'Express' mail now taking two days--worried

[MROO]

Have you already called your local post office? They may be able to help you get them as quickly as possible.

Yes - call your Post Office and let them know to expect live birds and to call you as SOON as they get there. Make sure they have whatever number you will pick up the quickest.

 

[CourtKnee]

can you track your order? my chicks were supposed to arrive on the wednesday after they hatched and the post office never called, so i looked on my tracking info and saw that they were in the next town over and were gonna be delivered thursday! so i was actually able to drive to the next town to the distribution center and pick them up and bypass the mail man!

The same thing happened to me. My chicks went from one town an hour away, right THROUGH and past my town to another town 1 hour and 30 min away. At that point that distribution called me and asked if I wanted to pick them up there, picked them up at a distribution 20 min away, or wait until they make it to my PO the following day. At this point it was Wednesday around 3pm and they had been shipped Monday. I picked them up of course, and there was one chick who wasn’t thriving and had been trampled on. She died the following day. Had I waited to pick up Thursday she would’ve been DOA, but she wasn’t going to make it anyway.

 

[Doc7]

My Meyer Hatchery chicks shipped and arrived on Wednesday morning - the tracking never updated and said arrived Weds by 3 pm the whole time. It was no problem, they were in great shape.

The post office people were very insistent that it was a big waste of time that I visited them on Friday to let them know they were coming, so despite the internet and Meyer suggestions to do so I sure won’t do that again.
I am sure you’re getting your chicks any minute so enjoy!!

 

[Chicken Strut]

I can't wait for you! (I'm sharing your anxiety.) Brand new little fluffballs are adorable!

Can't remember if 2-week-old chicks like you have had in the past still do this at all -- but don't be worried when you get them if they are running around and fall down, mid-step sometimes, exhausted and take a quick nap! Perfectly normal. But startling when you first see it!

 

[Chickassan]

Hey, your chicks passed though my town lol!

It says they left Greenville SC last night at 6:24. I went to check in and they aren't there yet, but they have another truck coming at noon, so maybe then. It's great you were able to go get them--I'd do that in a heartbeat!

 

[deepbluesea]

Hey, your chicks passed though my town lol!

Man, I wish you could have grabbed them for me. I'd be willing to road trip!

 

[Chickassan]

If i'd have known they were taking the scenic route I sure would have.

Man, I wish you could have grabbed them for me. I'd be willing to road trip!

 

[deepbluesea]

More and more scenic--now the website says that they were in Raleigh at 8 something this morning. The post office guy says that they'll be in Havelock, which is about a half hour away from me, around 1:30, so they're going to hold them there and I'll pick them up. Nervous over here!

 

[Chickassan]

Ohhh! Good luck! Let us know when you pop the box.

More and more scenic--now the website says that they were in Raleigh at 8 something this morning. The post office guy says that they'll be in Havelock, which is about a half hour away from me, around 1:30, so they're going to hold them there and I'll pick them up. Nervous over here!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For those following this thread, I have some recommendations for next time you order any live animals being shipped whether that be baby chicks or honey bees.
Prior to shipping, call your post office or go there and talk to the postmaster. Explain what is coming in and ask for the phone number of the sorting room. It is a different number than that listed. The main number won't be answered outside of business hours. But there are people in the sorting room that will answer that phone whenever it rings. Most priority shipments get to my PO by 5 AM and overnight shipments get there about 7 or 8.
Ask if they've arrived. If so, go there and knock on the back door by the loading dock. Whether chicks or bees, believe me, they want them gone. And you don't want either to be on a delivery truck till they get to your house regardless of weather.

When tracking doesn't update, that is when your shipment was passed on to an outside vendor who was flying that route. That might be UPS, FedEx or another that doesn't have a way to scan the package to update the USPS system.