70% Dead Chicks - Meyer Hatchery

[justdeb1107]

Our family placed an order for 10 chicks with Meyer Hatchery in early February. We didn't want to buy local because we wanted some unique breeds (Buff Brahma, Polish, etc.). After waiting for 3.5 months I finally got the call to get the babies from the post office. I was there within an hour of the call. Opening the box, I was horrified to find 7 out of 10 chicks dead. I called Meyer before leaving the post office, and the customer service rep was upset along with me and offered to send more chicks. I told her I didn't want to send any more babies to their death. They credited back my card for the dead babies, but none of the shipping, vaccinations, etc. Our weather has been very mild this week, so their deaths should not have been weather related (it's 75 right now).

So...long story short...after waiting for months I had three babies, paid over $13/each for them with shipping, and was utterly traumatized by the sight of the limp, lifeless bodies of the ones that didn't survive overnight shipping. I don't even remember the last time I cried like I did after seeing those dead babies.

I don't like to send negative information about companies unless I feel very strongly about something. Their customer service person was very understanding about the situation, but if you have the choice of buying locally or having chicks shipped, I strongly recommend buying locally. Maybe this happens only once in a blue moon, but it was a horrendous situation (made worse by months of anticipation), and if I can save someone else the trauma then it's worth having posted this message. Sadly, had I not been a complete newbie to chickens, I would have realized that ALL of the "rare" breeds I ordered were available from local sellers.

 

[Hazard]

Sorry to read this story. That is just awful.

I do have to say though that there are so many variables along the way, that good hatchery, bad hatchery, shipped, not shipped, warm weather , cold weather, ALL THESE THINGS can lead to a good or bad experience. You can find many videos from all the different hatcheries and see their facilities, equipment, staff, etc. Meyer specifically has videos that seem genuine in what they are doing. Their equipment is clean and state of the art, and the people seem as good hearted as can be.

Once they leave the hatchery, you have no idea how they are handled or what adverse conditions they go through until you get them. Left out in the cold, box shaken or dropped inadvertently, etc. A hourly worker in the sorting facility of a shipping service doesn't have the same concern as we do for our "precious babies". They're just chickens, but in reality, to them they are just another box to move along. You get what I mean?

I'm not saying anyone intentionally does anything or that bad things happen under normal circumstances, but you have to take the whole thing with a grain of salt. The whole idea that you can take something so fragile and young and ship it hundred or thousands of miles within hours of being born (hatched) is still boggling to me. And obviously the success rate is generally high enough that it can be called successful or they wouldnt do it hundreds (maybe thousands) of times a day form all the different hatcheries across the USA.

Just wanted to cast a different light on the subject.

Again, VERY sorry you have to go through this. I just got my first baby chicks ever today in the mail, so my heart is with you.

 

[Zanna]

Some things that you need to remember when buying locally as opposed to a hatchery; Hatcheries have all their birds tested for a multitude of diseases, most backyard breeders do not. You can order your chicks vaccinated through a hatchery, most breeders do not immunize. When getting chicks from a multitude of people, you are opening your flock up to any diseases that the chicks may carry...some of which can not be weeded out through quarantine. Not all breeders are reputible or may not know what their birds carry. Therefore, you are never certain if someone's flock is carrying a disease.

If I had known then, what I do now...I would never have gotten chicks from a backyard breeder. Even though I wanted some SQ birds, the rest of my flock was doomed by that mistake. My flock is now battling Marek's Disease. Something that has been eradicated in hatcheries but is becoming more and more frequent in backyard flocks. It is not tested for in NPIP so even flocks with this 'license' can still carry Marek's. All my dreams and that of my sons' went down the tubes just because we wanted birds that would do well in 4 H shows. With that purchase, I doomed myself to never being able to show my birds...and, in the process, have buried 28 birds to date.

Moral of this story...it's not always better to buy locally....

I do not believe that Mareks has been eradicated from hatcheries at all......... Mareks vaccine does not prevent transmission of the virus. It prevents the symptoms which often result in death from showing up (the tumors, paralysis, droopy wing, etc.). The birds can still carry the disease forward if bred even though they never exhibited any symptoms. I am a particular, small, local breeder working on various Heritage breeds. I choose not to vaccinate my birds for Mareks as I want to know who is a carrier so that I never breed it forward and can eventually eradicate it from my closed flock (I think I am there). I have had to cull a few birds with Mareks in years past, sad, but I would rather do that than do a disservice to potential buyers by selling them carriers that I did not know about because I gave the vaccine and it masked the symptoms........ It takes lots of culling and individual attention to breed tough, hardy flocks. I do not believe most large hatcheries have the time or the inclination to do this. Just my two cents worth

 

[CarolJ]

I'm sorry for your sad experience. I've ordered from Meyer several times before - and have never had a sick or dead chick. I have another order placed that will arrive in August.

I believe that most problems encountered with shipped chicks are not because of the hatcheries but because of the post office. No matter how careful they try to be (and some likely aren't careful at all), they will occasionally drop a box or the box gets tipped over or they overheat in the back of a truck. Hatcheries would not be able to stay in business if it was the norm for chicks to be DOA. I doubt there is much difference from one hatchery to another of the number of chicks dying. The best route may be to pick them up in person whenever possible - as long as it's from a reliable source. However, I will continue to order from Meyer based on my own past experience and knowing that the birds I get will be healthy.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

It happened to me also, we got 5 chicks but all were dead when we got to them. I'm so sorry about that.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

I was actually shocked to hear how frequently chicken owners recieve or send shipped chicks. We are parrot owners, and many low class breeders will attempt or offer to ship birds, and in the parrot community it is generally frowned upon greatly to ship any type of birdl, unless they are being personally driven or escorted. It is super risky for the birds health, especially baby chicks like that. I wouldnt have ordered from a hatchery for this reason, but I know its common in the Poultry world. However your experience just solidifys my feelings on this.

I am so sorry you had to see that. I would have been devastated as well. One of my Buff Orps passed at 6 weeks old for natural causes and even that was traumatizing for me to find. I cant imagine your situation.

 

[captainroo2]

We just ordered 32 chicks from Meyers to be here in 44 days. I pray to god that they will arrive safely. this is our first time ordering live chicks.

 

[BaconNEggsFarm]

Our neighbor just ordered 100 from them and recived 8 extras and all are as healthy as can be.I have no horse at all in this race,just wanted to mention that it is very probable that it wasnt the hatcherys fault,most likley poor handleing by the P.O. and to point out if it were some sort of sickness even more likley it would have spread to the other 3 you have and they as well might be dead.Sorry for your troubles but sadly it often happens....with respect

 

[LaPetiteFarmer]

I am so sorry for the pain you are going through.
In June, we are suppose to receive our 7 babies from Pet chicken and beforehand I am stressing out to received them dead as well. We ordered them online for the same reasons as yours... we wanted some unique breeds that we cannot find here... but after reading all of those horrific stories, I am really scared, especially because we live in the west coast, so it is going to take several days for them to arrive. We waited June because we knew they would have a better chance to survive, but now reading your story I am scared. Pet Chicken has the same policy as Meyer Hatchery, meaning they will reimbursed us for the loss of chicks but not for the shipping (we paid $36 for 7 chicks

)
Once again, Sorry for your loss.

 

[Jakoda]

I am so sorry for your loss and experience I am also getting 10 baby chicks from my pet chicken, which I understand gets them from Meyer, the first week of June. I waited for a little bit warmer weather just 'because' and wanted to work on my coop, have everything in place. This is one of my fears as well, tho I understand it's awful, I also understand it's not 'that' common place..Hopefully mine will be ok
Diane