I ordered from Ideal this year, and I don't think it's them. My P.O. called me as soon as the chicks arrived, and I was allowed to go pick them up almost 2 hours before they even opened. I did lose 2 chicks after a few days, but some just aren't able to make it. Ideal had shipped my chicks on a Weds., and they arrived early Thurs. morning, so maybe your chicks were in transit too long. So sorry you had to go throuhg that.