Have any of you guys used Cackle hatchery? And if so what kind of luck have you had with them and their chickens. I noticed they are considerably cheaper than the other hatcheries. Thanks

I'm considering ordering from them this year.Never have.

I order through the local mill now.
If your chicks aren't all there and healthy...the day of pickup...you don't pay.

It's been 6 years since I ordered but I had super good luck with Cackles birds, their Barred Rocks were my favorite. Pretty much all of their birds are laying oriented, expect lighter birds that lay a lot of eggs, that was my experience at least.

Thanks.Good to know.

I would say they are as good as any other. We've ordered and picked up at their retail location.

I'm not sure I would want to order from any hatchery right now though. With how screwed up the mail is now you might just get a box of bait.

What Turkey said! Last year I got a lot of bait from three different hatcheries. That said Cackle refunded me for dead chickens that arrived. On the other hand the chickens that lived weren't as healthy as in years past and ended up using more feed then usual.

So true

Unless I want to drive a thousand miles I have no other choice.

I try to order from which ever hatchery is closest to me with the stock I want. Cackle, McMurray, & Schlecht have all been good for us.

Bruce T Look up Freedom Ranger Hatchery they are in Rienhold PA good people to deal with.

Hoover in IA is who I have bought from always good birds if the PO did not kill them first.

Thanks

I've ordered through Cackle a time or two. Also Meyer Hatchery. Both were good. Benefits of both are small minimum order size. I don't want 25 new chickens which is, or at least was Murray McMurrays minimum order size. I would rather just get a select few every other year or so. That way I can keep the average age of my hens a bit lower and get a more moderate but consistent egg production. We've got some neighbors and friends that buy eggs from us, but getting 18-20 eggs per day was a lot more than we wanted to deal with. I'm also not interested in butchering old hens, they tend to end up with names and distinct personalities.

All the birds I've ever raised were Cackle stock. All have been good......RIR (tame, calm, good layers of XL eggs), SLW (stand offish and bullies, good layers of XL eggs), sex links (start laying 2 to 3 weeks before any other stock and will burnout faster than the others.....meaning prolific layers....L to XL eggs) and easter eggers (flighty, timid and bottom of pecking order but great layers of blue or olive eggs, that have huge yolks) all very productive. Also have Buff Orpingtons from them and each one of those has gone broody.......one of them twice in a row. Not something you want if you are just after the eggs, but would make great setting hens and momma's to raise chicks if you wanted those.

I get mine from a local feed store that orders hundreds every week through the spring. They add my order to theirs......same price and it is between them and Cackle to hand me the birds I ordered alive. All have made it.

A Great testimony

This year I'd like to get a bunch of Delawares. Book-wise they are exactly what I need:

• cold hardy
• good meat birds
• prolific layers
• Not an eating/pooping machine that require a prompt and massive butchering day, like the Cornish Cross.

They are a bit hard to find, but, Cackle does offer them. I've had good luck with Cackle in the past, so will probably be sending in another order..

All good to know

Ordered 15 a year and a half ago, they sent me 19. All were healthy and did fantastic. I will order from them again. Cackle hatchery is great.

Looking more and more like cackle to me.Thanks