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– ESTABLISHED 1913 –

TOWNLINE POULTRY

fOUR GENERATIONS OF QUALITY POULTRY

Superb Quality

We maintain a high-quality control by hatching out of our own breeder flocks kept on site, every step is checked and double checked to ensure accuracy and quality.

Hands On Approach

From the breeder chicken, hand gathering and traying the eggs, setting and checking the incubators, candling for fertility, pulling the chicks from the incubators, and packing orders to suit for weather and distance traveling.

Experienced Staff

Keeping a knowledgeable and helpful staff to assist you with every step of the process. We strive for a simple experience leaving you satisfied and confident about your poultry order.

Tour Our Hatchery

Go behind the scenes at Townline Hatchery to learn more about who we are and how our “hands-on” approach provides quality poultry with service you can count on.

Find Confidence.

Raising chickens for the first time can be scary, paralyzing, and stressful. Leverage our 105+ years of experience as we walk alongside you through the journey.

Videos & Resources

Our website is meant to be a resource, visit our pages to learn more!

Support Forum

Join our Facebook Support Forum to ask questions in the poultry community and share your story.

Phone Support

Have an unanswered question? Give us a call today. 888-685-0040

Deals & Updates

Join our email list to receive updates and deals!

Subscribe to Chick Deals

Want to be notified every time we have a deal? Click below to subscribe! Choose to subscribe to all Townline deals and updates, or subscribe only to the breeds you care about.

Established 1913

That’s over 105 years!

Townline was established in 1913 by Jacob and Ada Geerlings and originally began as a cow farm. Due to the growing poultry industry in town, it quickly became a chick hatchery. It was and continues to be, very common for children to help and maintain the farm, and Jacob and Ada’s son Henry took over the family business in 1940 with his wife Gertrude. Not long after, the poultry industry began to dissipate in Zeeland due to the relatively inflated expense of raising poultry in the cold climate of Michigan. Many moved south for reduced feed and heat costs. Others shut their doors altogether as a result of a lack of interest from buyers or heirs. Fighting on, three of Henry and Gertrude’s sons, Jack, Richard, and Don took over the farm in 1988 as 3rd generation owners and operators.

Your Guide to Raising Successful Meat Birds

Raising meat birds can be tough. Don’t go through the stress of winging it, watch our video series on how to get it right the first time! The most important tips to know when starting out are:

Correct brooder temperature is key to their survival.

Correct brooder set up is vital.

Learn to recognize "signs" from your chicks relating to their health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact us with new questions!

What do I need to get started raising chicks?

Check the “Basic Guidelines for Proper Poultry Care” page for how to get started.

How are chicks shipped?

Chicks are shipped through the United States Postal Service.  They will be shipped priority mail or express mail depending on your location (check shipping chart here).  The USPS is the only outlet for shipping chicks as they are the only ones who will accept live birds. They are shipped to your local post office and the office will contact you to pick them up once they have been received.  Please check our policy page for further information regarding the shipping process.

How many nests do I need?

1 nest box per 7 hens is sufficient.  You can coax your chickens into laying in them by hanging them 18-20 inches from the floor and eliminate any dark corners in the coop.

When should I get my broilers butchered?

This will depend on what size you would like them to be.  Cornish hen size would be around 3-4 weeks, a fryer would be around 5 weeks, a roaster would be around 8-10 weeks.  We do not recommend raising broilers beyond 9 weeks.

How much feed will I need for my meat birds?

The conversion rate is about 3 lbs. of feed to 1 lb. gain on the bird.  At the proper percentage protein feed, you will need about 25 lbs of feed to get one 8 lb. broiler.  Typically at 8 weeks, you will get anywhere from a 5.5 to 8 lb. bird.  Weight difference can depend on the sex as the roosters do get bigger, faster.

Can I put new chicks in with my older birds?

We do not recommend putting new chicks in with an existing, older flock as the older birds will tend to pick on the little ones.  You can attempt to introduce them once they are similar in size, however, keep a close eye for pecking issues.

Connect With Us

We would love to hear from you!
Email Address
office@townlinehatchery.com
Mailing Address
4198 96th Avenue Zeeland, MI 49464 888.685.0040
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