Baby Chicks Shipping During Heatwave!

[Christi2107]

I ordered baby chicks from Meyer Hatchery a month ago not knowing it was going to be the hottest week of the year when they would ship. They are suppose to ship out tomorrow. I live in Texas and it is suppose to be 105* on Monday & 104* on Tuesday! Should I cancel my order?? Has anyone ever had chicks shipped during a heatwave and how did it turn out? Really worried about them! Thank you!

 

[parlor93]

CALL THEM. Most of the time they hold off shipping if the weather doe snot permit. But for baby chicks that is not too hot. You have to keep them almost that warm until they get bigger. Always had a good experience with Meyer Hatchery but I always drive to their place and get them.

 

[Christi2107]

Thank you for the reassurance! I'm going to call first thing in the morning when they open to let them know how hot it is here. I'm so glad you have had good experiences with them!

 

[azygous]

My chicks came from Meyer just this past week. It's always an exercise in trust and trying to keep your nerves calm.

More important than the hatchery is the USPS. Generally, the employees are very careful with chicks. They know they have chicks because the peeping clues them in.

They almost always take special care to get the chicks somewhere they will be at the proper temp when they need to be kept there for an extended period, including sticking them under a heat lamp, as I found out this week.

Often, the chicks pass through numerous sorting centers and post offices on their journey, and they don't always make their connecting flights, just like us humans, so their journey can take longer than expected.

For this reason, it's a good idea to find out what centers the chicks will pass through and alert them they're coming, and supply them with your phone number. I knew it was going to take 24 hours longer to have my chicks sent from a sorting center two hours drive away, so I elected to drive up there to take delivery. The USPS employees were all very helpful. They want to see the chicks get safely picked up, too.

Most important, find out what time your mail is delivered to your post office and be there to meet the truck when it arrives. That way your chicks won't have to be exposed to the hot climate any longer than it takes to scan them in as delivered.

 

[Christi2107]

I'm so glad your chicks made it ok! Good idea to find out their shipping routes just incase there is a delay! I have already let my local post office know & they said they would call me as soon as they got there. Very nerve racking!

 

[parlor93]

Did your chicks arrive alright?

 

[Christi2107]

Yes, thank goodness! They shipped out on Monday & got here Wednesday morning. All 6 chicks made it & are doing great! They are all healthy & full of energy...4 Barred Rocks, 1 Easter Egger, & 1 Jubilee Orpington. So relieved!
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[parlor93]

Great it is so exciting

 

[parlor93]

Still having fun?

 

[Sherol]

I'm around San Antonio and mine arrived today having shipped monday. All mine were fine and arrived at the post office at 5:30 this morning. It has been hot but would think the chicks can handle the heat a bit better than the cold. I figure the hatcheries have been doing this a while and would let you know if they felt there was a concern with shipping. I breed fish and do a lot of shipping of them all over the US.. you would be surprised how easily you can ship live things with proper packing.