About Us

At Hoover's Hatchery, we pride ourselves on supplying America's backyards and farmsteads with colorful flocks of all kinds. We specialize in providing a wide variety of poultry breeds to customers, offering everything from chicks to fully grown birds.

We believe in supporting customers through the life cycle of their chickens and other fowl. As a leader in the backyard poultry industry, we believe that a happy chicken owner equals a happy chicken. Whether you are a seasoned chicken owner or a rookie, we will do whatever it takes to ensure your success and enjoyment in raising poultry.

Hoover’s Hatchery was hatched in the summer of 1944 when Bob Hoover and his wife, Helen, decided to take over the small existing hatchery in the small town of Rudd, Iowa. Bob and Helen hatched and sold baby chicks until their retirement in the early 1970s. At that point, Doug and Mary Halsted, who had been longtime employees of the hatchery helping to manage day-to-day operations, took over. The Halsteds owned and operated Hoover's Hatchery for 47 years. Today, Hoover’s is owned and operated by a group of families who believe in the very same principles that the Hoovers, Halsteds, Moyers, and Privetts built their hatcheries on.

In 2020, Hoover’s Hatchery acquired Moyer’s Chicks in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Moyer's Ready to Lay Pullets specializes in providing convenient solutions for poultry enthusiasts and farmers in Mid-Atlantic or Northeastern United States. As part of the broader family of brands with Hoover's Hatchery at its core, Moyer's offers a distinct service: ready-to-lay pullets. These pullets have reached maturity and are ready to begin laying eggs.

By focusing on providing mature pullets, Moyer's Ready to Lay Pullets fills a niche within the poultry industry, catering to customers who prioritize convenience without compromising on the quality of their flock. With a commitment to reliability and customer satisfaction, Moyer's Ready to Lay Pullets continues to be a trusted name in the poultry community.

In 2023, Hoover’s Hatchery acquired Privett Hatchery. Privett Rare Poultry Breeds stands out within the family of brands associated with Hoover's Hatchery by offering a specialized selection of unique poultry breeds. As a secondary brand, Privett Rare Poultry caters to poultry enthusiasts and farmers seeking diversity and distinctiveness in their flocks.

Overall, Privett Rare Poultry Breeds plays a vital role in enriching the poultry landscape by offering uncommon breeds, fostering appreciation for the rich diversity of poultry genetics, and providing customers with exciting opportunities to explore new facets of poultry husbandry.

Most recently, Hoover's brought Estes Hatchery, in Mt. Vernon, MO into its family of brands. Together, the four hatcheries are better positioned to serve the backyard poultry market throughout the country.