extreme mortality rate..cornish x from meyer hatchery

[mrs_ed]

came from meyers in OH. should have chosen a closer hatchery i didnt think of that. i suspect they got cold bc they were piled and crushed on each other. shipped on the 21st I got them on the 23rd about 9am.. They werent milling about at all they just slept and slept, then would convulse and die, before they died they would have their beaks open as if they couldnt breathe, heads kinda thrashed around, it was horrible. temps were fine, they were on paper towels etc. I didnt use anything in water altho i could barely get any to drink anything they were so lethargic, i will be getting some of that sav a chick stuff before i get my replacements. thanks everyone, just my first time with meaties and what a sad adventure, i only have 2 left but they are walking around, eating and drinking

 

[Beekissed]

I've had two largish batches of standard chicks from MPC, who gets their chicks from Meyers, I do believe. All chicks arrived healthy and had 100 % survival rate into adulthood.

I'm glad they are resending your chicks.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Mine were shipped and arrived the same days as yours !!!! I got the "Leann's adopt me bargain" I called several DOA...then lost more last night....called this morning nice lady sd to wait till Mon and call again with total losses. They sent 27 chicks...I am now down to 11 same thing, real lethargic then lying on side then dieing necks outstretched and legs kicked out. Most of the ones that died are tiny and silkies...bummer really wanted some silkies.....but she said they would refund or credit my account or send out more chicks just to call back on monday with total loss. I told her we wanted the chicks but I wanted a heat pack shipped with them even if they had to charge me for it. I really think they got too chilled somewhere along the way.

 

[fried green eggs]

I'm betting it had something to do with night time temps and Monday was a Holiday at P.O. Tuesday, the day they shipped your chicks - would have been a really bad day at the P.O. Carriers playing catch up and 2X the mail and 2X the parcels. Not good for little chicks! Meyers shouldn't ship out any chicks on day-after holidays for P.O. I'm glad they are going to make it right for you. Sounds like it's going to be a costly mistake for them.

 

[booker81]

I can't remember the weather (I'm north of there, in MI), but it sounds like cold and dehydration would be my guess Hopefully, they'll ship again either with a heatpack like the previous poster mentioned, or just keep a close eye on the national weather when they ship again. It's still a chilly time of year.

I also go to my PO before they even open to get my chicks - they'll call me as soon as they know the chicks are there (usually at 7am when the truck delivers them). Maybe see if you can get them earlier - when they are that bitty, I believe every hour is important to get them warm and hydrated. My PO however is used to shipping chicks (ag area here), so is comfortable with unlocking the door for chick pickup - they know how important they are and want them out of their hands and into the customer's ASAP.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

I agree I have to call them back this morning. We are down to 6 living still really sad about it. I would suggest you do like I am and ask them to send you a heat pack with the next batch. Lesson learned for me......unless it is middle of summer I think I will opt for and ask for the heat pack in every future order!!!!

 

[JenellYB]

Obviously something happened to these chicks on the way, the OP account sounds like that, but add someone else the same problem with chick of a different breed on the same day from the same hatchery, yeah, something happened to them, either atthehatchery (actually given it being a major respectable hatchery, my least suspect) or in transit along the way or in a post office facility somewhere. Termperatures are one possiblity, exposure to toxic fumes another...there are regulations about mailing/shipping things that emit toxic fumes, but people do it anyway. Sometimes ignorant people don't even thinkof that when mailing/shipping, not realize something may emit fumes dangerous to something like chicks. Birds are very sensitive to many toxics fumes....knowledgable. experienced pet bird owners/breeders won't even allow anything 'teflon' or other non-stick coating such as on cook ware intotheir homes, for the danger to birds. And once exposed to such a toxin, the damage done, there's generally nothing you can do after the fact to save them.

Jenell

 

[the4heathernsmom]

They made good on their guarantee....my replacement chickies are due on march 20th to ship

 

[mrs_ed]

Well I only had one survive, when I called monday morning they said they could not ship any til mid april...so I requested my money back since in mid june its 110 outside, so they gave me a refund. I ordered 25 from Ideal Poultry on monday afternoon, and they arrived at my door this morning. All 26 of them hoppin around, immediately started eating and drinking, Im very pleased with these birds from ideal, plus their fast availability and shipping. No more meyers for me, even tho it was probably just the post offices fault, I think choosing a closer hatchery was a much better choice.

 

[JenellYB]

All else even close, let alone equal, I think choosing the closest hatchery, and thus least time and distance in transport would always be a good idea.

Well I only had one survive, when I called monday morning they said they could not ship any til mid april...so I requested my money back since in mid june its 110 outside, so they gave me a refund. I ordered 25 from Ideal Poultry on monday afternoon, and they arrived at my door this morning. All 26 of them hoppin around, immediately started eating and drinking, Im very pleased with these birds from ideal, plus their fast availability and shipping. No more meyers for me, even tho it was probably just the post offices fault, I think choosing a closer hatchery was a much better choice.