Disappointed with Metzer's

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

My 4-H club went through Metzer's for our first time doing a meat duck project and I'm the chair of the project so I did a lot of the contacting. They had fairly good customer service and all the ducklings were alive when they arrived, however...

I am very frustrated that there is no paperwork. I emailed and called them about this and they say that they can't and won't ship paperwork. This is a problem because now we have to test the birds for the fair, which gets expensive. They also came two days after they were shipped. This isn't a major problem, but the less time in transit the better. I would think that a company like Metzer's would assure that next-day shipping would be a part of the payment.

There's my two-cents on Metzer's. It wasn't terrible enough for me to never go through them again, but with this project we'll definitely be going through another hatchery, one that sends paperwork.

 

[PetesMom]

Actually, it says on the website that they ship monday at some point and you receive them by that wednesday.

As for paperwork, what paperwork were they suppose to ship? I never got any when I received my ducklings. And what testing has to get done for the fair?

 

[nickie]

The npip certificate? Now why won't they give you that? Did you request it when you placed your order?

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I know it says that on the site, I just would rather not have the ducklings in transit for an extra day, and I would pay extra to ensure they arrived next day. I wanted paperwork to prove they were free of AI, and Metzer's said they are AI-clean, but can't send paperwork.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

The npip certificate? Now why won't they give you that? Did you request it when you placed your order?

I requested it, they can't send it, even if I payed extra.

 

[nickie]

Hmm, that's stupid. I do believe Meyer hatchery provides the certificates upon request, but I don't know if they are certified clean outside of pullurim, typhoid and salmanella.

 

[Tahai]

Hi Kurt,

I know in Tioga County, all poultry must be tested by a PA CPT prior to fair, regardless of any paperwork they have from the seller. I believe this is based on state law, so you would have had to test anyway. For this reason, ducks are much more expensive to show than chickens.

Tahai

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

Hi Kurt,

I know in Tioga County, all poultry must be tested by a PA CPT prior to fair, regardless of any paperwork they have from the seller. I believe this is based on state law, so you would have had to test anyway. For this reason, ducks are much more expensive to show than chickens.

Tahai

Hmm... that's not the case for anywhere I've shown. Once ducks are proven clean of AI, you don't have to test them for another year because they're considered AI-free for a year. And my 4-H leader said we wouldn't have to test them if we had the paperwork. (Unless they mingled with untested birds.)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

It is NoT Metzers fault they were in transit two days. USPS does not promise next day delivery on express live bird shipments, period, end. They can take as long as 2 days, and in very rare cases it can be three. This is standard practice for USPS live bird shipments. Metzers could have charged you for special handling it wouldn't change the fact that USPS doesn't promise over night. Be glad you can pay so little in shipping fees to get a box of live ducklings. If the USPS chooses to not ship live birds your option will be Delta dash live animal cargo and it can be $250-350 per box with major restrictions on age (nothing day old) and limit on how many per container can be sent. Newly hatched they are living on the yolks and do not require food, so two days is very adequate timeline. Grogel can be added to the box for peace of mind, and I do highly reccomend it. As a licensed and inspected hatchery all you need is your purchase receipt and their NPIP number.

Testing is part of showing birds, most states offer NPIP for free though, so be sure to double check with yours. They come to you, so you don't have to goto a vets office and pay an office fee plus testing fees.

 

[pekinduck<3er]

They don't really ship them the next day....They have to hatch first...and then get shipped on Monday..Everytime and come on Wednesday...And Metzers will never give certificates.. I mean no one ask for them so..