Almish: Splitting Wellsummers?

[little_grey_bantam]

I know some Almish who raise some Wellsummers - was wondering if anyone was wanting to split the costs of chicks with me?
Apparently, the more ya buy, the cheaper they are too! (I'm wanting around 10-25, unsure yet)
I got five of them (one was accidentally kill) last year and they are laying some nice dark speckled eggs this year

I will pick up from the Almish and keep them and raise them up until 2 weeks old and then ship them
Pricing for them starts at $4, and I suppose I will only ask $5 each to help with feed costs. Nothing more nothing less.

Shipping I am unsure - $15-$20 I suppose, $30 tops?
I suppose you would need at least 15 ($60) to keep one another warm, maybe less, like 10 ($40)since they will be larger?

I'm located in KS, but could ship them anywhere

Usually I throw feed and a pear with them for them to snack on, it takes them 1-3 days depending where they're going.
If I can figure this out, I'll probably be purchasing some Cuckoos from the Almish too (some have feathered footing!) and a few other neat birds (they also have Black Marans and Red Jungle Folw that I would LOVE to have!)

 

[chickenlover54]

Do you mean Amish?

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Oh my!!! I had a horrible mistake!

I was reading something about a girl named Alma awhile ago and since, Amish has become Almish

*sheepish look*
Yeah... the AMish LOL

 

[dutchhollow]

Where in KS are you?

 

[Marlinchaser]

I think you should do a little more research into shipping 2 week old chicks. Dayolds are able to be shipped because they are still living off of the Yolk they absorb prior to hatching.

 

[Katy]

Marlin is right.....you can ship day olds or wait until they are a couple months old.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

We talked to a couple shippers and have sent a few chicks that were two weeks older and they all received in fair condition;
We did this express shipping deal where they were there within 24 hours - a little more expensive I believe, but they reach their destination just fine.

I've shipped day olds, one or two week olds and a bunch that ranged four weeks and older.

 

[Katy]

I wouldn't continue to do it they only arrive in "fair condition".

 

[little_grey_bantam]

well, not just "fair" condition - the three purchasers say they were live-lier and were happy that they were past the one week stage (which I believe is the most crucial period of a chick's life; though not as crucial as to the first 24 hours).

By two weeks, they were stronger than a say, one day old chick.
Probably not as cute anymore, since nothing beats a day old chick, but they were fed full before shipped and arrived in good condition - we leave part of a pear in there (soft) for some sort of water source and a little bit of feed on the floor.
But then were only in a box for 24 hours or less (one of the boxes went to CA from KS).

I think we've only had one fatality so far and that was due to if I remember correctly 4 four week old chicks and 7 day old chicks (they were purchasing 10 and I said I have one extra but am unsure since he/she was a tad bit smaller than the others - my fault on that).

Edit: scratch that, nearly 3 weeks, I think a day or two over or under.

But out of approximately 50 chicks, we've only had 1 fatality and these were day old chicks mixed with chicks two weeks and older

 

[Katy]

This is copied from another thread on shipping chicks. It's the PO's regulations.

Hinkjc wrote:The post office does have regulations that baby chicks must be shipped within 24 hours and the hatch date must be provided at time of shipment. Find that on their web site..should help.

eta - found it for you.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/DMM300/601.htm#wp1140004

9.3.2 Day-Old Poultry
Day-old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease (live virus) is nonmailable. Live day-old chickens, ducks, emus, geese, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants (pheasants may be mailed only from April through August), quail, and turkeys are acceptable in the mail only if:

a. They are not more than 24 hours old and are presented for mailing in the original unopened hatchery box from the hatchery of origin.

b. The date and hour of hatching is noted on the box by a representative of the hatchery who has personal knowledge thereof. (For COD shipments made by a hatchery for the account of others, the name or initials and address of the hatchery or the Post Office box number and address of the hatchery must be prominently shown for this standard.)

c. The box is properly ventilated, of proper construction and strength to bear safe transmission in the mail, and not stacked more than 10 units high.

d. They are mailed early enough in the week to avoid receipt at the office of address, in case of missed connections, on a Sunday, on a national holiday, or on the afternoon before a Sunday or holiday.

e. They can be delivered to the addressee within 72 hours of the time of hatching, whether the addressee resides in town or on a rural route or highway contract route.

f. The shipment bears special handling postage in addition to regular postage, unless sent at the First-Class Mail or Priority Mail prices.

g. When live, day-old poultry is to be transported by aircraft, all provisions of the airline tariffs are met and air carriers have equipment available to safely deliver shipments within the specified time limits, allowing for delays en route in air and ground transportation.

h. Day-old poultry, originally shipped by air express or air cargo and then presented for mailing, must be in good condition and prepared as specified in 9.3.2a. through 9.3.2e.

i. Boxes of day-old poultry of about identical size, securely fastened together to prevent separation in transit, may be accepted for mailing as a single parcel, if such parcel is not more than 100 inches in length and girth combined.

9.3.4 Adult Fowl
Disease-free adult fowl may be mailed domestically when shipped under applicable law in accordance with 1.7. Adult chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and quail as well as ducks, geese, and swans are mailable as follows:

a. The mailer must send adult fowl by Express Mail in secure containers approved by the manager of Mailing Standards (see 608.8.0 for address).

b. The number of birds per parcel must follow the container manufacturer limits and each bird must weigh more than 6 ounces.

c. Indemnity may be paid only for loss, damage, or rifling, and not for death of the birds in transit if there is no visible damage to the mailing container.​