Hi Donna, First ask others on the internet if they have done business with specific hatcheries and what their experiences were. The only way you will ever know if a hatchery is reputable is by asking others first and then placing an order.
I have done business with hatcheries that others later said were crooks and had fair results. I have also done business with major hatcheries that everyone said were just outstanding and ended up with a lot of thirsty dead and dieing chicks.
Depending on what you are looking for I know two small hatcheries that really care about their customers and go to great lengths to make sure you are happy with what you get.
Check these small hatcheries out and see what you think. Dean
http://www.schlechthatchery.com/
Above is a link to one of the best and cheapest priced chick suppiers in America. I have done business with Etta since 1990 and have no
complaints.
http://www.backtothefarmmo.com/breeds.html
Above is another small operation that is basically organic in nature
that raise large, robust, and healthy dual purpose breeds on their farm. Last year I helped to evaluate their breeding flocks and select future breeders that were true to breed type, free of defects, and out of good production stock. They have some of the best all round Delawares, Buff Orpingtons, and large New Hampshire Reds I have seen in a lot of years. Their hens are larger than average and lay large grade brown shelled eggs of good quality. They say their stock is not bred for show but if you saw their birds close up as I have you would see that they have some top of the line showable birds in their flocks. They are extremely pickie about what they keep for
breeders.
There are dozens of NPIP breeders in America that also sell good quality stock [day olds] and are little known to the general fancy.
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"Donna" <sunny19682@...> wrote:
Sorry for all the questions " how do you determine if a farm selling chicks is reputable? I've been poking around on the net looking for local farms and have found a few within driving distance " but I wonder if there is a place (ala Better Business Bureau) to see if any of these places have a good rep.
Donna
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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