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Barnyard Buddies:  best place to order chicks?  |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 11:43:49 AM
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Looking to order cornish broilers so we can have one more batch to butcher after we process all our various breeds of roos next week. Anyone have experience ordering from McMurray or Hoovers? Is one better than the other or is it just personal preference? It looks like McMurray is a bit more $$ than Hoovers.
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com
www.amydingmann.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 11:47:40 AM
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I don't have a preference, but I would ask them "where" the shipment goes through, and if Louisville, Kentucky, I would use another. Last month, the p.o in Louisville left 200 baby chicks to die over the July 4th holiday in the hot warehouse. They didn't care if it said "live" on the carton, they just simply neglected to notice.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 12:40:00 PM
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I have always used Murray's and have always got a great batch of chicks, and its been at least 35 yrs I've been useing them, several times each year for meat birds, layers, turkeys and geese...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 6:34:41 PM
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Get them as local as you can! Less travel time and stress for them, that way :) So I'd look for a hatchery with good reviews in/around your state :)
~Hen 4316~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana.
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Highland cattle, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, Silver Fox rabbits, and a few dogs. |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 8:17:30 PM
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i used to work at meyer hatchery in ohio. i have gotten all of my chicks from there except the first batch (got them at the equity before i knew of meyer and one of that batch died). no chicks ive gotten from meyer have died early on. all the chickens i've gotten from there have lived relatively long, normal lives unless they had to go to the stewpot for unacceptable behaviors (egg breaking, etc.) they guarantee live birds and if any die, they will replace them up to so many hours after your shipment arrives. they may even throw in a few "extra" in case they think some my pass in transport. when i worked there, we shipped all over the country. their website is www.meyerhatchery.com
i don't know how their prices compare to mcmurray or others though. they ship by u.s. mail and i think you can pay extra for expedited shipping.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 09:12:26 AM
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I like murray the best. Randall burkey is closer to us, but they always have trouble filling the order as promised in the catalog. They put off shipment waiting for certain eggs to hatch then just say they dont have any. Drive me nuts. If they cant fill the order dont put it in the catalog. Seems simple to me. But they are the only ones I know of that have my favorite breed ISO Browns.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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kelly22
Farmgirl in Training
19 Posts
Kelly
Monmouth
Oregon
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 3:57:09 PM
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I like to wait for the free shipping sales at Meyer hatchery.
~Kelly...raising 4 free range sons on our 65 acre sustainable farm |
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sonshine4u
Chapter Guru
1205 Posts
April
New Prague
MN
USA
1205 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2012 : 06:34:07 AM
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We got ours from Welp in IA. The birds were really healthy when they arrived and they are still going strong! Got our first eggs last week from them. They have quality birds from my experience so far and from the farmers that I took the recommendation from. You should check them out!
http://www.welphatchery.com/
~Hugs,
April
Playing in the Sonshine
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2012 : 1:04:33 PM
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I like to get the rainbow layer package from Murrray. Its a variety of layer pullets from leftovers they have and sell at a discount. I love getting all the different kinds as a surprise package. They are good healthy layers too. Last time I ordered 25 and got red stars, black stars, polish, buff orpingtons, barred rocks, easter eggers, white leghorns, a black cochin, a couple more breeds and a polish rooster as a bonus. Fun!
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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horseygirlonafarm
Farmgirl in Training
17 Posts
Kendra
Basehor
KS
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2012 : 8:30:01 PM
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I love Murray McMurray. Quality and great customer service.
County livin' in Kansas City with my two kids, husband, cats, chickens, and horses :)
Shop online, anywhere, anytime at: http://kendraford.avonrepresentative.com/ |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2012 : 03:57:46 AM
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Have had great success w/ Murray, Welp and especially Cackle.
Ideal is the most flexible |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2012 : 07:18:19 AM
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Broilers are good at welp but watch their other birds i got orpingtons that looked like a buff leghorn in build. Mc Murry is a great hatchery all around
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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sissarge
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Linda
Montgomery
Texas
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2012 : 8:51:58 PM
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My father in law, always ordered from McMurry, and always told me they are the best, then I started and they did a great job. I think my fil also has ordered about 35 years, maybe longer, I have been in family 44 yrs, and I have not ordered any in last 3 or 4 yrs, cause, I just hatch my own, or trade with others in local area. Good Luck and have fun.
Farmgirl #946 Linda |
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Calico Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Meg
Middle Tennessee
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2012 : 6:45:56 PM
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| Amy, If you are close to Owatonna, MN, Mr. Duane Urch has been raising and selling poultry for 30+ years. His chicks are expensive $7 but are of show/breeding quality. He is credited with having saved several heirloom breeds from extinction, the Buckeye in particular. The chicks I bought from him have grown into high quality, healthy adults which I plan on breeding. He did allow farm pick up and tours a few years ago. |
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Calico Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Meg
Middle Tennessee
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2012 : 6:46:44 PM
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Opps, just reread the "broiler" part. Sorry!
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2012 : 07:09:56 AM
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If you haven't ordered your chicks yet.....check out the various hatchery's policies on minimum orders.
Most will charge a fee if you order less then 25. Some will allow you to order as few as 12.
One year I ended up with 30 silkies. (I had only wanted 12 at the time.) It was a blessing and a curse thanks to Cackle Hatchery. I ended up loosing a few before they were a year old, so that was ok. But the brooder sure was slammed full! Sometimes hatcheries will include extras for warmth depending on the time of year they are ordered. That's how 12 was upped to 25 and then 30!!
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Barnyard Buddies: best place to order chicks? |
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best place to order chicks?
