So where do I order from...

[bairo]

Quote:
I agree..... Ideal is the cheapest place to order less than 25 birds. The hatchery is not bad either. Not as big as MM, but good (as far as hatcheries go) none the less. Your pick will be around 50.00 total with shipping etc.. I dont think they are going to allow you to go without the packing peanut roosters babies though until we get some warmer weather though. They will send between 10 and 13 rooster chicks with your order (free) Most of the breeds you picked will be available sometime in feb/march

that same order with "my pet chicken will be about 80.00

 

[whitejerabias]

Eeeks! I'd rather keep it closer to $50 that $80 thankyouverymuch. So, I can order through Ideal and be assured to get ladies and they will send free gents too? Or is it a crap shoot and I should over order to be sure? Colour me confuzzled.

 

[SouthernBYChickens]

whitejerabias - would you happen to know of anyone that would "go in halves" with you on an order? That way, you would still be able to meet most hatcheries' 25 chick minimum and be able to choose the breeds you want and hopefully stay within your budget. Just an idea...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sandhill lets you mix and match but they only sell straight run so order twice what you want for layers.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

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Ive ordered 9 chicks from mpc and it only cost 60 not 80.

 

[The Breaker]

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x 2... I've ordered small numbers, with a variety of breeds from both of them.

X3

x4

 

[BlazeJester]

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My 7 chick order from MPC (standard breeds, nothing fancy/expensive) cost exactly $60 - $3.50 for each chick (they sent an extra) and $36 for shipping. That averaged to $7.50 per chick and no hassle of having to raise or kill roosters, or risking the "sexed" bins at a feed store. I wanted females of specific breeds and I received exactly what I wanted. Convenience costs. Shipping from EITHER Meyer or MPC is going to be the same for small orders. As stated previously by someone else, MPC will send a 90% guarantee on sexing bantams, which nobody else does.

I just priced out my same MPC order on Ideal: I have to order another $9 worth of chicks (possibly 4 pullets or 10 straight-run) before I could consider placing my order. I now have 6 chicks I didn't plan for (12 total), plus all the packing peanut roosters they're going to send me for ordering in December. I pay a $4 charge for a quarter box and a $7 charge for a small order. Air mail charge is $1.80, bringing my total to $38.50 for four extra chicks plus whatever extras they send me which I will have to put energy and money into to raise and process or sell. If you can accommodate extras OR if your dozen chicks covers your $25 minimum, this plan is cheaper and does result in dinner if you can pay to feed them until processing.

I would have saved over $20 with Ideal and received 6 additional pullets as well as innumerable roosters that I now have the option to raise and process. I acknowledge that in my area, I will not be able to give them away; since I am a vegetarian, this results in donation of approximately 12 fresh chickens to the local homeless shelter.

Edited to add it looks like if I choose to deal with hatchery birds in the future, it looks like I will be ordering from Ideal!!!