Hatcheries, Day Old Chicks

I never bought birds from Ideal but from what I've heard about them...there are a LOT WORSE hatcheries out there.

I think the trick to dealing with Ideal is to know what you want EARLY in the year and get your order in to them as early as possible.

Good Luck!!!!

Thanks for your review. We will probably order from them.

I have never heard of Backyard Chickens hatchery. What is it?

Well, it's these people backyard chickens. They also have a hatchery. I think it might be better if you looked at it yourself I'm bad at explaining things. It's actually called backyard chickens hatchery.

I ordered six chicks from My Pet Chicken - they all arrived just fine and thrive to this day. They seem like excellent birds and beautiful to boot. Only the Gold Lace Wyandotte is not particularly pretty, but certainly big and healthy. Customer service was very nice - the day of my ship they did not have one of my choices but substituted in a Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte, which was a higher priced chick and also has turned out to be one of my favorites.

I also know that the company cares about their chicks - there was a recent incident in Connecticut, where i live, when about 20 chicks were ordered and then refused after ship date - the company owner personally called a local chicken keeper who fostered them until they could find other homes - at no cost, just to save the chicks.

I've ordered from Meyer and My Pet Chicken and both have been 100% problem free. You must cross-reference availabilities for the breeds you want from their calendars, not all chicks are available at all times - it's not Amazon. All reviews should be taken with a grain of salt.

My experience with MPC was fine. 5 months and no health problems.

Paul Smith is the best quality you'll find anywhere. $10.00 is very inexpensive for his birds. After you see a hatchery mutt bird up against one of the show birds Paul and Angela raise, you'll never be happy with a mutt bird again. I have a few of his birds and I would have gladly paid twice as much for them.

Ideal is a great hatchery. You are right, they breed for production, not necessarily show quality. All my "Ideal" chickens have been healthy, with great livability, and their offspring have had fabulous fertility (always nearly 100% on my hatches). People who do want show quality should purchase from a breeder.

Nothing but Kudos to Murray McMurray. So far they are batting 100% for us with two orders and are shipping to Alaska.

I'm sorry I got the name mixed up, It's called Chickens for backyards hatchery

I love this hatchery! I bought my orpingtons from them last year and have another order on the way. They are friendly, great communication & I'm super pleased with the birds.

I was about to order from Cackle hatchery! AND OEG's too..but won't be doing that now. Thank you for posting

My Pet Chicken get their chicks from other hatcheries as I understand it. Cackle Hatchery has been wonderful to us. Year after year they send me healthy, strong chicks that they raise themselves. Their customer service is the best I have had! I have ordered 8 different breeds from them and all matured into beautiful birds.

Privett Hatchery (and a big box farm supply store that gets their birds there)--
I have bought ducklings and chicks from a store who got the birds from Privett Hatchery in New MExico (I live north of Phoenix), and all survived and thrived. I also ordered 25 chicks from there. They shipped exactly when they said, and shipped the breeds and sex (pullets) that I ordered (no mistakes). They only shipped 25, and one arrived dead, so they promptly credited my credit card. Previously they answered my question as to which breeds had single combs (since they might not be breed standard), which was a help.

We just got a few in from Idealpoultry.

I have used Murray Mc Murray for thirty years. My last group of Buff Orps and Australopes are doing great eight months later. They almost all lay everyday, without lighting in the coop. I prefer the Buffs as they are the most friendly. The Australopes lay beautiful eggs, are quiet, pretty and easy. They are not as friendly, but show some interest in me.

Abigayle said:

I have used Murray Mc Murray for thirty years. My last group of Buff Orps and Australopes are doing great eight months later. They almost all lay everyday, without lighting in the coop. I prefer the Buffs as they are the most friendly. The Australopes lay beautiful eggs, are quiet, pretty and easy. They are not as friendly, but show some interest in me.

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I been buying chicks from McMurray for 30 years--expecting some in May. Never had a misidentified bird(sex or breed) nor a DOA.

I got my chicks this spring from Cackle Hatchery, they had all the breeds I wanted. They do charge shipping cost, which McMurray does not but I found what I wanted so I ordered from them. I ordered 15 pullets and 2 roos. I got 19 birds, FOUR extra and two of the extra were Roos! Counting the birds I already have in my flock, I think I have enough hens for four roos and I hope since they are brooding together, they will settle who's boss and number two three and four boss while they are growing up. Anyway, order was exactly right, birds arrived two days from ship date, all alive and chirping on arrival and they have been growing healthy and strong. I am at my limit for chickens now ( yeah I know, chicken math, lol) but if I ordered again I would tell them 'no extras'. They packed them well with a heat pack and sent a free thermometer and chick stickers. My post office called me and I went right down and got them. Always call ahead to your post office before day of arrival to be SURE they have your phone number. I did not see that on the shipping carton so that could have been a problem if I had not called ahead to the PO to let them know the day of my chicks arrival.

Mypetchicken is by far my favorite hatchery

no roosters said:

I just received my order from Ideal this morning. I ordered 5 Russian Orloff pullets and received an extra 20 mystery roosters. Not sure if I should be happy about the roosters yet or not.

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Sounds like you have 20 meat chickens to raise. I would be fine with it.