Dead Chicks IN THE MAIL

[gritsar]

Quote:
LOL Gritsar. If I lived 6 hours from a hatchery, I think I'd just drive to go and get them. Hmmm...now that I think about it, its probably a good thing I don't have a hatchery within driving distance - it would be much too tempting...

The thought has crossed my mind.

I also like to wait until spring because I brood my chicks outside. I won't have them in the house. By waiting later to order them and having them outside, couple weeks under the heat lamp and they're good to go.

 

[scorpian5]

I got a box of dead chicks from ideal this morning. They did not put any extra ones like the last time and i was even shorted one chick.

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

I just feel bad for the poor chicks....they don't even to get to grow up

But yeah, please wait until the weather gets warmer to order chicks.

 

[rancher hicks]

I got chicks last Feb 25th shipped on the 22nd I think. All were alive. All survived to adulthood.

Quite honestly the USPS doesn't ship by truck that's why there is no more "air mail". I suppose it does make a difference how far from the nearest airport you live though, and my main PO is right nextdoor practically. My PO is not that far from the main PO either. I would expect that to make a difference. If you can pick them up at the main distribution center that may make a difference. I suppose some folks are left with no choice but to hatch their own or buy from the TSC or private hatchers.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Our weather here in SW Arkansas is generally not all that different than it is in Cameron, Texas, where Ideal is located. Two days ago we were outside in t-shirts because it was in the 60s. Last night it turned cold and even with a heavy jacket and toboggan on my head and I was still cold in the middle of the day today.
February and March are very unpredictable weather-wise around here.
Sorry about your chicks.

I hope you let Ideal know right away.

 

[kooltex]

I just received my chicks from ideal a week ago, they are all doing well, no doa's. But I live in texas, and they shipped on wed, and arrived on thurs. one of the reasons I order from them is location, the chicks are healthy as well.

 

[asher]

Quote:
What do you mean USPS doesn't ship by truck? They may use airmail for some, but they have to be transported place to place by trucks...it's cold in those trucks. Sometimes they will put the dibs in the front, but not all will do those. Also, fyi, those bashing USPS, the truckers going from the facilities to the post offices are normally contracted by USPS, but are not actually USPS employees. (Hope that makes sense.)

I just got started, fully feathered chicks shipped to me, but even then, we waited until the temps were above freezing for two days. There was a can full of corn in with them and I wasn't AS worried about the temps b/c they were fully feathered and had been without a light already. Day old dibs are a whole `nother story b/c they have no heat source and they do need it.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
What do you mean USPS doesn't ship by truck? They may use airmail for some, but they have to be transported place to place by trucks...it's cold in those trucks. Sometimes they will put the dibs in the front, but not all will do those. Also, fyi, those bashing USPS, the truckers going from the facilities to the post offices are normally contracted by USPS, but are not actually USPS employees. (Hope that makes sense.)

I just got started, fully feathered chicks shipped to me, but even then, we waited until the temps were above freezing for two days. There was a can full of corn in with them and I wasn't AS worried about the temps b/c they were fully feathered and had been without a light already. Day old dibs are a whole `nother story b/c they have no heat source and they do need it.

The drivers hauling mail in 18 wheelers are almost always OTR or regional sub-contracted drivers.

USPS very much DOES ship chicks by truck. I PERSONALLY hauled several crates of chicks from Harrisburg, PA to Several places in sout-west VA. They came from a hatchery in centrel PA when I was working for a subcontractor of the USPS last spring.

It is common practice to ship by truck. The chicks are in boxes, on trays on wheeled carts. They come in from p/u at the hatchery - ON A TRUCK. They sit on the un-heated/air-conditioned dock at the DC until they are put ON A TRUCK to where they are going. Usually another DC or postal mail center where they sit on another dock til they are sorted and put on another TRUCK and sent to the local PO.

Granted, USPS routes run 24/7 in most areas and they have drivers who shag the loads so they get delivered, but it's done by un-heated/airconditioned, un-insulated 48' and 53' trailers in all weather. I know, I've done it.

Ordering chicks in winter is a risk the person ordering takes upon themselves. If your chicks all arrive dead, the only fault on the shipper is they took your money. You ordered them. Hatcheries wouldn't ship in winter if people wouldn't buy them in the winter. Customers really should educate themselves on how companies - including the USPS and hatcheries operate.

Truck drivers are just doing their job. Hauling your freight, your orders, your wants and needs to you. If it doesn't arrive how you want it.....well, we don't get to pick and choose what freight we haul.

 

[Penturner]

I wonder how much of their business small keepers even are. I know the one hatchery that I did get to se a lot would send out small orders, they also had quite a bit of walk in business from local farmers. but their real business was chicks by the truck load to a local meat producer. Even though they offered chicks in small orders it was more of a pain than it was worth. In short they really didn't care. If someone ordered chicks they shipped them because it cost them to have an employee on the phone arguing with a customer that chicks would not survive being shipped with 18 inches of snow on the ground. In short mail the box and let the customer figure it out for themselves. What is sad is that the customer does not figure it out, they blame the hatchery, the mail man, the USPS driver or anyone and everyone else except there own lack of patience.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Well, again, we had 18 inches of snow on the ground yesterday when I picked up my chicks
One DOA, and if there had been more fatalities, I would have just blamed myself for ordering so soon - but they weren't so I am thankful andhappy

PS - My post office was great!! Called at 7 AM and they had checked the box for fatalities in case I had to file a claim, they treated my chicks like gold - They absolutely rock in my book


Reading all this, I don't feel like a bad chick owner, I got what I wanted and am in the proces sof trying to rehome 15 packing peanuts