First let me say, as I have in the past, I'm not downing hatcheries. Especially not the family-ran, long established hatcheries. Hatcheries are a good source for layers and meat birds, and if that's what you're after you'll probably do fine with them. But, if you want very good-excellent-show quality chickens, it's likely to never come from a hatchery.
They generally focus more on quantity, not quality.
Those chicks are always cheaper, absolutely, but realize what the trade off is.
The first picture is of a hatchery Orpington cockerel at six months old. The next pictures are two of my 4-5 month old English Orpingtons, and their dad who's a year old.
We've had hundreds of hatchery chickens over the years, this is the norm, not an exception.
You may have to go out of your way a little more, and spend more to get birds from breeders, but it will almost always be worth it.
Even good breeders have less than great birds hatch, it's just genetics and if they're honest they'll say so.
Just wanted to share an example of why you should consider buying from private breeders.
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