I'm going to place my first hatchery order online and was wondering what y'all think is the best hatchery to use? I'm in KY so I was looking at Mt.Heathly Hatchery and McMurray. I know McMurray has a limit of 25 and it looks like Mt.Healthy Hatchery is 15. The prices are less at Mt. Healthy Hatchery but you can only order 15 of each breed, is that right? I'd like a variety of my choosing. McMurray will let me pick and choose a couple from this breed or that breed but they don't have anything available right now and I'm wanting right now. So does anyone know of another hatchery close to KY that would have chicks available now that would let me order less than 15 of one breed?
Mt Healthy has a create your own mix and you can get what ever number of whatever breed you want. Not sure how backed up they are but I know they are who my feed store orders from and all the birds I have gotten from them have been super healthy and *knock on wood* no problems. I myself though have not placed an order with them because I didnt think I was going to get that many birds..... A friend of mine orders from Mc Murray all the time and as far as I know she has yet to have a problem that I know of. Good luck with whatever route you choose to go!
Mt.Healthy!!!!!! I ordered 15 Barred Rock Hens and 15 Rhode Island reds Hens and are all thriving and getting big and I have not lost one!!!!
We have ordered from Ideal twice and had good experiences. My cousin ordered from McMurray and also had good luck, although she ended up a couple unexpected roos that weren't packing peanuts...
I've never dealt w/ Meyers, but have been really pleased w/ Mt. Healthy. Also, their minimum is 15 for create your own mix. My original flock (via a friend who orders several hundred a year & always orders from them) did/ is still doing great--8 pullets as well as 2 BR roos from his freebie box. I personally ordered 25 in early Feb. In spite of crazy cold weather, all 26 arrived in NC alive. It was single digits the night before they shipped, low 20's during the days. '' (They had even taped over the air holes in the box & they did put my phone # on the box!) I think the little girls were thrilled to spend the rest of the winter further south. BTW, they're all still doing great & are a beautiful little flock. And, I've got more (from Mt. Healthy) reserved through one of the local feed stores due next week. (chicken math problem here) If you've got any feed stores nearby, you might want to check w/ them. You could do your own mix & match, and probably save some money too. (If you're looking for a great brown egg layer, check out their Dekalb Amberlinks.) I don't have a comparison, but Mt. Healthy gets high marks from me! ''
Ok I made my order I went with Mt. Healthy Hatchery once I found out that I could do the creat your own and get a couple of each breed I like. This is what I got, and my decisions are purely on my eyes beauty. (McMurray doesn't have anyting available right now and they won't have the Americanas until mid summer) 15 Ameracanas 2 Buff Orpingtons 2 Black Australorps 2 Golden Comets 2 Speckled Sussex 2 Production Reds All females What I already have: At this point I am over run with roosters. I've got 1 Buff Orpington 1 Rhode Island Red 1 Buff Brahma 1 Americana Hens: 1 Buff Orpington 2 White Leghorns 1 Partridge something 1 Ameracana I thinks my one little Australorp has disappeared, they were let out to free range today by my son after being up all winter, and when I went out to check on them I didn't see her So as you can see, I need a lot more girls ;D Oh you can add one duck to that mess, too! I can't wait to get my new babies!!
I'm in Oregon and ordered from the Lazy 54 because it was close. I didn't want 25 chicks, so I posted an ad on Craigslist to split the order with someone and had success with that. All birds were healthy and none died. Our local farm stores will also write your name down and save chicks for you when they get them in.
