How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] (unknown)

I like Murray Mcmurray, have always had good luck with them, but they don't carry every breed there is. I have also bought chicks from Ideal and a couple others and had good luck with them also.

Shop around, some have more breeds by sex than others. I think Sand Hill is all straight run, you take what hatches. Most everybody sells bantams straight run, too small to sex.

However----raising chickens has become very popular all of a sudden, and to get just what you want you may have to order ASAP. Right now is not too early. By January, after Christmas, when you get to thinking more about spring, several breeds will be entirely sold out for the season already. I learned that the hard way. Took me 2 years to get certain less common ones I wanted to try.

The biggest thing is the weather at the time you want them transported and delivered. I'm in the northeast, I would not order baby chicks in the cold months, even April can be very chancy. And some people have a hard time with their local post office that doesn't take good care of them. Baby chicks need to stay warm.

If you want show quality, just look for it. See what all the different sellers say about their stock. MM sells good quality birds, some of them turn out to be show quality. I know my local feed stores order from Ideal, but they don't claim show quality either. Or try your local 4H office, ask who's raising good ones. And there are probably other poultry/chicken discussion lists with people who will sell you some.

Diane S.

----- Original Message -----

From: pat adels

To: chickens-101@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 1:47 PM

Subject: [CHICKENS-101] (unknown)

Do you have a favorite hatchery for price, qualiy and livabity of chicks? Or are they all about equal?

Thanks again!
Pat

our website: http://www.munchinhill.com

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:17)