How many will actually make it?

[Skippin' Sammi]

Ok, I think that I am going to order a dozen chicks from a well known breeder and have them shipped. How many can I actully expect to make it through shipping?
I only have room for about four so will have to sell the remaining but I am hoping that it won't be a problem since the breeder is known.
Wish me luck!

Thanks in advance for your advice, opinons.

 

[Shifty Joe]

I believe 50% is a good hatch, but can be much lower depending on shipping conditions.

 

[abanjaf]

You're ordering chicks, not eggs, correct? Depending on the weather in transit, the chicks should be fine. I've ordered 25 in the past and all of them arrived healthy, although I have heard of other folks losing a few during shipping

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Shipped chick survival has more to do with the way the Post Office handles them than anything else in my opinion. I've had orders where they all survived including the extras. I've had an order where I lost nearly a third between the dead in the box and those that died in the first twenty four hours. All from good hatcheries, but that last one had a rough ride.

.....Alan.