Privett hatchery birds.

[jwyles]

does anyone have chickens from privett hatchery (out if NM I believe)? If so what breeds do you have and what do you think them? A local feed store keeps birds from them and I'm trying to decide if I want to buy from them or order from another hatchery and pay the outlandish shipping. Breeds I'm debating (just FYI but would love to hear about your experience with any birds from privett) are: langshan (blue or black),welsummer, Ameraucana (actually EE), cuckoo marans, barred or buff rock, blue laced red Wyandotte, houdan, silkie, & speckled Sussex. Especially curious about their langshan, welsummer, & cuckoo marans and those breeds in general so any shared experience regarding those would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Practically all my flock came from Privett Hatchery. My Welsummers, Speckled Sussex and the latest, EEs, are doing well. I have one SLW left from my original batch of chicks from them. She's nine years old.

When I got the Welsummer chicks, I was dealing with a feed store owner that was unscrupulous and a pathological liar. He kept insisting he had placed my order of six chicks, then I saw no results. I dealt directly with Privett on the matter, and they were very helpful in my finally getting my chicks, even though they only deal directly with the public in full-size orders.

I would rate them as good as any large hatchery in the USA.

 

[jwyles]

Practically all my flock came from Privett Hatchery. My Welsummers, Speckled Sussex and the latest, EEs, are doing well. I have one SLW left from my original batch of chicks from them. She's nine years old.

When I got the Welsummer chicks, I was dealing with a feed store owner that was unscrupulous and a pathological liar. He kept insisting he had placed my order of six chicks, then I saw no results. I dealt directly with Privett on the matter, and they were very helpful in my finally getting my chicks, even though they only deal directly with the public in full-size orders.

I would rate them as good as any large hatchery in the USA.

Well thank you! You are just helping me out with a lot of things and I really do appreciate it very much! Are your welsummers and EE good layers and how is their egg color?

 

[azygous]

You are welcome!

I was a bit disappointed in the Welsummer's egg color, but, heck, eggs are eggs. They are definitely a brick red color, but since the color depends on laying down a layer of spent red blood cells, the color is extremely variable on an individual basis. I do get some interesting patterns, from stripes to speckles.

The EEs have been my greatest joy. Almost all have been good layers and the bonus is they are very people friendly, not skittish as other folks report EEs to be.

 

[jwyles]

You are welcome!

I was a bit disappointed in the Welsummer's egg color, but, heck, eggs are eggs. They are definitely a brick red color, but since the color depends on laying down a layer of spent red blood cells, the color is extremely variable on an individual basis. I do get some interesting patterns, from stripes to speckles.

The EEs have been my greatest joy. Almost all have been good layers and the bonus is they are very people friendly, not skittish as other folks report EEs to be.

Good to know about the color in the welsummers. I definitely want to add another dark brown layer to my flock but can't decide between them and another marans. I just keep hearing some bad things about their laying (both breeds but mostly marans) and I can honestly say my 8 month old FBCM has given me nothing yet. I wouldn't mind another EE tho. Mine from cackle are wonderful and honestly my sweetest birds and I've got Cochin and faverolle too so that says something. I don't know where these flighty EE exist but I hear about them too. Gladly not mine!

 

[azygous]

Welsummers are far better layers than Marans. At least mine are. My Marans have been disappointing, but they were from Meyer through MPC breeding program, not Privett. And the Marans' eggs were certainly not as dark as advertised.

 

[jwyles]

Welsummers are far better layers than Marans. At least mine are. My Marans have been disappointing, but they were from Meyer through MPC breeding program, not Privett. And the Marans' eggs were certainly not as dark as advertised.

Wow! Thank you! That helped my decision a ton! I want dark eggs but I want eggs more!

 

[jwyles]

@azygous o hope you don't mind me tagging you and asking you specifically but I wanted your opinion since youve been so helpful. Do you think it's possible that the cream egg and pink egg in this pic are from the same pullet or do you think it's more likely a different pullet? I usually get a cream egg every day (although she has skipped a day before she's still too new for me to know her pattern) but today I only got this pink one.

 

[azygous]

It's not likely the pink and tan eggs are from the same pullet. If this is the first time a pink egg, and it's very pretty by the way, has appeared, someone new has begun to lay. It also appears to be a different shape. Shape is sometimes a signature as well as color. There's also less of a bloom on the pin egg, further leading me to believe it's from a different pullet.

 

[jwyles]

It's not likely the pink and tan eggs are from the same pullet. If this is the first time a pink egg, and it's very pretty by the way, has appeared, someone new has begun to lay. It also appears to be a different shape. Shape is sometimes a signature as well as color. There's also less of a bloom on the pin egg, further leading me to believe it's from a different pullet.

Yep that's what I was thinking but this being my first flock, I wasn't really sure just how much color and shaped could vary. I'm thinking that pink egg is from my light brahma who has been squatting and seriously scoping out the nesting boxes lately. I wanted a pink egg soooo bad so I was floored today when I found this. Thank you again for the guidance! You're priceless!