Recommendations for a Hatchery?

[Seaslug]

* Murray McMurray Hatchery: I could get Black Australorp pullets for $5.21 each if I ordered at least 25. However, the shipping seemed steep.
* Cackle Hatchery: Cackle Hatchery has fair prices-around $5.99 for most common sexed day old chicks. I have liked them in the past. However, their shipping was almost $60.00.
* Tractor Supply will have baby chickens the end of February but they were pricey last year. I can't imagine this year being any better. $6 and up per pullet.

If the Tractor Supply chicks will be available and sexed, it seems like they would be your least expensive bet. Shipping is adding at least $2.00 to each of your acceptably priced pullets. At the store you can select your chicks, so if you get auto sexed breeds you can assure that you only get pullets that look like that they were unharmed in shipping.

 

[Debbie09011970]

If the Tractor Supply chicks will be available and sexed, it seems like they would be your least expensive bet. Shipping is adding at least $2.00 to each of your acceptably priced pullets. At the store you can select your chicks, so if you get auto sexed breeds you can assure that you only get pullets that look like that they were unharmed in shipping.

you could be right...lots of complaints with TSC having roosters sexed as pullets and they are pricey but you could very well be right

 

[Floof]

If the Tractor Supply chicks will be available and sexed, it seems like they would be your least expensive bet. Shipping is adding at least $2.00 to each of your acceptably priced pullets. At the store you can select your chicks, so if you get auto sexed breeds you can assure that you only get pullets that look like that they were unharmed in shipping.

My tractor supply marks chicks down substantially every week to every other week. I just ask the employees if they know when they're going to be marking them down to make room for the next shipment and would they give me a discount if I bought all of them. Ive gotten ducks for less than $1 each and chicks as low as a quarter each, although that was an exceptionally good deal. You have the added bonus of not having had to brood them yourself that first week or two

 

[Whittni]

I also had a good experience with Ideal Hatchery, but I always get at least like 10% sickly or deformed birds from Cackles. I think the bird aesthetic quality is much better from Cackles, but clearly some Cackles lines are too inbred or something and you'll lose like 30% of a specific variety, but the remaining birds will be beautiful. I found the Cackles Mille Fleur D'uccles and Sebrights to be particularly weak where maybe up to 60% don't make it to a year old compared to other varieties with the same quality of care and even deworming. Some reviews think the D'uccles have some sort of genetic wasting disease, but I'm not sure on the details.