Ordering Chickens- Best Hatchery?

I'm looking to order spring chicks

Whats the Best Hatchery you've ever ordered from?

My favorite is Murry McMurry

I have used Meyer Hatchery out of Ohio for years. They are very dependable and when i lived in Ohio i could pick up directly from them. Before that i used Norfolk chicken hatchery in Nebraska. I am not aware if they exist anymore though. Need to research that a bit.

Meyer here too. Last year I ordered 6 chicks and they asked if I wanted a free one, so sure!

Anybody use "Cackle"?

I’ve used Meyer, Ridgeway and Mt. Healthy. All are Ohio hatchery’s. Most impressed with Mt Healthy. I’ve picked up and also had delivered. Cruise their websites and make a choice. All seem to be in business a long time.

I used cackle 5 years ago and was very pleased, their barred rocks were my favorite birds, calm and excellent layers. Also had their Rhode Island reds and they were a good layer just not a very attractive bird in my opinion. In addition I had their "easter eggers" or whatever they called them and they were my least favorite, alot of variation and the least personable of the bunch.

Thanks to Patrice...my hens now have privacy curtains....they lay better too!

I've used both Mt Healthy and McMurray. Both were fine. Honestly, I suspect they're all good. But I would pick one close to you this time of year. Those mail trucks get cold and chicks don't have a lot of body heat, no matter how many there are.

I’ve been very happy with Hoover’s Hatchery out of Iowa.

Very good luck with Ideal and great prices.

I've ordered from McMurry a couple time and never had any problems with them

cackle is good - we have bought leftovers from them several times

what breed are you looking for? I would determine what you wanted and then look for best hatchery for that breed. I prefer hatcheries that can get birds to me quickest. Unless, I want a specific line of bird such as ISA genetics

I don't know yet...I change breeds every 2 years

We had good luck with Hoovers last spring. We ordered 3 each of 6 varieties. Doing great although we now have a very happy rooster who slipped through the sorting process! I watch him go to work each day with a different girl and I have to say there is a little envy!

Chris

Never ordered but one of my fav breeds was my french copper maran. What a personality and all it wanted to do was forage for bugs. Great chicken laid very well too for me all the way until it was 3.

I had the French copper Marans for a while

Hard to candle those Dark Brown eggs

Beautiful birds...spendy now

Hoover for me they have a White Plymouth breed that are the best birds I ever raised.

Last chicks I order came from Hoovers and were some of the nicest chicks I had received in a long time.

White Plymouth? Are they a white egg layer or brown?

Big brown.

https://hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html

This Sapphire gem looks pretty Cool also!
Might be a good choice

Mine too. I’ve been ordering chicks from them since the mid 80’s

We have several of the Sapphire Gems.....excellent birds.

Good to hear!!!

Getting some from Meyer in Ohio in the spring....getting some Marans...Wyandotte’s,Easter eggers, Green Queens...end of April

I currently have sapphire gems. Best layer I ever owned and pretty to boot. You won’t be disappointed!

Anymore if im lookng for layers ill buy on Craigslist from someone getting rid of hens. Preferably sex-link hybrids. No shipping. No paying for 12 or whatever, feeding them for months, heat lamps, brooders, yadda yadda and then having a few die before they give me anything. Usually $5-10 a bird (sometimes free) already droppin them cackleberries on the daily. I bring them home and dust them with diatemcious earth and let them meet my other hens. They always squabble for a few days but none have ever got hurt. DE in their food cleans them of parasites that may have them laying crap covered eggs. If i want dual purpose breeds I take the time to find a local breeder like i would for a dog. Much better temperment, size, conformationh to breed, everything over hatchery birds. My favorites are Buckeyes. Born and bred from the Ohio climate and the first time I've butchered Cockerels and old hens of any breed and not been disappointed with how much meat there was.

ISA browns were far and away the best layers I have ever had laying brown eggs. I prefer all my chickens to lay over 275 eggs a year and many of the "pretty" birds or dark shelled layers won't do that. I researched the genetics a few years ago and saw many of the commercial production houses with brown eggs were utilizing the ISA genetics. I am considering the Amberlinks now as they are supposed to have a rate of lay equal to the ISA but possibly forage better. All my chickens free range so we start the year with around a hundred and they dwindle down through winter....

I did notice on Hoovers site they have bred up the production of some of the green, blue, olive shelled layers. I have always been disappointed in the rates of lay of colored shell layers but maybe they have improved that.

Anyone try any of the higher production colored shell layers from Hoovers?

I have always got good chicks from Mt. Healthy. Great service and give quick answers online to any questions.

My Ckickens have a large outside Chicken wire run. The run is enclosed and they go in and Out freely. The hawks and other predators around our farm are why we built a covered run.

Me to.

I will agree with TreedaBlackdog about the isa browns being good producers, we get our birds from a local chicken farm that sells eggs commercial. we get 6-10 every year or two to keep the flock around 12-15 birds.when the farm gets new birds we get ours about 17 weeks old. werw paying 10 dollars per bird,works for us. like them brown eggs.

I always got barred rocks,rhodei sland reds,and black giants

I ordered my Buff Orpington eggs from Meyer, they pack really well. I ordered eggs from ebay and always received a stinking mess.I was able to hatch one easter egger out of them. They are laying now, I don't buy eggs anymore.

I need to find a more cold hardy bird with not much waddle and comb. My rooster got a bit of frost bite in this last cold spell.

Get ya some buckeye's or dub the ones ya have.

Thanks. I am open to any suggestions. What is Dub them ? how does that work ?

Look at the Hoover site or other chicken sites they list the ones that do well in the northern areas, never had any issues with birds in the cold all have done well. My coop is insulated and has a inside wall, it heats with a 250wt red heat lamp. The red heat lamp provides heat and enough white light from the stem of the lamp to encourage laying in cold weather. Shield any heat lamps from the chickens banging into it to avoid fire issues them lamps don’t blow like a bulb will.

Use 2X4s for roosting instead of round poles the lumber allows the birds to cover their feet easier while resting on a 2X4s.

That's when you cut their combs and wattles off to prevent frostbite. I use a pair of scissors and trim close to the head.
It doesn't bother them, bleeds a little but there are things you can do to keep it minimal.

Brown, I had a White Rock that would follow me all over the yard, even hang out with me if I sat in a lawn chair.

I found a lady in my area that raise chickens and sells them around 8 weeks old, a lot less of dust in my mud room.

Old coop

New coop

I used cackle hatchery last year and was a really good experience for us. ordered a surprise box. pretty cool watching them grow and then figure out what they are. now have a flock of all kinds of breeds. also ordered ducks and turkeys from them

The Sapphire Gems are lookinh pretty good!

The barred rocks I have now ...won't get them again.

The white rocks are a way different bird then the smaller barred ones, FYI apples/ oranges

I have had the French copper Marans and hatched from start.

They are hard to candle to check the process of hatch.

They would run off the cat for her food. Always out scratching for bugs and green.

The roosters are a little much to get along with. Gutsy to say the least.

I may get a couple dozen eggs again and hatch them. A local farmer raises them.

White Rocks

Sapphire gems

Hmmm


Patrice?

There's a long time hatchery in Bancroft Iowa, not too far from you

Best place to get them is from KFC....

Nice set up Rendezvous!!!^^^

Thanks I have a red lamp, I am using a white though. I need to insulate a little more, I have one of those heaters coming, might help.




Thanks I was wondering about doing that but was picturing a very bloody, flapping rooster and not sure its doable, But I might give it a try now.

Insulating my coop really helped a lot...I did it all with 2" pink foam and osb covering it.

The hanging red lamp keeps it above freezing ...they have it good.

Have you tried the Icelandic or Swedish breeds?

Have used Cackle many times in the past, very satisfied. There was another Missouri hatchery i used many years ago but they may be out of business, seems like their name was "Marty?" or something close to that. Have used Ideal as well; their birds were ok. And some other hatcheries through the years. If you live close to Cackle you can drop in on ship days and see what they have left over that is available for purchase.

Yes that's my plan for next season get something without waddles and a comb. Meyer has a new breed called a Green Queen It has no comb or Waddell's, It looks real cold hardy, but they only sell the chicks, I need hatching eggs I don't think I can get live chicks shipped in here. Easter eggers might do ok here, I have one now.

Easter eggers dont lay that great....low production

Last couple of flocks for me has been Sex-Links, egg laying machines.

Here they are fertilizing the garden.

Are they really putting out 290 eggs/year? That's about what's listed for white leghorns. White Leghorns are the best laying breed that I've tried. Mine were putting out about 6 eggs/week and laid through the winter.

The Sapphire gems are a cross between a Blue Andalusian (splash color) rooster and a barred rock hen. This is a sex link cross that produces all blue hens and blue barred roosters.

Their laying ability depends on the production of the parents. The Andalusian is a white egg layer and not known to go broody and most modern barred rocks do not go broody either so that helps with egg production.

Like I said, mine lay well and come from Hoover’s.

I might get two breeds this spring

Sapphire gems will be one

Last flock I hatched were mixed from a neighbors eggs.....worst foragers and biggest gluttons I ever had. My rhode island reds and barred rocks were good foragers.
looking for good foragers now
In the philippines we kept native chickens similar to jungle fowl and could fly high and roosted in trees at night. Took little feed.

Sunnyside Hatchery out of Beaver Dam WI provides chicks for many firms selling in our area. We have bought from firms selling their stock for 6-8 years and have done very well be it show chickens, heavy roasters, layers etc.

Bryce

Im going to check them out!!! Thanks

we have good hatcheries close to me...im just wondering what you guys have had that were good foragers

Dominiques and Fayoumis are supposed to be pretty good at both foraging and evading predators. I got my first of each this summer so i don't really have an opinion just yet.

had them years ago,they were great foragers

Did you bring any of those jungle fowl back with ya?

I've used Ideal, McMurray, and Welp.... with never any DOA. Oh and Holderread's is top notch for waterfowl. I'd also not hesitate to order from Sandhill Preservation.

Welps, Bancroft, iowa

no

Sorry I have been missing all the good stuff, 330! I absolutely love the chickens I have gotten from Murray McMurray hatchery in Iowa. I have ordered chicks from a few other hatcheries, but none even came close to the McMurray chicks - and as strange as it sounds, they have been consistently better in temperament than any others! They have been calmer and better adjusted from day one. I don't really know if there is a genetic component attributed to good breeding or merely gentle, careful handling upon hatching, but it has been a marked difference for us.

Even the world famous Daisy, the beauty queen, came from Murray McMurray. (She asked me to post these photos here.)
Here she is at 3 days old on June 1st, 2011



And here she is on her 8th birthday, May 29th, 2019. She laid a few eggs at her convenience last year too.



Yes, she will be 9 years old this year. She expects a nice party.

Daisy is looking good for 9 years old.

Murray McMurray. I rarely loose a chick to anything but wild critters. I have lost up to 60% when bought from local sources.

Well thats a Beautiful Fluffy chick ..and now a happy Beautiful Bird !!

She'll need a spec cake in may!!!

A Good Reference for M. Mc Murray! Too!

Thanks for the Post Patrice!!!

Scott

*** I'm still thinking Saphire Gems

I just looked them up, Scott, because I have never seen one. They sure are beautiful! I found this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/sapphire-gem.11837/

I wonder if those are the same as the Blue Sapphire at Murray McMurray?

Let us know when you get your new chicks!
Patrice

Everyone has an opinion and here is mine:

I've ordered from McMurry several times, and have always been happy. They usually send an extra chick or 2 as well. I've ordered from Meyer a couple of times, and have not been impressed. The last batch I ordered from Meyer, I had 8/25 survive. The reason was Merricks. I called and complained, Meyers said the chics were vaccinated for it-as I paid for the vaccination-but you shouldn't lose more than 1/2 of your order imho. I've also ordered from Schlecht Hatchery in Iowa for some meat chickens. I ordered 50 from them and was very happy.

I would say mcmurray, hover, or if tactical.20 suggestion welps in Bancroft is closer then use them the faster you can get them the better, but if your looking for a lot of big eggs I would look at the hybrid duck the mcmurray sells, other might as well, we live closer to mcmurray and can drive to get them so it worked best for us.

I sure Will

"The Sapphire Gem is a sex-linked hybrid created by a breeder in the Czech Republic. It is a hybrid that contains the Dominate Blue gene and is known for being a good layer of large brown eggs. They do best in warmer climates and are close to the Old Andalusians"

Do any of you have these in a Climate like Minnesota?

Most feed stores order chicks several times during the spring. Just stop in and fill out an order form. This is nice as they will stay warm in the store until you get there to pick them up.

Oddly enough the small white leghorns do well here in MN. And are laying machines. If you want something other than white eggs, about any of the "Reds" do well also.

I really like the Barred Rocks, too. A big bird and always have been super mellow and quiet. On the other end of the spectrum are the Orpingtons. Big and beautiful but loud and annoying. My last couple Buff Orpingtons went on a field trip and never returned.

IMO, people get too engrossed in the special breeds. This wears off fast. A few months down the road, you'll look at them all as just a bunch of dumb chickens running around.

Many feed stores have an order section for kind of a Pot Luck kind of breeds. You'll get unspecified mix of birds. It's kinda fun I've found. I don't even look at the breed names anymore. Just see what they turn into kinda thing.

I think its fun!

I order a new breed every two years. I just sell the layers after the new chicks start laying!!!

Good Tips Calvin! Thanks

Saphire gems are out

Warm weather bird...not good for Mn.

That's hard to even imagine! Buff Orpingtons are known for being mellow and good natured. Daisy is a Buff Orpington, and she is a gentle lap chicken like every other one I've heard of. This is the first time I have ever heard someone characterize them as loud and annoying. Maybe the local feed store had a bad source or breeder for Orpingtons? Zim always wanted Buff Orpingtons because of articles he had read about how nice they are, and when we got ours, they were exactly that. (We had another one, who was a little sweetheart, but was killed by a hawk.) We will never be without at least one Buff Orpington!

We have the Plymouth rocks now ...but still looking for ahearty fun breed that lays brown eggs.

Plus we have one or two feather eating hens that wreck the others looks.

Not happy with them.

My sister has an AustralOrp rooster... Cogburn. Finest rooster I've ever seen. Friendly and calm. Very watchful of his ladies and rarely crows.

Mike

I agree. I have three Buff Orpingtons and they are all quiet and mellow. Laying good in midwinter. I have a huge rooster, he is friendly, Not afraid of me though.

On a side note . I discovered a heater on amazon for chickens. It looks like a small flat screen TV for about $35. I think. It was just the ticket for my hen house. warmed them right up, uses 250 watts and very safe. No more heat lamp, just a light now. I would recommend one for anyone in a cold climate.

I had a few black australorps I hatched.....one rooster attacked my son non stop at 4 yrs old,he tried to defend himself with a stick to no avail,they went bye bye

W.Riv.rogue I don't mind a cranky rooster as long as the hens are good layers ...even in the winter.

Yukonjeff, I'd sure like to see that Heater you mentioned!... what is it called or do you have a picture of it?

If they are eating feathers they need more protein in there diet.

i dont mind a cranky rooster either but when he is constantly hitting my 4 yr old high in the chest he is a danger to my sons well being,,he is tablefare!!! Rooster has nothing to do with hens being good layers...roosters are only for fertility if u want hatching eggs.

That helps....but once the habit begins I couldnt get it to stop.

Plus why Now???? This is my 5th breed/ Flock. (I get a dif. Breed every 2 years) All the different flocks over the last 12 years have been raised and fed the same diet. Quality crumbles layer feed, oyster shells, grit. Same bedding and water and heat source. This flock of Plymouth Rocks are all butt bare. Theres been no way to find the problem bird or birds eating feathers. None of my others did that. So???

Boredom!! and dominance
If free ranging it wont happen so much

Well the Large coop and outdoor covered run didnt bother the other full feathered flocks.
Im not free ranging birds here...too many Owls, Eagles and Especially HAWKS.

I'M picking the new chicks out of the catalogs now.

yup but thats what you deal with when u keep them penned up...30 yrs plus of chickens and gamebirds and my parents and grandparents the only chickens who feather picked were penned up chickens....gamebirds many do it regardless of diets if no blinders,beaktrimming etc.

We changed feed and they quit eating feathers. Can’t remember if it was animal protein or plant protein that causes it. We sold our chickens 3 years ago, so I don’t remember. We were getting the feed from a feed mill that made their old feed that cured the problem.

Seriously though you're not thinking about all the other 10 years and different flocks we had with ZERO FEATHER picking.

Its not just that

Im. Changing breeds ...the feed I might add protein to.
Thanks

Were your other birds debeaked (spelling) us, relation, and neighbors used to do that so they wouldn’t kill each other.

We’ve had good luck doing it with chickens, but they do still have the lower beak and I can see where they could use it to kill other birds.

Ideal Hatchery, out of Texas. By far the best quality birds. I always feed one bag of medicated
Chicken starter to begin the chicks. Keeps them from getting the trots and dying from
Dehydration. Pat

I use Murray McMurray , they have free shipping on 15 or more chicks. I ordered 16 speckled sussex chick's , and got a free chick and the all arrived alive. Check them out.

No

Here is the heater I use. Its against the wall under their perch. no more frost bit comb.

https://www.amazon.com/Cozy-Product...ken+heater&qid=1581182784&sr=8-2

As far as the feather eating. I feed a bit of raw ground moose seamed to stop it. Lack of protein I think.

So you dont have a red heat bulb then...just the flat heater?

Any other light? Thanks Jeff

Just 1 red heat lamp here in a protected cage keeps the coop toasty at roost level for the whole winter.

I replace the red bulb with a LED just to light the coup.

Thats Great Jeff Thanks!!!





Heres my Patrice influenced egg boxs

That's cool. My dog could use that.

nice heater

Scott,here's another nice heater - Sweeter Heater from Wisconsin. They are safe warm panels also with no light. You can mount them on walls or hang them so they are horizontal which is perfect for over new chicks. The chicks can migrate under the heater for warmth or move further out to cool off. I have a 30" that hangs in the coop in winter and the big girls can sit under it if they want to warm their combs and backs. I also have the 11" square for the brood pen with new chicks and I hang it really low, starting at a few inches above the bedding and I raise it up each week to lower their temp.

The photos are in the first days after I got some new chicks in 2017. Some are sacked out under the Sweeter Heater and some are running around the pen. I have a lamp (outside the pen) only for light during the day that gets turned off at night. No heat lamps. For the first few nights, I have a tiny nightlight with a red bulb near the pen so they can find food and water when they wake up during the night, but it doesn't keep them awake at all. After a few nights of that, they're fine with sleeping straight through and I take the nightlight out. No lights for heat at all. I hang the heater on chains and raise it up gradually week by week based on where the chicks are spending their time.





Just had to show you that a Buff Orpington likes Trapperman on her 6th day out of an egg. (This was the little sweetie we lost to a hawk that year.)


Sweeter Heaters are available at their own site and on Amazon.
https://www.sweeterheater.com/overhead-model
It used to be that if you clicked on the red heart on their website, you would get free shipping. Worked for me, but it's been quite a few years!
Anyway, if you flip through the photos on their site, you'll see all kinds of sizes and applications.

Who knows how many other great products are out there now. That's just one I can endorse!

Also, the 11" x 11" Sweeter Heater uses 32 watts.

Thats one Hot Trapperman chick^^^

Great Info as you know I'm down for "a" count 2 to 3 weeks no lifting...so its Rest time devided by Tman time and Research development time!!!

Thanks,

Scott

Good Deal...I just signed up for their newsletter...Thanks!

Im looking into them Law Dog... Im still deciding.