almost scared to order now...

[LadyLuck]

came on to the duck forum to do some more reading before placing my duck order tomorrow and I keep reading horror stories

about sick and dead ducklings.

I've done several batches of chicks and never had any problems at all (although all were bought locally) so I was just assuming that ducklings would also be trouble-free with proper care. However, I've never mail-ordered birds before, so now I'm getting quite nervous.
Is it really just expected to lose several when you get them shipped? that seems horrid. My kids have had chickens die before (dog attack, heat stroke, impacted crop) so yes, they've had that reality, but I'm not really keen on buying a group of ducks and just expecting to lose some.

Is it really going to be this bad or did I just pick the wrong threads to read?

 

[TravisE]

i not have ducks but with chicks ive had bad experience. i had order 27 from mcmurrays and all 27 died with in two days. 7 were doa. so i ordered from a breeder out of 18 13 lived, but i ordered 12. id go with local. ill never order shipped birds again. even though i was happy with the breeders chicks.

 

[Bellatrixed]

Most orders arrive alive or with very few casualties. It's just that people are more likely to complain about a dead order than post about a live, healthy one. You can try to minimize the losses by ordering from a hatchery fairly close to you so they have to travel a shorter distance.

For what it's worth, ducklings are almost universally sturdier and have higher survivability than chicks, which tend to be much more fragile. I have only had a few shipped ducks DOA versus many more chicks who didn't make it. Time of year also plays a role. If it's super cold or super hot, they're more likely to have losses.

 

[michellers]

I was very nervous about ordering my ducklings, especially since I was only ordering two. I knew they would be shipped with a heating pack, but I was still super nervous. They arrived happy and healthy! Hearing the chirps coming from the back of the post office when I picked them up was a huge relief!

 

[Amiga]

 

[Going Quackers]

I have never had birds shipped but i don't disagree that you'll likely hear from those who have bad experiences than the good because i think it's expected that it be good. I would also bet your temperatures play a role, for instance our winter is back... and the distances traveled.

Sadly, i think shipping anything alive means you assume risks, i believe most of the time the reputable breeders do provide a good service with the least deaths possible. As they would likely not stay in business otherwise.

Good luck!

 

[flockman]

I have ordered from a few different hatcheries. Never have I had more than one chick dead. That was an order of CX that took longer than normal shipping. Everything else has arrived happy and healthy. If you are ordering ducks I would really suggest Metzers or Holderread's.

 

[cosbackyard]

I've ordered a total of six chicks from mcmurray in two orders. One was shipped in feb and one in march. Both shipments arrived okay and the ducks were healthy and survived. I know that others have had trouble with shipping, though. It seems to be a function of how long they take in shipping. Mine arrived in two days or less. At three days the mortality rate seems higher. Mcmurray seems to ship from CA, which is close to CO hence the short transit.

I'd prefer to get them locally and will do some more research on that next time. But my experience with shipping has been good.

 

[3acres]

I have ducks that should be shipped today. I ordered from McMurray. Had I known they shipped their ducks maybe from California instead of Iowa at the time, I might of went with some one else??? ....but I'm excited and am optimistic!!! I lead a very low stress boring life....the anticipation of them getting here, wondering if they will be all ok, etc.....is exciting!!! ....

. I will be real sad if things go bad though! I got 42 chicks this morning from McMurray and all arrived alive! I have turkeys and 5 more chicks in a mail truck somewhere right now as I type this! Exciting stuff!

 

[JenGalbraith]

This may seem an odd question but coming from someone who has never mail ordered chicks. I was under the assumption that they had minimums to keep the chicks warm during travel but if that's the case why are some places a minimum of 3 and others 10 or 15? I jut have a small coop in the backyard I don't need 15 ducks!