[singlepic id=2 w=320 h=240 float=right]I think Murray McMurray Hatchery is the best chicken hatchery, at least for me. I have never received a dead or unhealthy bird in a great many years of ordering from that hatchery.
The baby chicks on the right are Buff Orpingtons, New Hampshire Red, Plymouth Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Silver Laced Wyandottes.
I got chicks from a grain dealer that got the chicks from Cackle Hatchery. The chicks were healthy and vigorous. The rooster was among the nastiest I have ever had and the hens laid very well. The complaint I had is the Rhode Island Reds were slightly smaller than any I have ever had and the same for the Plymouth Barred Rocks. The Plymouth Barred Rocks actually looked more like Dominiques or something and were much lighter than any Plymouth Barred Rocks I have ever had. The markings just weren’t the same as what I am used to. I am not saying they aren’t or weren’t Plymouth Barred Rocks, but they are a totally different looking bird to what I am used to. I also found them to be wonderful layers, but extremely aggressive, more like some sort of hybrid than an old fashioned Plymouth Barred Rock.
Mt. Healthy is another hatchery I have used. I got an order with about 80% of the chicks dead, but they sent another order the following week. The second order came as they said and were all alive, but 3 died in the brooder. This is my second experience with this in over 30 years of raising chickens. Many years ago I did have one chick die at or on about the 5th day after receiving it. This is common supposedly if they are in a dry part of the incubator. Mt. Healthy was very good about it so I am not afraid to order from them, but I plan to go back to Murray McMurray for future birds.