A SAD hatch day at our home

[farmgirlie1031]

Quote:
I think that might work. I got one box of eggs shipped that the post office had stamped "non-machinable" and "do not x-ray" on the box. I could tell it was a post office stamp so I am guessing they showed the post office contents of the box?

 

[asher]

Quote:
I have no idea how many they x-ray or when/why and I'm not sure if you honestly wanted me to answer or just take a jab at postal workers.

 

[MrsCountryChick]

Alot of things get transported by trucks, semi or straight trucks (family members were transport mail haulers for USPS). So the closer state transporting wouldn't be by air, but now a days with the worry of the people in this world, ya never know what's in any package. Sad for egg shipping tho.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

was those the eggs I sent you? that sucks only one hatched

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I did a fairly thorough search yesterday regarding the "x-rays" at the post office.

The post office uses the same machines that the airports use to scan luggage. It is such a low dose of x-ray that it really should not effect fertility of eggs. It doesn't even affect digital camera chips. Likely the issues involve the handling of the boxes more than anything.

If it's a huge issue, I guess you could send stuff FedEx. Yep, it costs more, but if the eggs are valuable, then it's worth it. I would NEVER put "fragile" or 'hatching eggs" on the outside of the box. Just treat it like any other priority mail box and it probably won't get any "special" treatment.

There are good and bad workers everywhere. Times have changed...these aren't the "good ole days" anymore and we have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

That said...I think the most important thing is packing so the egg has room to move up and down a bit. This can help prevent them from becoming scrambled. I'm not sure wrapping them and putting them in a carton is the best way to go. Yeah, you may not have any cracked eggs, but the whole carton of eggs was tight inside the box. That means that when the box is handled, the only thing moving is the inside of the egg...thus broken aircells and scrambled yolks. If the whole egg can move some, it will help absorb some of the shock.

 

[ozark hen]

no, Asher, I honestly wanted you to answer. Our local postal workers are great and they are aware of what happens to our hatching egg boxes. They call me and are upset when a box arrives at their destination damaged all the time. Not all postal workers are to blame, but the blame does fall on postal workers...whether it is the ones unloading, I have no idea as I do not know the inner workings of a post office. But it is in shipping across the country. All my damaged boxes and temporary lost chicks came from the east of Missouri so far. Our home delivery gal is awesome.

 

[asher]

Quote:
See, I totally disagree with this, from the other side.

Marking your box fragile tells me:
Not to attach the box to your mail box with rubber bands if it doesn't fit in the box.

Not to (gently toss even) the box from the car to the picnic table on your carport.

Not to put the box under the big box of bricks (

) that someone shipped.

Not to put it in my trunk if the box is very tall b/c my trunk is sort of messed up and I have to slam it HARD to get it to shut. If the box is not short or might get knocked by that trunk, it either goes in my back seat OR (if it doesn't fit in a heavy day), I leave it at the office and put the notice in their box to pick it up at the P.O.

To handle the box gently when moving it from my buggy to the car.

Not to justle, toss or throw the box.

Etc., etc., etc.

I know not ALL do this, but every single box marked fragile that comes in to my hands IS treated as gently as possible. I don't abuse any of the packages, anyway, but I definitely treat the ones marked fragile extra super duper careful.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Asher...from a postal worker's perspective...do you think most workers care about the packages that they deliver or is it just another package? The reason I said that I would forego putting anything on it is the perception that if it says 'hatching eggs' it is more likely to be treated poorly...just for the sake of it.

I have to tell you...I've never gotten a priority box that was crushed, mashed, broken or in anyway damaged. I did have 1 or 2 broken eggs in a couple of boxes but the box itself was intact. I'm sure it does happen, I've just been very fortunate.

 

[asher]

Honestly? It's just another package that we need to deliver, but the majority will follow any extra instructions on a package (fragile, this side up, etc., etc. as long as they see it). We don't have a personal vested interest in each package that we deliver past getting it where it belongs and getting it scanned when we deliver it, if applicable.

We don't, however, in general, have a vested interest in destroying packages like many seem to think.

I will say, though that I've seen a lot of attitude on this forum about postal workers. If they treat their postal workers half as badly as they talk about them, I can't imagine that they would enjoy delivering their packages with a smile on their face, much less care what's in that package. Mind you, that's our job, but despite what some think, there's a lot involved in it and it's definitely not a "pie job" so getting flack from someone b/c their package got decimated on the delivery truck (i.e not the carriers fault) probably doesn't make them want to go out of the way for you (general) in the future.

I, personally, bring all packages out as long as they'll fit in my car and I don't bring any back as long as they fit in the box or I can find a safe place at your home to put them. I'll go out of my way to try to find a safe and weather free place to put the package. HOWEVER, if that's not easy to find and you (general) don't come out when I honk and you (general) give me lots of attitude over and over, I'd have no problem sticking that pink slip in the box so you (general) have to come down to the P.O to pick it up. I would still be doing my job, but I definitely wouldn't be doing favors for any customer that acts towards postal workers the way I've seen so many on this forum act.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Asher, that's what I personally think as well. I"m glad to hear you confirm. I know the PO folks get a LOT of grief on here and I think much of it isn't warranted. Generally they do the best job they can. Much of the shipping is outsourced to trucking companies and I'm sure they have little interest vested in the shipment other than to get it there as soon as possible.

Asher, thanks for what you do everyday. I don't know what we would do without you all...