19/36 dead chicks- is this normal? :-( how do I ID which breeds died?

[Thomasturkey]

I ordered 50 chicks from MM that 25 arrived alive this morning. They sent 3 extra. The rare extra chick is one that made it. Black with a white spot on his head. What is strange is they came in two sections. One whole section was dead. Some smelled so my post office first noticed the deaths. Many were stuck together like glue. The box seemed moist with green stuff in the center. Could that do it? The other section was alive with a few hurting. I did talk to MM when I got home. They said to keep track of who dies in the next 48 hours and call them back. So far 4 more have died and more do not look good. They where two different breeds. Both breeds are effected equally. I don't think there will be a problem getting credited for the losses. Not sure about the shipping cost. It is just sad. I have ordered thousands of chicks. This is the first time I have had more than one loss in a shipment.

 

[6Happiness]

Quote:
Yes same thing here- one side was almost all dead, the other side was all most all alive.
I think the green stuff was food/liquid gel for them? I mixed up the packet that was under the shipping pads and its the same green colour once mixed with water.

 

[Whiskey Bay]

I had the same problem last week AND this week.I wanted some BLRW but their limit is 15.So I had to order 10 extra birds for shipping minimum.No big deal I order a bunch of roosters for market if need be.I ordered them about a month ago for this ship date and I was so excited for them to be here.They called me from my post office on tuesday for pickup.So I jump up and run all the way up there for my babies.When I opened the box there was 9 DOA and more on the verge.I gave them a call before I even left the post office and the girl was very nice.She told me to wait until Thurs and call her back to see how many I would lose by then.So I said ok.Well I had lost ALL of the remainder by weds.I was heartbroken.I have never had an experience like that. So I call them and update..yada yada.. The ship me a duplicate shipment this week.Well here it is MONDAY morning and the Post Office calls and says I have chicks waitin on me? I ran up there to get and the guy shows me again their are lots of DOAs. Come to find out they shipped my birds out on FRIDAY!!

To be in transit all weekend.To sit in cold transit trucks for 3 days before delivery.Not to mention the crammed up nature of the number in the box.I mean as I was pulling them out of the box they seemed to multiply.They were so crowded they were crushing each other.I have them in my bathroom right now where it's nice and toasty and have already lost a few more and more still not looking good.Usually I can give them glucose water or a sweet mash and they perk up really good.But so far no luck...

I've received birds from other hatcheries with no problems.

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Yes the "green stuff" is gro gel for shipping. First place I've ever seen do that.

 

[Swampwood]

I thought they would know better than to ship on a Friday.

 

[draye]

This is the reason that I never order from any hatchery at this time of the year, I feel that it is entirely too cold to be trying to ship chicks. I generally wait and have mine come in around the middle part of March until the last of May or early part of June.

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
x2. I get very frustrated when I read these kinds of posts. I wish the hatcheries would just stop shipping this time of year. It doesn't seem to matter how many people warn newbies not to order this time of year, they are too excited to get their chicks and then we wind up with threads like this. Gah!

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Quote:
x2. I get very frustrated when I read these kinds of posts. I wish the hatcheries would just stop shipping this time of year. It doesn't seem to matter how many people warn newbies not to order this time of year, they are too excited to get their chicks and then we wind up with threads like this. Gah!

Not everyone who orders are newbies....

@Swampwood = Check ur PM's and yeah,You would think they would ship out on Mon-Tues or so...go figure.

 

[draye]

Quote:
x2. I get very frustrated when I read these kinds of posts. I wish the hatcheries would just stop shipping this time of year. It doesn't seem to matter how many people warn newbies not to order this time of year, they are too excited to get their chicks and then we wind up with threads like this. Gah!

Not everyone who orders are newbies....

@Swampwood = Check ur PM's and yeah,You would think they would ship out on Mon-Tues or so...go figure.

Murray sent out statements last year that their local PO has stopped letting them ship except on Friday's, beside the point if the PO were doing their job the chicks should arrive in 2 days anyway. Thye tend to hold things until next week-day, why is that?

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Not everyone who orders are newbies....

@Swampwood = Check ur PM's and yeah,You would think they would ship out on Mon-Tues or so...go figure.

Murray sent out statements last year that their local PO has stopped letting them ship except on Friday's, beside the point if the PO were doing their job the chicks should arrive in 2 days anyway. Thye tend to hold things until next week-day, why is that?

Only on Friday thats just crazy, but looks like alot of McMurry shipments are dead......no wonder if they are shipping on Friday.