Stromberg's or Cackle Hatchery?

[SilkieBantams]

I would say Stromberg's as they have fairly decent prices for day old baby chicks. I've recently ordered 25 Mille Fluer D'Uccle bantam chicks from them and I'll see if the chicks arrive all healthy and safe during their shipment.

 

[NYREDS]

I bought an adult pair of Blue Cochin Bantams from Stromberg's in 1962. They arrived at the local freight yard in a bean crate. The hen was Grand Champion of the first open show I attended. I know this doesn't help your decision much but it's my only experience with Stromberg's.

 

[SelenaKyle]

So, I've ordered from Cackle 4 times. This last time we lost 3 bantam Cochins, 2 golden sebrights, 2 "Ameraucanas" (definitely NOT Ameraucanas, though listed as such).... One of the remaining sebrights has a defect, and one of the EEs (like I said, not Ameraucanas) had a very severe cross beak. That's 7 dead, 2 birth defects, ohhhh, and they sent a note rather than informing us that we would not be receiving the pheasants we ordered prior to shipment because they "counted their chickens before they hatched" and then didnt refund our money for *weeks*, multiple.... Like 3+. Our chicks are now 4 weeks and we have lost 7 of 31 ordered, and will likely end up having to cull 1-2 more. I was recommending them highly a few months ago, especially because their prices are pretty decent on most things.... Now, I have to say, I am ordering from Stromberg next time. Sick, deformed, dead birds.... 23% loss rate already, not even a month old............ Someone fell asleep at the wheel.

 

[theGrizzFan]

So, I've ordered from Cackle 4 times. This last time we lost 3 bantam Cochins, 2 golden sebrights, 2 "Ameraucanas" (definitely NOT Ameraucanas, though listed as such).... One of the remaining sebrights has a defect, and one of the EEs (like I said, not Ameraucanas) had a very severe cross beak. That's 7 dead, 2 birth defects, ohhhh, and they sent a note rather than informing us that we would not be receiving the pheasants we ordered prior to shipment because they "counted their chickens before they hatched" and then didnt refund our money for *weeks*, multiple.... Like 3+. Our chicks are now 4 weeks and we have lost 7 of 31 ordered, and will likely end up having to cull 1-2 more. I was recommending them highly a few months ago, especially because their prices are pretty decent on most things.... Now, I have to say, I am ordering from Stromberg next time. Sick, deformed, dead birds.... 23% loss rate already, not even a month old............ Someone fell asleep at the wheel.

I hear you. I had liked Cackle, and wanted to be able to say nothing but good things about them but it isn't possible anymore. They have dropped the ball with getting their eggs from reliable breeders, and they lack moral obligation. I honestly will never get anything from them again, even if they are giving it away. Mix of sadness and disgust.

 

[Trefoil]

What is a middleman that is a dumb question but i really dont know!

Being a middleman means that. you order chicks from Strombergs, strombergs doesn't hatch, they buy from another hatchery and have them sent to you. So in effect you are paying strombergs for someone elses chicks. From what people are saying,, if they are accurate you are paying strombergs $3. for a chick you would pay $6 for if you brought from the hatcher.

 

[SelenaKyle]

I actually placed a "practice" order from Meyers because they're close to me and I heard decent things.... So I'll weigh in on them in a few weeks. But my friend just ordered bantam frizzle Cochins from stromberg's and says they're the healthiest, most lively chicks she's ever had, including her own hatches. I want a ton of polish because I'm starting a polish project in a few months, and I figure a few from Meyers, plus ordering eggs to hatch might be a good start. We'll see. I have a policy about diversifying blood lines. If it's illegal for humans, it's probably not too healthy for animals. Many think that's an overly cautious approach, buuuut...

 

[earl666]

Strombergs Hatchery is no good.Would never order from them again.Ordered Buff Brahmas from them,Guess what.They droped shipped them from who I dont know.When they finally arrived one dead in box all eaten up.Another had a deformed leg,Had to be put to sleep.Another had a crossed beak,Put to sleep.Another just died.They still look sickly.No way are they the size a Brahma chick should be.My advice,Never order from STROMBERGS.

 

[theoldguy]

Strombergs birds are terrible quality, period. I ordered Bantam white faced black spanish 4 of them had very badly deformed combs and white spots on them. The one I kept is a red faced black spanish as the white face never came. and she has went through molt and is about 16 months now. The dark cornish bantams were terrible too, one was golden penciled, wrong all together. the barred rocks were ok,as well as the RIRs. they refunded me for 6 birds but I would not order from them again.all of these were Bantams.

 

[kstavert]

I'd always wanted to have chickens and
4 were given to us....that started me off...

I ordered 50 chicks from Murray McMurray
and they were all wonderful... grew to be
nice, big, fat happy birds - red and black
sex links...

a year later, I wanted more birds but
Murray McMurray was not shipping any
when I wanted them so, I ordered from
Cackle...

the chicks were fine/healthy and all
lived...

However, when they matured, they were
VERY different - red and black sexlinks -
from the ones we'd gotten from Murray
and, waaaayyyyyy smaller birds as
adults...

I still have many birds from Murray but
don't think that any remain from the
Cackle group.... to be fair, I don't know
if that has anything to do with the quality
of the bird or they just had the misfortune
to be eaten / killed by raccoons ;(

 

[cash money]

I prefer cackle hatchery over many other hatchery