Cackle hatchery's Hatchery Surprise- Anybody got this before?

[ptig78d]

I can confirm that they do not automatically vaccinate for Mareks with the hatchery surprise...you must ASK for it. It is the same price $10 for the first 66 birds, but they ONLY VACCINATE CHICKS. If you get other types of birds (turkey, duck, goose, guinea, etc.) they are NOT vaccinated. I had a discussion about this with the customer service rep when I called to add the vaccination to my order before it was filled.

 

[ptig78d]

So, this isn't about the Hatchery Surprise...but it IS similar. We ordered the Waterfowl special (hatchery choice, 4 goslings and 6 ducklings), and I have been tracking the shipment utilizing the track-a-package feature of the USPS website and also signed up for text alerts for all activity. The order was fulfilled on Monday, label created later Monday night and accepted for shipment into the USPS mail system. It left Springfield, MO at 1104 pm, and arrived in Scarborough, ME (My home state) this morning at 207 am. It arrived at the Hampden sort facility (about 30 minutes away) at 10:49am...and left this afternoon at 3:52 pm. I know for a fact, as I used to be an RCA *substitute mail carrier* at my town post office, the truck arrives around 5:30pm...but I never got a call. I even tried calling at that time...but the door closes at 5, so they don't answer the phone after 5.
So...the questions remains....where are my poor birds?! I hope they are at least somewhere warm. There is no arrival scan for Bucksport, so did they go back to the sorting facility in Hampden....or are they *gasp*...sitting in the truck?!! The thought makes me shiver!
Granted, the shipping info on the USPS website tracking system estimated delivery for Thursday....but my Hatchery Surprise arrived in 3 days...and it was 5 lbs instead of the 3 lbs that this shipment is. What gives?!
OK...I'm going to bed now. Regardless, I will be taking a picture once I open the package at the post office in front of the postal clerk..as I always do for my chick shipments. For their sake...my littles better be OK! I know the shipment is insured up to $100...but I'd rather not use it if I can help it! If I had known that they would delay it this long, I would have driven up to Hampden and picked it up at the sort facility!
Night all!
-Dave (distraught in Maine)

 

[tnsr2011]

So, this isn't about the Hatchery Surprise...but it IS similar.  We ordered the Waterfowl special (hatchery choice, 4 goslings and 6 ducklings), and I have been tracking the shipment utilizing the track-a-package feature of the USPS website and also signed up for text alerts for all activity.  The order was fulfilled on Monday, label created later Monday night and accepted for shipment into the USPS mail system. It left Springfield, MO at 1104 pm, and arrived in Scarborough, ME (My home state) this morning at 207 am. It arrived at the Hampden sort facility (about 30 minutes away) at 10:49am...and left this afternoon at 3:52 pm.  I know for a fact, as I used to be an RCA *substitute mail carrier* at my town post office, the truck arrives around 5:30pm...but I never got a call.  I even tried calling at that time...but the door closes at 5, so they don't answer the phone after 5.  
So...the questions remains....where are my poor birds?!  I hope they are at least somewhere warm.  There is no arrival scan for Bucksport, so did they go back to the sorting facility in Hampden....or are they *gasp*...sitting in the truck?!!  The thought makes me shiver!  
Granted, the shipping info on the USPS website tracking system estimated delivery for Thursday....but my Hatchery Surprise arrived in 3 days...and it was 5 lbs instead of the 3 lbs that this shipment is.  What gives?!  
OK...I'm going to bed now.  Regardless, I will be taking a picture once I open the package at the post office in front of the postal clerk..as I always do for my chick shipments.  For their sake...my littles better be OK!  I know the shipment is insured up to $100...but I'd rather not use it if I can help it!  
Night all!
-Dave (distraught in Maine)

I hope you find them ok. This has happened to me everytime we have ordered birds from any hatchery with exception of my most recent surprise. The first time we had only 1 DOA. The second time 1/2 doa. The third time all DOA. The hatcherys have always been good about it.

 

[GAChknGirl]

Well I did it I ordered the surprise box !! I hope I get a great assortment

 

[Celiandy]

Did they make it to you safe and sound?

So, this isn't about the Hatchery Surprise...but it IS similar.  We ordered the Waterfowl special (hatchery choice, 4 goslings and 6 ducklings), and I have been tracking the shipment utilizing the track-a-package feature of the USPS website and also signed up for text alerts for all activity.  The order was fulfilled on Monday, label created later Monday night and accepted for shipment into the USPS mail system. It left Springfield, MO at 1104 pm, and arrived in Scarborough, ME (My home state) this morning at 207 am. It arrived at the Hampden sort facility (about 30 minutes away) at 10:49am...and left this afternoon at 3:52 pm.  I know for a fact, as I used to be an RCA *substitute mail carrier* at my town post office, the truck arrives around 5:30pm...but I never got a call.  I even tried calling at that time...but the door closes at 5, so they don't answer the phone after 5.  
So...the questions remains....where are my poor birds?!  I hope they are at least somewhere warm.  There is no arrival scan for Bucksport, so did they go back to the sorting facility in Hampden....or are they *gasp*...sitting in the truck?!!  The thought makes me shiver!  
Granted, the shipping info on the USPS website tracking system estimated delivery for Thursday....but my Hatchery Surprise arrived in 3 days...and it was 5 lbs instead of the 3 lbs that this shipment is.  What gives?!  
OK...I'm going to bed now.  Regardless, I will be taking a picture once I open the package at the post office in front of the postal clerk..as I always do for my chick shipments.  For their sake...my littles better be OK!  I know the shipment is insured up to $100...but I'd rather not use it if I can help it!  If I had known that they would delay it this long, I would have driven up to Hampden and picked it up at the sort facility!
Night all!
-Dave (distraught in Maine)

 

[ptig78d]

Yes, they made it safe and sound. I apologize for not posting sooner, but I've been right out straight today! So, I arrived at my local post office at 0545, no one was there yet. The clerk arrived about 0555, and the truck got there at 6. I asked the driver, who I had known from when I worked at the post office, if there was a shipment of chicks. He said, "I hear peeping going on in the back, so they should be ok. This time, I opened the package and recorded audio and video as I cut open the straps holding the box lid on. Amazingly, ALL were alive!! The goslings were on the outside of the pile, while the ducklings were huddled in the middle. A couple of the ducklings didn't look so good, one had his eyes half open,
When I got them home, I immediately put each of them into the brooder, dipping their bill in the water I made up for them with "sav-a-chick" electrolyte solution. After I got back from my morning bus run, I checked on them again, and they all seemed much better! Now, my wife is playing with them on a towel laid out on the floor...so all is well!
Thank you all for your concern. Granted that all of them arrived alive, it was ridiculous for how long it took to get from the processing facility in Hampden, (30 min away), to our town post office. I am very grateful that they all survived!
OK. I've got to get to bed now. Take care, ya'll!

 

[Anna6]

Thank you for the update. I am glad to hear they are all doing well after their ordeal.

 

[TiaRC]

Anyone got any updated pictures!? Mine ship on May 30th. My first batch I sold and kept my goose

 

[GAChknGirl]

Mine ships June 3rd this is my first time ordering chicks ever!!!

 

[nj2wv]

My third one ships Monday so when I get it on Wednesday then I will post pictures