Get Help Now Leave a Message [X]
Your Name*
Email Address
Your email address appears to be invalid. Would you like to correct it?
Enter your name, email address and your question or message and click Send Message.
First Name
Last Name
Your Email Address
Your Question or Message
Your message was sent. We will get back to you via email as soon as possible.
The first ship date for everything in your cart is .
Please note our fax is down. Use 515.489.4023 to send faxes in the interim.
SHOP NOW

Home / Frequently Asked Questions

Information and Frequently Asked Questions

Hatchery Video Tour

Hatchery History

Our Guarantee

 How do we prepare for our chicks? We've added a full page on chick care.

Contact Us

Information for Canadian customers
General Chicken Information
Chick Care Tips
What does straight run mean?
What is the ratio of males/females in a straight run?
Which breeds are friendliest?
Can you mix together chickens of different ages?
Can I mix baby chicks with other types of fowl such as turkeys, ducks, geese, etc. on an order?
Which breed lays better, Red Star or Black Star?
Will I get Americanas in Murrays Choice Layers?
Will all the breeds in my chick order get along with each other?
If you offer the Homesteader's Delight, why can't I order a few chicks, turkeys, & ducks myself?
How long do I have to keep feeding them un-medicated feed if I get coccidiosis vaccination?
What chicken breeds do best in heat?
What chicken breeds do best in cold?
How much is my adult chicken worth?
What kind of offspring can I expect when crossing different breeds?
What is a capon?
Egg Production Ratings
Order Information/Customer Service
When will my chicks arrive?
what is the minimum for shipping started pullets?
What if some chicks die when I receive them?
what is your minimum for shipping chicks?
What do I do if I have a problem with an order I placed with Murray McMurray Hatchery?
Order Cancellations
Ordering Restrictions By State and/or Country
Shipping
Free Shipping
Can you ship outside the U.S.A.?
Can I ship chicks Express or Overnight?
Health Care and Concerns
Do you have any information on the corona virus, COVID-19, and poultry?
What is Coccidiosis and how do I control the disease?
What is Marek's Disease and how do I control the disease?
What is Newcastle Disease?
Do you have any information on Salmonella?
Why do chickens peck at each other & what can we do about it?
Nests & Housing
What is a dropping board?
How much space do my chickens need?
How far should my nest be off the floor?
Sexing Poultry
How do I determine the sex of my poultry
Egg Laying and Production
How long will a hen lay?
Is there any way to tell if an egg is fresh?
How long does it take for a hen to lay eggs?
Can you tell if a hen will lay white or brown eggs?
At what temperatures do hens lay eggs the best?
Molting
At what age do chickens molt (lose feathers/natural process)?
How long will a chicken molt
Egg Information & Hatching Information
Egg Hatching Tips
Why do I have to turn the eggs that often in the incubator?
How many roosters do you need to keep eggs fertile?
My hatching eggs arrived today, and they feel as cold as ice?  Will they hatch?
Complete Organic Feed
Chick Starter 0-3 Weeks
Duck Starter 0-3 Weeks
Turkey Starter 0-6 Weeks
Chick Grower 4-6 Weeks
Duck Grower 3-7 Weeks
Turkey Grower 6-10 Weeks
Broiler Finisher 7 Weeks +
Duck Finisher 8 Weeks +
Turkey Finisher 8 Weeks +
Layer/Breeder 10 Weeks +
Duck Information
Minimum Orders for Ducklings
Nutritional Needs for Ducks
Cancelling Duck Orders
Duckling Leg Bands and Identification
How many male ducks should I keep, and will they fight like roosters?
How do ducks and geese get angel wing?
Goose Information
Nutritional Needs for Geese
Minimum Orders for Goslings
Cancelling Goose Orders
Gosling Leg Bands and Identification
How many male geese should I keep, and will they fight like roosters?
General information about Geese
Turkey Information
Which turkey breed is the best for meat?
Feeding your turkeys
How long until turkeys are ready to butcher?
Guinea Information
Answers to questions about Guineas
Other
How long can a chicken live?
What does McMurray Hatchery think about the National Animal Identification System?(NAIS)
Can I order turkeys & chickens to come together?   Or ducks & chicks?
How do I order a gift certificate?