Regarding a high rate of chicks dying
In normal instances chicks remain in hatcher for 72 hours before being moved to transport them, this allows for full consumption of yoke and a steady environment for first 3 days of life greatly improving their outcome.
Because of the high demand this year. not only chicks from us but just about all the hatcheries are doing this as well they are being removed after 24 hours. This means instead of 3 days old chicks you are receiving 1 or 2 day old chicks which affects the mortality and survival rate.
We at Mystic Mountain Hollow DO NOT follow this as our chicks from here will always be 3 days old before selling them. but because of the demand we have been outsourcing to a couple partners which are more concerned with quantity over quality and well being.
This is why we are attempting to expand our hatchery to nullify the need to outsource.
Many commercial hatcheries ship at 1 day. There are a ton of new people that are buying chicks and not properly caring for them. TSC in Jeff City has stopped guaranteeing their chicks for this reason.