and I don't have a bator so that's out of the question. But I do have a little area set up just for my new chicks when I finally get them. I only have 100 dollars to spend on birds this month, and next probably, so cheap breeding stock would be fine. ^^

ETA: E-fowl is definitely off. Down to two hatcheries to chose from, choice is to be made on Monday and I'm still flipping between the two. I think I'll order the variety deal from Cackle and get on the waiting list for BA's from Ideal.

 

[pdsavage]

What about sandhill preservation?They only have STR though.... http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/chickens.html
And http://www.countryhatchery.net/chickens.html shipping is included in the price...

 

[TexasVet]

Ideal has excellent stock, and they'll put you on a waiting list. And I always order from the closest hatchery, so the chicks aren't stuck in the postal system any longer than necessary. But if you want to check around, you can find a list of hatcheries by state here: http://www.countrychickens.com/country_chickens_4_003.htm

Kathy, Bellville Texas
www.ChickenTrackin.com

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
What do you mean by "quality"? Are you talking show quality or something else? You have show quality birds which come from a breeder's stock and be careful on the breeder. Some are better than others. You have hatchery quality stock, which are not consistent in size and conformation, let alone close to bred to standards. I got some nice BA's from Cackle. They are very good layers and their eggs produced a lot of chicks when I incubated, more than my other breeds fromCackle on a percentage basis. They produce a great tasting carcass, although they tend to run to fat more than my other breeds. For my purposes, they are quality birds. But they are not show quality. There is a huge diffeence in size and conformation between the different BA hens.

 

[ghulst]

Townline has Black Austolops plus most anything else.

 

[Miss Red]

I'm not expecting show quality, not even close from a hatchery. I just want birds that are going to lay me nice eggs, generally aren't completely loopy, and I wont have a lot of problems with. I know that's a lot to ask of hatchery birds... but it doesn't hurt to want.

If I wanted to get good, amazing looking and ready to lay birds I'd get some of my aunts Domineque's that she's ready to chop because she no longer wants them on her feed bill. But I'm hard headed and want some BA's... I'll check into those other two when I get back from the feed store.

 

[countrygurl]

Cackle! They are the best! DO NOT order from Mcmurry! Their birds don't even resemble purebreds!

 

[Miss Red]

I like Cackle, but Ideal is REALLY close to me. I'm going to think about this over the weekend, as I am not ordering birds until Monday. If I do order from Ideal, I'll get BA's from them and get on the waiting list for them.

 

[bigoakhunter]

Check out Estes hatchery... Not sure on birds avalibility at this time, but I got some nice chicks from them. Customer service was good and shipping was quick. My experience with them has been excellent.

Dave

 

[Funky Feathers]

Forget eFowl, they have poor quality birds & steal your pics to sell their birds 'cause nobody would buy them if they saw real pics of eFowl's birds. Trust me, I know.