How long we're your chicks in the mail?

[PoultryGirly]

Hi. I ordered 16 chicks from Meyer Hatchery a few months ago and they were due to arrive 5/21/13 through 5/23/13. They have already been in the mail 2 days and they are just 30 minutes away, so I figure they'll arrive tomorrow at my post office. The temperature around us has been around 85-90* F. Has anyone's chicks been in the mail for a while and still be okay? I'm very worried about my babies! And they also have a Vital Pack Plus in the box with them that I ordered for extra. Thanks!

ETA: I just read that the Vital Pack Plus isn't food/hydration for the chicks when they're in the box. You have to give it to them when they arrive. Also I found out that it's only for broilers and turkeys :/ Do they pack anything with the chicks to eat?

 

[hopefulpeeps]

I ordered 6 chicks that hatched on Monday, they shipped that day around 4:00pm I think was the time and I got them this morning. They were shipped from Meyers with one heat pack. They are all doing okay so far and were peeping up a storm when I got them. Their heat pack didn't feel warm anymore but I think this warm weather has really helped!

I hope yours make it alright! What breeds did you order?

 

[hopefulpeeps]

But no they don't pack them anything to eat, at least not mine.

 

[Trefoil]

I ordered from Meyer, they got to the PO on a Monday at 4:33 pm and arrived at my PO 7:45am on Wednesday. I lost 6 out of 15. We had a really cold spell starting the Monday they were shipped. The replacements are due next week. I just found out that if your birds are to go by plane and they are shipping something with dry ice (I'm not sure of the amount) the chicks have to wait until the next plane, because dry ice sucks oxygen out of the air & kills chicks. Also, although when flying chicks the storage area of the plane is heated, any trucking that is done isn't heated. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Well I found out that they shipped my chicks to the wrong post office 30 minutes away and we'll go pick them up tomorrow. The man who works at the post office called today, but I only found the message at about 9:10 pm. I could hear the chicks peeping in the background

 

[PoultryGirly]

Here's what I ordered:

SFAF Salmon Faverolle Female 3
AMAF Easter Egger Female 3
PRCF Partridge Cochin Female 1
SLCF Silver Laced Cochin Female 1
BSMF Blue Splash Marans Female 1
WELF Welsummer Female 1
CKMF Cuckoo Marans Female 3
BLAF Black Australorp Female 2

 

[hopefulpeeps]

I think mine may have come by air. the shipping label said express air on it and what looked kinda like airport codes. we we about a 9.5 hour drive away.

 

[Ryleyschicks]

I ordered from e fowl bad idea I ordered 6 ducks and 30 chicks back in April they told me that my order would ship from close by and be here on the 20th of May my ducks came on the 7th and they were half dead it took some nursing but they made it. Now for the chicks not so good they were in the mail 3 days and two dead and I think I may loose as many as 6 m
ore they sent two extra but im still not happy with the service I live in MN and they shipped from California by who's definition is that close when I called they lied to me and said they shipped from Iowa but they gave me a tracking # so I will never order from there again...

 

[PoultryGirly]

So I finally got my chick's! At least 4 are dead and a lot of others aren't doing well I gave them electrolytes in their water and some seem to be perking up a bit. The ones that looked weak I forced them to drink. Any other ideas?

 

[popsicle]

So I finally got my chick's! At least 4 are dead and a lot of others aren't doing well

I gave them electrolytes in their water and some seem to be perking up a bit. The ones that looked weak I forced them to drink. Any other ideas?

I think what you're doing is good. Keep an eye on the heat--keep them nice and warm but don't overheat them.

Be sure to notify Meyer about the DOAs--I think if you look on their site they will state when they want to be notified (I think some hatcheries want to know within a certain time frame).

ETA: from Meyer's site:
We guarantee 100% healthy chicks on arrival with excellent livability. Orders are shipped with up to 4% extra chicks at no extra charge. All orders must meet our minimum order quantities, in order to qualify. We will offer a refund, replace stock, or give credit one time toward any bird that had been properly cared for but had died within 48 hours of time of arrival. However, we must be notified within 48 hours of arrival, if any losses should occur. At no time will our guarantee exceed the original purchase price. While we appreciate notification of losses as they happen, we ask that you report your total losses one time, at the end of the 48 hour period.