Any advice for raising pheasant chicks?
We got back from church today and I got a message from the main post office in Lynchburg saying that the truck came in and we can pick up our baby pheasant chicks today or have them delivered to our house tomorrow and gave me a number to call. I don't think astonished could quite cover what I thought at that moment. I hadn't ordered any chicks of any kind this year, so I thought they must've looked up the wrong phone number and called the PO to straighten this out.
The post office employee verified my name and address was on the box and told me where I can pick them up. Then, they told me that they were almost all dead and since they were almost all dead, did I just want them delivered tomorrow. I explained to them that I didn't order any chicks, but I was coming to get them because I can't just leave them uncared for - they're live animals!
I drove out to get them and he brought out a huge box that hatcheries ship 100+ chicks in!!!! I've never ordered that many chicks - ever! The box came from Mac Farlane Pheasants in WI - I've never even heard of them, I've never browsed their website and definately never placed an order. I like gamebirds, but the only ones I have are quail and hadn't planned on getting anything else anytime soon.
The address is handwritten and it is indeed my address, no invoice or contact information in the box. It was postmarked April 24th, so was only in transit 2 days, so I don't know why the death count was so high. I opened the box in front of the postal employee and the vast majority were dead. 120 are dead and 12 are still hanging in there, but only 4 look like they have much energy.
I brood most of my chicks under broody hens, so I didn't really have a proper brooder set up anymore, so I put the survivors in a Rubbermaid tote on paper towels and rigged up a heat lamp. I dipped their beaks in sugar water just like I did for my Privitt chicks last year, no one seems overly interested in eating or drinking.
I called the company, but they aren't in the office on Sundays - but they're going to hear from me tomorrow!
Any advice for me? This is the craziest thing!
We got back from church today and I got a message from the main post office in Lynchburg saying that the truck came in and we can pick up our baby pheasant chicks today or have them delivered to our house tomorrow and gave me a number to call. I don't think astonished could quite cover what I thought at that moment. I hadn't ordered any chicks of any kind this year, so I thought they must've looked up the wrong phone number and called the PO to straighten this out.
The post office employee verified my name and address was on the box and told me where I can pick them up. Then, they told me that they were almost all dead and since they were almost all dead, did I just want them delivered tomorrow. I explained to them that I didn't order any chicks, but I was coming to get them because I can't just leave them uncared for - they're live animals!
I drove out to get them and he brought out a huge box that hatcheries ship 100+ chicks in!!!! I've never ordered that many chicks - ever! The box came from Mac Farlane Pheasants in WI - I've never even heard of them, I've never browsed their website and definately never placed an order. I like gamebirds, but the only ones I have are quail and hadn't planned on getting anything else anytime soon.
The address is handwritten and it is indeed my address, no invoice or contact information in the box. It was postmarked April 24th, so was only in transit 2 days, so I don't know why the death count was so high. I opened the box in front of the postal employee and the vast majority were dead. 120 are dead and 12 are still hanging in there, but only 4 look like they have much energy.
I brood most of my chicks under broody hens, so I didn't really have a proper brooder set up anymore, so I put the survivors in a Rubbermaid tote on paper towels and rigged up a heat lamp. I dipped their beaks in sugar water just like I did for my Privitt chicks last year, no one seems overly interested in eating or drinking.
I called the company, but they aren't in the office on Sundays - but they're going to hear from me tomorrow!
Any advice for me? This is the craziest thing!
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