Where to order chicks?: Hoover Hatchery Vs. Ideal Poultry?

[LadiesAndJane]

I agree, hatching is awesome and an addictive experience, but you can not guarantee pullets that way. I have hatched many chicks this year and one batch had 11/14 end up being boys, then you have to find homes for them. The OP wants pullets, so better getting sexed pullets from a hatchery in that case. Good luck with your chicks. I have heard only good things about Hoovers!

 

[Hei 20]

I agree, hatching is awesome and an addictive experience, but you can not guarantee pullets that way. I have hatched many chicks this year and one batch had 11/14 end up being boys, then you have to find homes for them. The OP wants pullets, so better getting sexed pullets from a hatchery in that case. Good luck with your chicks. I have heard only good things about Hoovers!

You are completely right. So true.

I agree, hatching is awesome and an addictive experience, but you can not guarantee pullets that way. I have hatched many chicks this year and one batch had 11/14 end up being boys, then you have to find homes for them. The OP wants pullets, so better getting sexed pullets from a hatchery in that case. Good luck with your chicks. I have heard only good things about Hoovers!

That is true too.

 

[NatJ]

I've ordered from Ideal, McMurray, and Cackle, and been satisfied with all of them.

Remember to check minimums, because they differ from one hatchery to the next, and sometimes different in summer vs. winter.

Last time I checked, McMurray had a minimum of 6 or 15 chicks (changes for different seasons), Cackle a minimum of 3, Hoover minimum 15, and Ideal's minimum was $30 of chicks, however many or few that might be.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I’m with everyone that hatching is awesome!
But, I have ordered from Ideal and it was a great experience. Ordered 16, 17 arrived alive, healthy, and happy.
I don’t have any experience with Hoover’s. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Hei 20]

I agree, hatching is awesome and an addictive experience, but you can not guarantee pullets that way. I have hatched many chicks this year and one batch had 11/14 end up being boys, then you have to find homes for them. The OP wants pullets, so better getting sexed pullets from a hatchery in that case. Good luck with your chicks. I have heard only good things about Hoovers!

But, I have also heard stories of people buying them as pullet and sometimes turn out some to be rooster.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

But, I have also heard stories of people buying them as pullet and sometimes turn out some to be rooster.

This is true, about 90% accuracy with vent sexing by a professional. So 1 in 10 will be boys, still better odds then hatching yourself. I am not saying any one is superior, hatchery vs. hatching yourself, All depends on what you are looking for.

 

[DesertGrrl]

I've ordered from Ideal, McMurray, and Cackle, and been satisfied with all of them.

Remember to check minimums, because they differ from one hatchery to the next, and sometimes different in summer vs. winter.

Last time I checked, McMurray had a minimum of 6 or 15 chicks (changes for different seasons), Cackle a minimum of 3, Hoover minimum 15, and Ideal's minimum was $30 of chicks, however many or few that might be.

Oh I didn't know that!
Thanks for that info.
I only need 6 pullets for now.

 

[RRM]

We have ordered sexed pullets twice from Hoover’s, and are very satisfied with the results.
The first order of 25 Australorp chicks were hatched/shipped July 22. One chick from this batch was a very small runt that died at 5 days old but Hoover’s credited our account and applied the refund to our second batch of 25 Australorp’s that were hatched/shipped on September 22.
Sexing on the first batch which are now 12-1/2 weeks old was100% correct as all are pullets. The second batch of chicks are now 3-1/2 weeks old and it appears that all 25 of them are pullets.
We haven’t ordered from Ideal before, but have absolutely no complaints whatsoever about Hoover’s Hatchery.

 

[jenniferschickens]

We ordered from Hoover, they arrived a week ago . Very happy with the service and health of chicks.