15 chicks, DOA

[Nanili]

I've had very good luck with Meyer Hatchery and Ideal Hatchery (never any fatalities), but I've always had chicks shipped to me in the spring or summer (April through July) when the risk of mortality was substantially lower.

Hatcheries will continue to ship chicks in the winter because it's a matter of supply and demand. I wish they would add a long explanation and disclaimer to their web pages to advice people of the heightened risk of shipping chicks when it's really cold or really hot.

Many people (especially first-time chicken owners) are not aware of the risk, and just assume it's safe to ship chicks because the hatcheries are doing it. Winter shipping is very risky in most of the U.S. and can result in boxes of DOA chicks (see the many posts on BYC). Tiny bodies just do not fare well in freezing temperatures, even with heat packs included. While portions of the journey may be in a heated truck, airplane, or post office, other legs of the journey may expose them to very cold temperatures. So, it's important to know not only the starting and ending point of the journey, but also the states through which the shipment will go. During the winter, a FL to GA shipment would probably do fine. However, I wouldn't trust an OH to PA shipment or an OH to CO shipment.

Most hatcheries are very willing to replace the chicks, but I'd rather see them thoroughly explain the risk so people can make an informed decision. Even if the risk of getting DOA chicks in winter were less than 5%, I'd still opt for eliminating that risk by having the shipment occur in spring or summer. There are enough shipment-related stresses already for the chicks to deal with, so it's important to do whatever I can to reduce the risk of mortality.

I agree, I spent a lot of time on the phone and online with them reassuring me. But I should have trusted my gut and not risked those little lives. I have a lot of sadness about it.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[bruceha2000]

Shipped Monday night, arrived Wednesday morning, which was right in the Tues-Thurs time frame they gave me.

I'm sorry you had to go through this. There are no hatcheries anywhere near me. I've ordered 3 times, once from Ideal, twice from Meyer. Ideal is 1,500 miles, Meyer closer to 600. Either way they go by airplane. All chicks alive and well when received, no post receipt deaths.

If you can find sexed chicks near you, great. But sexing is a learned art unless they are sex linked. Non sex-linked chicks from a small breeder will be straight run, expect 50% cockerels on average.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Living in Hawaii it's a gamble Dels/TSC brings in chicks for a month in the Spring, others have ordered from Meyer, McMurray & Ideal, not sure if there are any others. Many will not ship/deal with Hawaii due to the Dept of Ag requirements. Haven't heard of loss just complaints on the shipping cost.

 

[Acre4Me]

I'm sorry you had to go through this. There are no hatcheries anywhere near me. I've ordered 3 times, once from Ideal, twice from Meyer. Ideal is 1,500 miles, Meyer closer to 600. Either way they go by airplane. All chicks alive and well when received, no post receipt deaths.

I posted earlier in thread - had all 26 chicks arrive dead - ship from OH hatchery to me in OH, so they travelled by truck. Maybe my problem was ordering too close to home! From Cleveland (when USPS put the chicks on a truck) to my town approx 200 miles away in OH, it took them 31 hours. Maybe next time I should order from someplace farther away so they travel by plane. LOL! Anyway, next time, we will pick up live chicks from a smaller hatchery closer to us. We will try mail order again, but lets get our flock started off on the right foot with live chicks turned egg-layers.

 

[Acre4Me]

Eek. Where are you located?

Ohio, approx 200 miles away from Cleveland. Hatchery is in OH. USPS got hold of the chicks and promptly put them on a truck for the next 31 hours! The hatchery indicated that usually Ohio addresses get the orders the next day.

 

[X_and_Z]

My condolences! What a disheartening experience.

In addition to the locations that casportpony mentioned, there are a number of other local places that are worth checking into depending on what breeds and ages you want. I don't have any personal experience with these suppliers so caveat emptor.

Four Acorns Farm in Los Gatos:
https://www.facebook.com/FourAcornsFarm/
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/d/four-acorns-farm-backyard/6492809114.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/d/four-acorns-farm-ameraucanas/6487278017.html

CR Poultry in the Central Valley but will meet you in Livermore:
https://www.crpoultry.com/
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/grd/d/rare-heritageblue-marans/6491165682.html

Little Red Hen Ranch in Union City/Freemont - Bayside 4H:
http://www.littleredhenranch.com/about

Chicken Ally on the Peninsula:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/farmers-market-egg-layer/6491822551.html

Craigslist is also full of people selling extra chicks/pullets - in a quick search this morning found 6 week old buff orpington pullets in San Jose, silkies and showgirls (chicks through layers) in Castro Valley, and black australops/barred rocks/golden laced wyandottes chicks in Santa Cruz.

As a side note, I don't think Sam's Downtown Pet & Feed (the downtown is downtown San Jose off of 280 about 3 exits south of the 280/17 interchange) has chicks yet. They are worth a call though - their service is excellent.

 

[theoldchick]

Truly, this is my worst nightmare. I worried to death over the arrival of my chicks seven years ago. Thankfully, they all survived, even the extra. You have my sympathy at having to experience such an ordeal. One option is to purchase from a local feed store. This time of year they are gearing up for 'Chick Days.'

 

[sevenfatcows]

I only want 8-10, my plan was to give away the other five (15 was min shipment, and I figured I might lose 1-2), so 25 is WAY too many! I have a day job

I wish I were closer to you as I'd be happy to get chicks from Belt and let you take only those you want, but I am all the way down near to Palm Springs. Maybe someone on the California thread would be willing to share a box with you. Belt is in Fresno I am not sure if you can pick up in person there,but they do answer the phone and are a very pleasant-to-deal-with- family business. Maybe they would help you out with a small order- I think it would be worth a call...btw sometimes I forget that chickens are not everyone's day job!

 

[Nanili]

My condolences! What a disheartening experience.

In addition to the locations that casportpony mentioned, there are a number of other local places that are worth checking into depending on what breeds and ages you want. I don't have any personal experience with these suppliers so caveat emptor.

Four Acorns Farm in Los Gatos:
https://www.facebook.com/FourAcornsFarm/
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/d/four-acorns-farm-backyard/6492809114.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/d/four-acorns-farm-ameraucanas/6487278017.html

CR Poultry in the Central Valley but will meet you in Livermore:
https://www.crpoultry.com/
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/grd/d/rare-heritageblue-marans/6491165682.html

Little Red Hen Ranch in Union City/Freemont - Bayside 4H:
http://www.littleredhenranch.com/about

Chicken Ally on the Peninsula:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/farmers-market-egg-layer/6491822551.html

Craigslist is also full of people selling extra chicks/pullets - in a quick search this morning found 6 week old buff orpington pullets in San Jose, silkies and showgirls (chicks through layers) in Castro Valley, and black australops/barred rocks/golden laced wyandottes chicks in Santa Cruz.

As a side note, I don't think Sam's Downtown Pet & Feed (the downtown is downtown San Jose off of 280 about 3 exits south of the 280/17 interchange) has chicks yet. They are worth a call though - their service is excellent.

Wow, I really appreciate all of these resources. I'm humbled and grateful for the support and understanding of this group. AND the fact you all care about the little lives we are trying to raise. I'll check these out.