Recommended Nurseries to purchase chicks from

[Mamagirl3]

Which nurseries are reputable with healthy chix that grow up to be the size of the breed.
Thank you

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Hello. I'm assuming you mean hatcheries. I love Meyer Hatchery in Ohio. I've used them once so far for meat birds and laying hens and just put in another order for next month. They and other hatcheries are pretty sold out for the spring though, so you may be looking at getting fall chicks at this point. However, if you are doing a smaller order, sometimes people cancel orders and I see small quantities appear back on the Meyer website. Keep checking and you might find some inventory.

Other hatcheries I've heard are good are Mt. Healthy, Murray McMurray, and Ideal. Hoover Hatchery seems to have the biggest inventory, but I've heard mixed reviews about the quality of the chicks. But they might be good if you can't find another one with inventory. You can also buy their chicks at Tractor Supply.

Are you looking for a specific breed or hatch date?

 

[Mamagirl3]

Hello. I'm assuming you mean hatcheries. I love Meyer Hatchery in Ohio. I've used them once so far for meat birds and laying hens and just put in another order for next month. They and other hatcheries are pretty sold out for the spring though, so you may be looking at getting fall chicks at this point. However, if you are doing a smaller order, sometimes people cancel orders and I see small quantities appear back on the Meyer website. Keep checking and you might find some inventory.

Other hatcheries I've heard are good are Mt. Healthy, Murray McMurray, and Ideal. Hoover Hatchery seems to have the biggest inventory, but I've heard mixed reviews about the quality of the chicks. But they might be good if you can't find another one with inventory. You can also buy their chicks at Tractor Supply.

Are you looking for a specific breed or hatch date?

You are correct... HATCHERIES... sorry about that!
We would like some cornish cross meat birds for one. Have read things on here that were definitely pros and cons about hatcheries. My concerns are 1) that there is an extreme price difference for these chix. From $2.30 to $5.60 each for 25-30 chicks. 2) we ordered 15 day old chicks last year. One was injured on arrival and died. The others all lived and are prolific layers. we have buff orpingtons, light brahmas, and black jersey giants. But... tho we love them all .. not one in the group that will be 1 year old in 2 weeks are the weight/size the breed is supposed to be. Jersey giants should be over 4 and 5 lbs. We had buffs some years back and these little girls are no way as large as our others. When we began questioning the size someone told me that many hatcheries have bred birds out to be the best layers they can be and staying true to size was not a priority because smaller size ate less and eggs were the end goal. My girls are healthy and happy and out of 12 girls (lost 2 last fall when a strange dog had been dropped off in this area and killed 2.) Out of these 12 we consistently gather 9 to 11 eggs daily and several times 12 in a day! Even when it was zero and single digits for a week we still got 8-9 daily!
These breeds are sold to be egg and meat. Doesnt offer much meat when it takes a year for them to be 4 to 5 lbs. The jersey giants that we have seen in the past were 7-8 lbs for hens.
Besides the meat birds i would like to get some more pullets in different breeds, but want to purchase from a hatchery that has chicks that grow up to true size.
Thank you for your response. Really appreciate any and all help.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

You are correct... HATCHERIES... sorry about that!
We would like some cornish cross meat birds for one. Have read things on here that were definitely pros and cons about hatcheries. My concerns are 1) that there is an extreme price difference for these chix. From $2.30 to $5.60 each for 25-30 chicks. 2) we ordered 15 day old chicks last year. One was injured on arrival and died. The others all lived and are prolific layers. we have buff orpingtons, light brahmas, and black jersey giants. But... tho we love them all .. not one in the group that will be 1 year old in 2 weeks are the weight/size the breed is supposed to be. Jersey giants should be over 4 and 5 lbs. We had buffs some years back and these little girls are no way as large as our others. When we began questioning the size someone told me that many hatcheries have bred birds out to be the best layers they can be and staying true to size was not a priority because smaller size ate less and eggs were the end goal. My girls are healthy and happy and out of 12 girls (lost 2 last fall when a strange dog had been dropped off in this area and killed 2.) Out of these 12 we consistently gather 9 to 11 eggs daily and several times 12 in a day! Even when it was zero and single digits for a week we still got 8-9 daily!
These breeds are sold to be egg and meat. Doesnt offer much meat when it takes a year for them to be 4 to 5 lbs. The jersey giants that we have seen in the past were 7-8 lbs for hens.
Besides the meat birds i would like to get some more pullets in different breeds, but want to purchase from a hatchery that has chicks that grow up to true size.
Thank you for your response. Really appreciate any and all help.

For CornishX, I think Metzer still has them avaliable for the most part.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I would recommend Cackle Hatchery as well as the others mentioned. I still have 8 large breed and 13 bantam hens that I got from them several years ago and they have been very healthy and remain productive from a laying standpoint.

 

[nuthatched]

It's too late to order this year unless you're willing to wait until August or so.
Cackle is known for high quality, I like McMurray, they have a few apa breeds and my mt.healthy birds are a good size.

 

[Mamagirl3]

For CornishX, I think Metzer still has them avaliable for the most part.

I am finding there are plenty of those around especially waiting until late april and all of may but dont understand the big price spread for them... $2.00 to almost $6.00 per bird is a big price difference. Sometimes the quality is the difference (GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR) but without knowing the reputation for good hatcheries i am not sure? Thank you for your help!

 

[Mamagirl3]

It's too late to order this year unless you're willing to wait until August or so.
Cackle is known for high quality, I like McMurray, they have a few apa breeds and my mt.healthy birds are a good size.

Thank you!