How can 3 days be considered express shipping?!?

[Sharisr32]

I have had the PO say that shipping could take two to three days but they show in 24 hours - It just all depends .

 

[caliclucker]

So the little guy that was struggling died this afternoon and now one more is acting weird. Fumbling around like he's drunk and laying down in a little heap a lot. I don't expect to find him alive in the morning. That leaves me with 3 out of 7 and who knows what will become of them. Very frustrated and sad.

 

[BeccaSmith]

I understand how frustrating it is. A local store ordered chicks from out of state, they said they would arrive the week of the 21st....they finally arrived yesterday, all of them DOA! After finding this out called our local hatchery again to verify if they were really sold out of what I was looking for as I was originally told before I placed my other order through the other store and they weren't sold out, said they had about 200 of what I wanted! I was so delighted and rushed over to buy chicks, I'm just disappointed that a local company is ordering from out of state and risking the lives of the chicks instead of buying them locally when they are healthy and available. Bad business in my eyes....not to mention their communication was horrible when we would call to check and see if the chicks were in. I know the shipping time is not in their control, but they could have bought locally! I feel so bad for all those little chicks that died!

 

[caliclucker]

(Beccasmith, I know what you mean, the worst part is knowing they suffered. Little babies just hatched, then stuck in a box for three days before dying. Sad little life. )

So the little "drunk" one made it through the night but is very lethargic and sleepy. I'm trying to get food in him consistently but I think his time is limited. I can only hope the remaining three will make it. So far so good. Eating and drinking well (their little crops are already sticking out) : )

 

[vjbakke]

For what it's worth the hatchery will very likely credit you for the ones you lost. I know that doesn't replace them or anything but at least it's something. We order from Meyer and they guarantee healthy alive chicks within 48 hours of getting them. Sorry you had this as your first experience. I have no local way to get chicks unless I want to order 25 or more so we always order thought the mail.

 

[caliclucker]

One more dead chick. 3 remaining. I'm not sure when I'll know for sure when they are out of the woods. They act fine now but after this experience I won't be surprised if they all eventually die.

 

[horseshowmomnv]

I do think it is a postal issue. As long as consumers buy through the mail they will sell them. I ordered 25 thru McMurray, they shipped Saturday, and the main post office called me this afternoon letting me know to come get them (Sunday). Because our post office is a "plant" and I requested they ship and stay at the plant it saved a day, otherwise they would have gone to the smaller branch and I would not have been able to pick up until Monday. So far all the chicks seem healthy and happy, I am still cautiously optimistic. I imagine it is heart breaking to have it happen.
McMurray was great about changing the shipping destination.
I hope you can salvage your project and find some joy in a sad situation.

 

[NYREDS]

Every year hatcheries ship millions of chicks. They've been doing it for many years. Most of them arrive safe & healthy. Every once in awhile there's bound to be a problem with numbers that large. It's unfortunate when it does happen but most hatcheries replace any shipping losses. One way to reduce to risk of shipping losses is tp wait to order until the weather warms.

 

[PtldChick]

Every year hatcheries ship millions of chicks. They've been doing it for many years. Most of them arrive safe & healthy. Every once in awhile there's bound to be a problem with numbers that large. It's unfortunate when it does happen but most hatcheries replace any shipping losses. One way to reduce to risk of shipping losses is tp wait to order until the weather warms.

This is the first year with USPS changes, i.e., cuts in staff, hours, etc. Until (unless?) they get this fixed, there will be more losses than in the past. Eventually the price of chicks will go up if the hatcheries have to absorb more losses.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Every year hatcheries ship millions of chicks. They've been doing it for many years. Most of them arrive safe & healthy. Every once in awhile there's bound to be a problem with numbers that large. It's unfortunate when it does happen but most hatcheries replace any shipping losses. One way to reduce to risk of shipping losses is tp wait to order until the weather warms.

This is the first year with USPS changes, i.e., cuts in staff, hours, etc. Until (unless?) they get this fixed, there will be more losses than in the past. Eventually the price of chicks will go up if the hatcheries have to absorb more losses.

I agree with both of these posts. Chicks shipped during November through February are likely to spend hours and days in cold trucks, in freezing temperatures. I just don't risk mailing chicks during these months. The risk of loss is simply too high.

Add to that the Post Office's financial crunch, consolidation of facilities and slow downs? This is a really bad alignment of the planets for ordering chicks during the winter. Frankly, the animal cruelty prevention people are going to sniff this out soon. Head's up.