Baby Chicks in the Mail...

[jonalisa]

I just want to make sure people are aware that thousands of baby chicks have died in the mail as the US Post Office has become a political issue and service has been slowed. Please make sure that the place you get chicks from is aware of this issue and has a plan to prevent or counter these delays!

Thousands of baby chicks arrive dead amid postal service turmoil

Mail-order chicks are arriving dead, costing Maine farmers ...


USPS changes blamed for deliveries of thousands of dead chicks: 'We've never had a problem like this before'

 

[AltonaAcres]

 

[deidreg]

Thank you for raising this up. I wondered if this was becoming a problem.

 

[WNYfarmfresh]

We’ll bail out the auto industry but let the the United States Postal Service sink. The postal service isn’t to blame. Costs are rising and consumers are copping out for cheaper services. If I read right recently, USPS has stated that they will be transitioning away from shipping day old poultry.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

This fills me with so many emotions. Absolutely unacceptable and devastating.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Some years ago (2010ish?) a bill passed that required that requires the post office to have a fund for the healthcare costs of their entire service for *75 years*. That means they're being asked to have a fund for postal workers that aren't even born yet. That year they went from a profitable government organization to one that isn't.

Despite that they trucked right along and found ways to make ends meet. Then the pandemic hit and shipping all over the world pooped out. But they still managed to recover and were even doing really well during the pandemic. The post office showed once again that they're a wildly efficient and effective organization and they have been for literally 100s of years.

Then, suddenly, two months ago, a new postmaster started making unauthorized (and therefore potentially illegal) changes and has ripped out mail sorting machines and a LOT of post boxes from post offices. Many in my city have already been sent to recycling centers. Even if you don't live near a big city like me chances are good ANYTHING you order, including baby chicks, passes through a distribution center that currently has a terribly reduced processing capacity.

They have made the statement that they will no longer be removing more but the damage is done. Chicks are dying. Medication is being late. People are getting critical priority mail (like court summons, jury duty, bills, tax information, etc.) so late that it's no longer valid. This can mean that YOU (yes, YOU, or your mom or literally anyone) can be arrested TODAY for a tardy jury duty summons that you never even received.

And now farmers and chicken keepers specifically are being hit hard. It's not like you can ship poultry through FedEx/UPS - they won't take it! I suggest if you want to get you mail-in medications, plant seeds, eggs, chicks, feed, groceries, farm equipment or other necessities on time you start calling your appropriate government representatives and demand they restore machines to distribution centers across the country and investigate the people involved in removing them.

 

[jonalisa]

Some years ago (2010ish?) a bill passed that required that requires the post office to have a fund for the healthcare costs of their entire service for *75 years*. That means they're being asked to have a fund for postal workers that aren't even born yet. That year they went from a profitable government organization to one that isn't.

Despite that they trucked right along and found ways to make ends meet. Then the pandemic hit and shipping all over the world pooped out. But they still managed to recover and were even doing really well during the pandemic. The post office showed once again that they're a wildly efficient and effective organization and they have been for literally 100s of years.

Then, suddenly, two months ago, a new postmaster started making unauthorized (and therefore potentially illegal) changes and has ripped out mail sorting machines and a LOT of post boxes from post offices. Many in my city have already been sent to recycling centers. Even if you don't live near a big city like me chances are good ANYTHING you order, including baby chicks, passes through a distribution center that currently has a terribly reduced processing capacity.

They have made the statement that they will no longer be removing more but the damage is done. Chicks are dying. Medication is being late. People are getting critical priority mail (like court summons, jury duty, bills, tax information, etc.) so late that it's no longer valid. This can mean that YOU (yes, YOU, or your mom or literally anyone) can be arrested TODAY for a tardy jury duty summons that you never even received.

And now farmers and chicken keepers specifically are being hit hard. It's not like you can ship poultry through FedEx/UPS - they won't take it! I suggest if you want to get you mail-in medications, plant seeds, eggs, chicks, feed, groceries, farm equipment or other necessities on time you start calling your appropriate government representatives and demand they restore machines to distribution centers across the country and investigate the people involved in removing them.

Exactly right.

 

[Purlsnponies]

Makes me so sad. I put an order in with a hatchery for my first chicks before this all started.. they're set to ship in 3 weeks. Been prepping, reading, and building.. and of course worrying as I hear news about the USPS. Was planning on talking with the folks at the hatchery next week, but am now thinking I should just cancel and wait till I can find local chicks for sale.

Those poor chicks and farmers.

 

[adrikeen]

My husband alerted me to this tonight and I'm sickened. I'm expecting chicks at the end of September - all specialty breeds/rare breeds. The order is about $300. He's encouraging me to cancel the order but I'm a hopeless hopeful. @Purlsnponies, please keep us updated on what you decide to do (cancel or not) and if you do decide to keep fingers crossed, what happens.

 

[BGcoop]

So what happens to those poor chicks then if people start canceling all their orders? Are they going to be doomed to die no matter what???