How to keep chicks alive when shipped a very long distance?

[BYCforlife]

I am wanting to order a lot of chicks from Murray McMurray hatchery, but I am wondering how I would posibbly keep them all from dying.

McMurray Hatchery is in Iowa, and I am in Central Alberta. I would have to drive to the border to pick them up, and the hatchery sells $75 crossing papers.

Would I want to put them into a temporary brooder in the back of my car? I would be worried about them losing their footing and hurting something, though.

This would be next spring, but I want lots of time to plan. What if I for some reason got denied at the border?? My life would be over.

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Your plan is fraught with risks. Aren't there any hatcheries in your neck of the woods? Gee, customs alone is a big hurdle.

If you wish to undertake this venture, executing it at the warmest time of the season will give you the best results. Three days is the maximum length of transit where you can expect the fewest casualties. Temperature fluctuations is your biggest risk to chick mortality.

If you should get your shipment at the border, immediate revival of the chicks with electrolytes will help to combat shipping stress. You will need to have a way to provide heat to them because they will be on the verge of chilling. You will probably lose a few on the outer edges of the container that haven't been able to get enough warmth from their mates, in spite of every precaution. Sometimes shipping stress doesn't kill a chick until a couple days after you get them home.

I would be surprised the hatchery is willing to ship that far. Have they actually agreed to this?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How long of a car ride are you talking about after you cross the border?

I've never ordered from McMurray but I'd guess they are like the hatcheries I've ordered from. The chicks ship in a cardboard box with some bedding like long dried-out grass clippings on the bottom to give them good footing. Those chicks are riding in trucks and flying on airplanes in those boxes. Leave them in the box with that bedding and you won't have to worry about them slipping and sliding. The boxes have ventilation holes so they can breathe.

Once they leave the hatchery McMurray has nothing to so with travel schedule. It's up to the postal service to deliver the chicks unless McMurray has some special arrangements. When I order chicks there is no guarantee of exactly when they will arrive. Sometimes I get then the next day, sometimes a day later. Are you sure you have that end (schedule) under control?

Don't worry about keeping the chicks warm in the car. With that many in the box they will generate a lot of heat. Don't overheat them, that could kill them. Just keep the car at a temperature comfortable for you.

Depending on how long that ride is you may be better off just driving straight home with them in that box or those boxes. Have the brooder ready and already warmed up when you get home. Just put them in with food and water. Dip their beaks in the water to show them where it is, they should do the rest. If the chicks are pretty much on time and the drive is less than a day this is probably your best bet.

If they are a day late and/or it's really long drive you may need to give them food and especially water. I don't know how many you are talking about, but they will need light to eat and drink. Dip each chick's beak in water. If they are thirsty they will stand there and guzzle it. If they are not thirsty they will either just stand there or walk away. Sprinkle a lot of chick feed on the floor. If they are hungry they will peck at it a lot. If they are not hungry they may peck a bit but not necessarily that much. I'm not sure what would be the best way to set something up, some of that will depend on how many. Maybe a large cardboard box with a screen or even open top for light and wood shavings or similar bedding so they can get good footing. Protect your car from spilled water.

 

[BYCforlife]

There are many breeds that Canada doesn't have that I want. It would be about a 6 hour drive. I have a friend who has done it before, I will also ask them how they did it. Would a tiny brooder be a good idea?

The hatchery normally says when they should get there, but I could probably stay for one night if I absolutely had to. I will be doing a lot of research before this, as I want to be there the minute, or sooner, the chicks get there.

 

[keesmom]

[QUOTE="BYCforlife, post: 19073825, member: 465887"
The hatchery normally says when they should get there, but I could probably stay for one night if I absolutely had to. I will be doing a lot of research before this, as I want to be there the minute, or sooner, the chicks get there.[/QUOTE]
The hatchery can estimate when the chicks SHOULD arrive, but once they are in USPS hands it's up to them and the weather. There are no guarantees.

Where exactly do they send poultry shipments that are destined to cross the border anyway? The closest USPS office? Customs office?

 

[BYCforlife]

The hatchery can estimate when the chicks SHOULD arrive, but once they are in USPS hands it's up to them and the weather. There are no guarantees.

Where exactly do they send poultry shipments that are destined to cross the border anyway? The closest USPS office? Customs office?

Good to know. My chicks from local hatcheries always get delivered exactly when said, but who knows on such a far away shipment.

They would send them to a post office of your choice, and you cross the border to pick them up.

 

[azygous]

Glad you're starting early to plan for this. You should have all your ducks in a row by the time you're ready for your bright new little breeds!

I hope you'll be updating your thread all the way to the exciting end!

Good luck!

 

[Redhead Rae]

Why not call Murray McMurray and see what they have to say about how crossing the border would work (and what other arrangements could be made). Their customer service is pretty good, in my experience. I prefer working with Cackle though. From what I can tell, the New Hampshire chicks I got from Cackle are MUCH closer to the breed standard than the Buff Orpinton chicks I got from Murray McMurray. They are also one of the few hatcheries that have true Amerucana chickens rather than misnamed Easter Eggers.

 

[BantyChooks]

Let me know what happens. I had considered getting Chanteclers through them but I didn't really like the extra $75...

 

[BYCforlife]

Let me know what happens. I had considered getting Chanteclers through them but I didn't really like the extra $75...

Oh, Murray McMurray sells Chanteclers?