When you buy chicks from Ideal or McMurray, are they all related?

[chickenannie]

I was wondering the same thing about my 6 turkeys from a hatchery, and whether they're related or not. Although there are hundreds of eggs being hatched and mailed out, I'm guessing that the workers are just picking up eggs in a row and putting them in the incubators and same with chicks mailed out. Has anyone ever worked in a hatchery who might know?

 

[can you hear me now?]

I am not sure how large scale they are but I recommend Cackle hatchery. They are family owned and have very dedicated breeders, where they set high standards and check out breeders whole coop and setup before they are allowed to become breeders.

 

[mipsy6]

I know Ideal ships small numbers of chicks as well. Have you thought about ordering pullets from one hatchery and roos from another? That would certainly help with genetic diversity.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I actually asked that question when I went to Meyer Hatchery to pick up my chicks. The answer was no - they use the Amish to breed the chickens and all the hatchery does is pick up the eggs and incubate them. With the amount of breeders they use and the amount of eggs they collect each day, chances are slim to none that the birds could be siblings.