Who do you buy your meaties from?

[beckyjo]

Sometimes we get what we pay for.
I'll be ordering multiple batches 150 each batch this fall and at least one will be McMurrays.

That is what I have been wondering about...the quality of the chick. I figure that I was very happy with McMurray on my layers, but am not sure if the CX would be worth $.80 more for each. Where else will you order from this fall? Would be interesting to have a side by side comparison with different hatcheries to see what you get...

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I have bought all of my CX chicks from McMurray and I haven't had one single bird die from flip. They are very active foragers and healthy! I will always buy from McMurray no matter the cost.

 

[beckyjo]

So... I have looked into multiple Hatcheries but how are you guys saving any money once you figure in shipping? They are $1.99 at my local feed store, Which is steep but if I have to pay $20 for shipping for 25 birds and they are $1 each then I'm not saving much?

The more you order the better the shipping deal seems to be. Schlect charges $16 for delivery to my zip code and McMurray charges I believe $17 if I remember correctly from my cancelled order....but Schlect are $.95 each for St Run and McMurray is $1.88 St Run (this is for 58). This puts McMurray at $2.17 each and Schlect at $1.23 each including shipping. I didn't see anything about Sunnysides shipping, but they are $1.05 each without shipping. All I know is that I can't wait to get my first batch of meaties. The hubby and I have been working to get the brooder/tractor ready for a few days and we are almost done!!

 

[beckyjo]

Looks like I have a few other hatcheries to look into also. Thanks everyone!

 

[Buster52]

I'm not happy with the growth rate of my current number one batch. They will be 10 weeks on Wednesday and are dressing out 3 to 4.5 pounds, averaging about 4.2 overall. The came very cheap, but if it costs me an extra dollar to raise them, and they cost me $3 at sale time, what did I gain by buying for a dollar less?

Of course, it could be the grower and not the bird, but still, I want to try some other hatcheries in the fall.

I'm selling mine, but the same logic applies if you grow for your table. You grow it two extra weeks and they still return a pound less than the better strains, have you really gained anything by saving that dollar at order time? And that is setting aside the extra labor you put in for those extra two weeks.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I'm not happy with the growth rate of my current number one batch. They will be 10 weeks on Wednesday and are dressing out 3 to 4.5 pounds, averaging about 4.2 overall. The came very cheap, but if it costs me an extra dollar to raise them, and they cost me $3 at sale time, what did I gain by buying for a dollar less?

Of course, it could be the grower and not the bird, but still, I want to try some other hatcheries in the fall.

I'm selling mine, but the same logic applies if you grow for your table. You grow it two extra weeks and they still return a pound less than the better strains, have you really gained anything by saving that dollar at order time? And that is setting aside the extra labor you put in for those extra two weeks.

Great logic!!!

My McMurray chicks last year dressed out between 7 and 10 pounds at 10 weeks. Ugh...they were too big for the bags I had. We would have butchered at 8 weeks but stuff kept coming up. With feed and the cost of the birds only, I was at $1.39 a pound.

 

[beckyjo]

Great logic!!!
My McMurray chicks last year dressed out between 7 and 10 pounds at 10 weeks. Ugh...they were too big for the bags I had. We would have butchered at 8 weeks but stuff kept coming up.

With feed and the cost of the birds only, I was at $1.39 a pound.

Wow!
Looking at the differenece between yours and Busters growth rate it really proves that McMurray is the better quality. That's amazing that yours stayed healthy for that long. at that size. This is exactly the info I was looking for, the quality vs the cost. I have always been a stickler for quality and am willing to pay for it. I am thinking about doing one hatchery vs McMurray. One now and one in Sept/Oct. The only variables would be the hatchery, the weather and the quality of free range grass/bugs. I am planning on feeding fermented feed and bought a 100' Premier electric fence.
Thanks for all the great info everyone.

 

[Blaineiac]

I was reading on another forum about cattle, and someone was talking about the price of calves. They said the beef calves were too much, $240. And a holstein/jersey were going for $150, or something close to that. They chose the dairyx because they couldn't justify the price. Now in the long run, the extra $90 on the beefer is nothing compared to the total feed cost and extra time needed to develop the dairy breed to market weight. I guess it is the same with chicks too, but I still am very happy with Schlect. Blaine

 

[Oregon Blues]

My son was interested in one of those frying pan specials where male chicks are a few pennies apiece. I talked him put of it. By the time you buy all the extra feed and raise them for a couple of extra months, they turn out to be a lot more expensive.

 

[what did I do]

Mine came from Hover Hatchery at @ $1.00 each. They are ok but great. I've lost one.

This is a good question.