Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
This is mostly just an...'I need a hug' style thread haha.
I have been waiting to get chickens for SO long. Years now. We finally have a house, and I was going to wait another year, but things were hard and I was struggling. My hubby wanted to help cheer me up and give me a win, so he helped me plan out and finish our coop so we could get birds this year instead of next. I was thrilled.
Of course this coincided with the pandemic. I could only find baby ducks in store, which I got (they're growing like weeds). So I ordered chicks online.
And now I'm seeing posts from people about shipping delays and getting boxes of dead chicks (in other BYC groups), and I am so worried. My chicks were shipped out yesterday afternoon, but the tracking # says they wont be delivered until Friday (which means picking them up since they don't actually deliver them). Normally priority would be much faster, so I'm sure this is due to the immense pressure and under-staffing USPS is experiencing. I don't blame them, but I am now very worried about my babies.
Anyone else that's had chicks shipped experience a transit this long? Any advice? I ordered 15, with the intent of keeping 6-8. I wanted to account for possible roos, or sick ones that might not pull through. Also planned for meat birds in case I had too many. But also the minimum order was 15. This is hoover's hatchery as they're the only ones I could find that had shipping dates as early as April when I ordered back in march.
Weather wont be horrible I don't think. I'm mostly worried about them going a week without food or water.
Should I take water with me to the PO and let them have a drink before getting them home? or is getting them in the brooder ASAP more critical?
There's nothing I can do but sit here and worry (my superpower) so I appreciate any advice or kind words you can spare.
This is mostly just an...'I need a hug' style thread haha.
I have been waiting to get chickens for SO long. Years now. We finally have a house, and I was going to wait another year, but things were hard and I was struggling. My hubby wanted to help cheer me up and give me a win, so he helped me plan out and finish our coop so we could get birds this year instead of next. I was thrilled.
Of course this coincided with the pandemic. I could only find baby ducks in store, which I got (they're growing like weeds). So I ordered chicks online.
And now I'm seeing posts from people about shipping delays and getting boxes of dead chicks (in other BYC groups), and I am so worried. My chicks were shipped out yesterday afternoon, but the tracking # says they wont be delivered until Friday (which means picking them up since they don't actually deliver them). Normally priority would be much faster, so I'm sure this is due to the immense pressure and under-staffing USPS is experiencing. I don't blame them, but I am now very worried about my babies.
Anyone else that's had chicks shipped experience a transit this long? Any advice? I ordered 15, with the intent of keeping 6-8. I wanted to account for possible roos, or sick ones that might not pull through. Also planned for meat birds in case I had too many. But also the minimum order was 15. This is hoover's hatchery as they're the only ones I could find that had shipping dates as early as April when I ordered back in march.
Weather wont be horrible I don't think. I'm mostly worried about them going a week without food or water.
Should I take water with me to the PO and let them have a drink before getting them home? or is getting them in the brooder ASAP more critical?
There's nothing I can do but sit here and worry (my superpower) so I appreciate any advice or kind words you can spare.
Let us know how it goes. What kind of chicks are you getting?
