Attention those who plan on ordering chicks from hatcheries!

[beak]

We ordered 50 last year that came the 1st week of March. Didn't lose any of them. Then we ordered another 100 3 weeks later. Lost 2 of them from getting wet. We start them in a 50 gallon water tank in a closet in the garage. Put the heat lamp on them and haven't had any problems. Of course we live in Colorado. It doesn't snow here anymore. Today it was 63 degrees. Had my AC on in the car.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Katy, again let's not let this get to far. I don't ask that you order, but I don't ask anyone's permission to order. I musta missed the smiley face I probably was focusing on the slant of the post, sorry.

For the few they have to replace many more squeak though

And I would take that to mean that for the small losses there is a large percentage of successful deliveries. I made my point and I think I will bow out as I don't think I like the direction this is headed. Shame because some contemplating ordering or not ordering would probably like to read a friendly discussion on it.​

 

[coffeemama]

Quote:
hey WalkingWolf.....if you believe that about the chicks never being exposed to the cold, I've got some swamp land I'd like to sell you!!

I'm not arguing or ganging up wolf, but I have to agree that the PO has not been the friend of BYCers many times. They say they handle boxes marked fragile with care, and we end up with the box bashed in and yolks dripping. And what about the lady who had her eggs thrown out of a moving car? Or the adult birds that were trying to make it from Spokane to Olympia and got sent to some other state?! Anyway, the PO may do their very best to not expose chicks to cold, but the people who work for them are not saints-they are people. Employees don't always abide by comapany rules.

Thanks for your original post Buster-it's all too tempting to get chicks as soon as it starts to look like spring is coming!

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
I ordered mine from Cackle and Ideal , they are coming on Feb 23 and 25 to sunny Florida, hope it will finally warm up here by the time.

LOL

 

[FarmerDenise]

We're waiting til march and we'll be hatching our own or buying fertile eggs locally. That's just because I don't want to have to worry about keeping them warm and dry this month. It'll be a lot easier next month. We'll probably do another batch in late April or May at which time I might have chicks shipped, so I can get the breeds I want.

 

[beak]

Our post office does a great job. They actually delivered chickens last year on a Sunday. They had one van that had nothing but chicks on board. He went to the local feed stores and called people to come get their chicks so they wouldn't sit in the post office all night. Usually they come during the week. The PO calls us at 8am to come get them. They jokingly say that the chicks drive them nuts with all the noise. One of the really nice things about small towns is the post offices.

 

[joshplus10]

Quote:
So true! My local postal worrkers keep my babies safe and warm and even give them water.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Here's one for you (and a question).
My pal, Debi (she lives in the next bump-in-the-road-community-from-here), ordered 350 chicks from Stromburgs and didn't give them a ship date --- just said whenever you have all the breeds available.

She got the call from them Wed that HER CHICKS HAD BEEN SHIPPED! and Stromburgs wasn't even SUPPOSED to START shipping til later (what they told her).

How crazy is that!
Even here in SC, we've been in a spell of teens at night and not warming up much during the day.
Anybody know where Stromburgs ships from. I'm guessing the chicks will be coming from IDEAL or someone southern.
Thanks!

Lisa
edited to add: Her partial order of chicks came in today in great shape postmarked Lubbock --- so from Ideal?

 

[TXmom]

If I lived in a colder state, I would have probably waited....however, I live in Texas and I ordered from Ideal, which is in Texas. My chicks all arrived happy and healthy. I specifically chose Ideal because it was close to me.

 

[Buster]

Good grief people, I didn't post to start a fight. If you can't wait or decide it's warm enough, or want to just because, by all means, order them. Do whatever you want. That's fine with me. I never told anyone what they had to do, I was just giving advice. I wouldn't order chicks to Idaho in cold weather months. You do what you want.