Anyone expecting a shipment from McMurray's this week?

[joshplus10]

I called McMurray and they told me to expect delivery today or tomorrow, I haven't gotten a call from the post office, but my DH is on the way over there right now - just to check.

 

[spookychick]

Empera,

Glad your babies finally arrived! My weak and nearly frozen chicks are coming around, and getting stronger. Two still have me worried, but they're preening and pecking at food now, so hopefully they'll pull through.

 

[Empera]

Quote:
I'm happy your fluffy butts are getting healthier as we type

It's so difficult to open up your loud, peeping package to see deceased baby chicks. It broke my heart ):

The fact that these little delicate cuties can survive shipping is amazing. I hope your cuties get very healthy and big loveable buddies.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:
Hi Empera

When I got mine home yesterday some of them decided to take naps too. From reading stories of sick chicks.... I thought they might not be doing well. I must have dipped the bills of at least 15 chicks in their waterer before I realized they were just tired and wanted to take a nap!

Today I've seen mine in some 'poses' while napping that would make you bet money they were dead (necks all stretched out, legs sticking out, laying on their sides)

... but as soon as another chick touches them they jump right up.

I just have to learn to calm down as a new chicky

parent

 

[spookychick]

Quote:
I'm happy your fluffy butts are getting healthier as we type

It's so difficult to open up your loud, peeping package to see deceased baby chicks. It broke my heart ):

The fact that these little delicate cuties can survive shipping is amazing. I hope your cuties get very healthy and big loveable buddies.

Only one worrying me now. She's a White Crested Black Polish. I believe she's another extra freebie, because I only ordered two and they sent three. Sweet little one, but I don't know if she'll hang in there.

Wishing everyone the best with their wee ones!

 

[Empera]

Quote:
Oh god, I have to agree with you Bullwinkle! I check on them every two seconds and freak out thinking, "Do they have enough water?" "I hope that one is just napping!"

It's a stressful day, but such a wonderful one.

Spookychick, good luck with that little Polish!

 

[Four Acre Bliss]

I am so angry with McMurray right now. They shipped my chicks SATURDAY. They arrived yesterday, TUESDAY. That's nearly four days! Two were (very) DOA and trampled/pecked all over, one died on the way home from the post office, and three more died when we got home.

That's 6 chicks out of a 25 chick order who froze to death or died of pneumonia. My friend ordered 6 fancy breed chicks with my order, 4 of them died (2 cochins and 2 polish). The other two were two of my Easter Eggers. One perked up after eating yogurt and sitting under the warmer, and looked like she was going to make it, then she just laid her head down and died in my hands. It was heartbreaking.

The remaining birds seem to be doing well. They are really adorable! They were a bit stressed out at first but have really calmed down a lot. They were quiet all night, which was nice.

QUESTIONS:

There's one chick who is a bit bigger than the others and a different color -- yellow with four dark stripes down her back and one dark stripe on her head. She is MEAN! We had to put her in chicken jail because she was bullying the single Buff Orpington packing peanut so badly. She pecks everyone! The girls were peeping like crazy, but quieted right down when I removed her -- she was stressing them out and getting them to peck each other. After her night in solitary, she seems to have calmed down and learned her lesson a little bit, so she's in with the crowd and things are pretty good. She pecks on the Buff a little bit here and there but a certain amount of that is probably to be expected ... it's nothing like it was yesterday when I thought she'd kill her!

Anyway, my questions are: Did I do the right thing in confining her or is there another, better method of discouraging the bullying? AND What kind of bird is she? She doesn't look like my Speckled Sussex OR my Easter Eggers. Bigger than average, yellow with dark stripes. Guesses? I'll try to get a pic ...

 

[Empera]

Four Acre Bliss:
And Virginia is closer than Washington to the hatchery. I'm sorry for your losses. I believe they sent out ours on Saturday also, and I received 2 DOA and the rest of the 25 weak and cold but alive.

I believe they had a few chicks that were older than everyone else. Especially my Ancona, one was DOA and the other has more wing feathers growing out. I thought she was going to die too, had me worrying about her all night. Hopefully she pulls through still.

I have a Speckled Sussex who sometimes likes to chase it's friends' legs around & peck it. But that stopped once we changed the distance of the heat. It was too hot.

What kind of bulb are you using, red or white? I've heard that red calms the chicks down and stops pecking. It's worth a try if you have more problems.

 

[Four Acre Bliss]

We do use the red light. I'm sorry for your losses!

 

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:
How is the little polish doing today? I ordered just one (also a white crested black polish) that I was going to call 'my' special favorite... but my wife said she really likes the ones with the 'bad hair days' so I guess the chick is 'offically' my wifes now. The little polish chick is very easy to pick out/distinguish from the other 85 babies with her extra fuzz on the top of her head. Physically she does seem to be one of the smallest of the 14 varieties I ordered. So far she's doing well though.