Meyer Hatchery

[Velociraptors]

I’ve seen a few posts here discussing chicks received from Meyer Hatchery. I’m looking at getting some Swedish flower hen chicks from them next spring, and was wondering what everyone’s experience with them has been thus far? I’ve never purchased chicks from them before and am always a little nervous when I buy from new hatcheries.

 

[TOMTE]

I also really want Swedish Flowers. Their colors and patterns are so pretty. I don't have any experience with that hatchery so I can't say. But I do wonder since they're a big hatchery if their breeding standards are for health and temperament or for production.

Personally when I'm able to get more chickens I'll look at smaller/more local operations before I go the hatchery route. So I hope you get some good advice so I can use it too!

 

[FrostRanger]

I’ve seen a few posts here discussing chicks received from Meyer Hatchery. I’m looking at getting some Swedish flower hen chicks from them next spring, and was wondering what everyone’s experience with them has been thus far? I’ve never purchased chicks from them before and am always a little nervous when I buy from new hatcheries.

I used Meyer earlier this year and I was happy with my experience. I ordered 8, I lost 1 a few days in to failure to thrive, but that's bound to happen from time to time no matter who you choose or where you get them from and the other 7 are doing great! They provide me with loads of eggs and are a friendly bunch. I ordered 3 easter eggers, 3 lakeside eggers and 2 buff orpingtons and I lost one of the buffs. Remaining buff Juniper is a very sweet sassy girl who's basically what I heard about the breed, very friendly, prone to broodiness but a fabulous layer when not broody (she's only went broody once BTW and she was very easy to break so it's nowhere near as bad as i'm making it out to be). I would 100% recommend them for anyone looking to order chicks

 

[AinaWGSD]

I can't speak to their Swedish flower hens, but I've always been satisfied with the chicks I've ordered from them.

We ordered 6 pullet chicks from them this spring. Arrived healthy and vigorous and are all doing great at 21 weeks. The sexing on this batch was 100% accurate, although they offer a refund on the cost of any accidental roosters. We changed our order about a month or so after we placed it because one of the breeds that wasn't available for our hatch date became available and their customer service was very easy to work with.

 

[Velociraptors]

Thank you everyone for your answers! Looks like I’ll be buying chicks from them after all This makes me feel a lot better.

One thing, though: When they shipped your chicks, how big of a box were they in? I’m trying to decide how many I want to get, but I’ve had experiences in the past with hatcheries sending chicks in too big of a box with few chicks in it, which causes DOAs because they get tossed around and stepped on during transit because the box is too big. I always make sure to order a few more than I need, just in case.

 

[FAVEROLLES LOVER]

I’ve seen a few posts here discussing chicks received from Meyer Hatchery. I’m looking at getting some Swedish flower hen chicks from them next spring, and was wondering what everyone’s experience with them has been thus far? I’ve never purchased chicks from them before and am always a little nervous when I buy from new hatcheries.

This past May 20th I received my day old 6 Salmon Faverolls by overnight express. I was able to track them the whole journey right to the post office. I called the post office ahead of delivery to make them aware of live chicks being delivered. They arrived as I was talking to the PO and within 20 mins. I picked them up and had them in their brooder and settled in. All beautiful and healthy packed securely and safely in their well marked box "LIVE CHICKS". mypetchicken.com answered all my questions and was available 24/7 if I need anything. Six females and one male will be breeding them soon. They are a rare breed friendly and funny chicks. Would buy again from them.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Meyer is my preferred hatchery to use. I will give my orpingtons for example. My orpingtons I purchased from tractor (Hoovers) are small, not fluffy and somewhat gangly looking. The orpington from My Pet Chicken is okay very standard hatchery quality. My Meyer Orpingtons are nice and bowling ball body shaped along with the having the Orpington fluffy butt. Now they still don’t compare to my English Orpingtons from a breeder, but as far as hatchery quality goes my Meyer Orpingtons are great. I have ordered 38 chicks from Meyer total (multiple orders) and I only had two chicks DOA from them. My last order of 20 chicks they were in an average sized box not too small, but not big either.

Edit: My one My Pet Chicken order I was absolutely furious. I ordered 4 chicks and they packed it so full of bedding mixture that the chicks were stacked shoulder to shoulder ON TOP of each other. There was only enough room for two chicks in what small space remained of the box it was so full. I have never seen anything like it.

 

[Jener8or]

One thing, though: When they shipped your chicks, how big of a box were they in? I’m trying to decide how many I want to get, but I’ve had experiences in the past with hatcheries sending chicks in too big of a box with few chicks in it, which causes DOAs because they get tossed around and stepped on during transit because the box is too big. I always make sure to order a few more than I need, just in case.

The box they shipped my 7 standard size chicks in was 9.5"x7"x7". There is a little compartment inside where they put the GroGel and junkmail that takes up a little bit of space. I thought the room was reasonable and all my chicks arrived safely (and are doing well, *touch wood*).

They do offer a "Meat Maker" (mystery extra egg layer) and a "Homestead Helper" (mystery extra cockerel) free of charge to help if you were wanting extra chicks for insulation. (My cockerel was a Rhode Island Red, and I *think* my layer was an extra Steele Egger (I ordered 2, got 3)).

edited: to close brackets and say the chicks were LF

 

[TillyPeeps]

I have two Swedish Flower Hens from them this spring. Both are calm, friendly, curious, and healthy. Out of box, they were obviously more active than the other chicks. They are still the calmest, strongest, and most active pullets until now. They are 19 weeks now and haven't started to lay yet, so I don't know how well they lay. So far, I'm very happy about these two girls.

 

[Sefirothe]

Thank you everyone for your answers! Looks like I’ll be buying chicks from them after all This makes me feel a lot better.

One thing, though: When they shipped your chicks, how big of a box were they in? I’m trying to decide how many I want to get, but I’ve had experiences in the past with hatcheries sending chicks in too big of a box with few chicks in it, which causes DOAs because they get tossed around and stepped on during transit because the box is too big. I always make sure to order a few more than I need, just in case.

To give you an idea of box size, this is my 7 chick order from Meyer's last year. (Yes there is 7, one is hiding behind the SLW in the center, you can kind of barely see the top of her head.)