Hello all! I thought that I'd share my experience with you!
I shipped my first batch of chicks yesterday, and my heart was in my mouth until I heard from my buyers.
I used an XS25 Chick shipping box from cutler supply. I also used a straw pad, a heat pack (it is 20° here), and gro gel plus B.
I shipped a small quantity - 9 chicks in all. They were 6 days old and held back due to the weather. I added cardboard spacer boards to the box to keep the chicks close together. I doubled the straw pad so that it provided a bit more insulation and placed the heat pack between the two layers. The grogel was put into 2 egg carton wells, and hotglued to the side of the spacer boards which were securely taped in place. I added crumpled newspaper between the spacer boards and the actual carton sides. There were plenty of air holes on the sides and top of the shipping carton. I wasn't sure about how to secure the lid to the box, but tucked in the ends and then added some tape (not enough for my peace of mind).
Then, at 1 pm, I headed for the main post office ( I checked with my local PO about that) so that the chicks wouldn't have to be transferred from a smaller PO and sit somewhere waiting for the next truck.
I was shipping hatching eggs at the same time, and in the general nervousness of this particular shipment I managed to forget the LIVE CHICKS stickers that I had bought a month ago.
The Office employee was very helpful, handed me a sharpie to mark the box, and then walked the chicks straight to the express mail area.
Then I waited... I wasn't really happy last night when I tracked the shipment and found out that they were still in Trenton, but overnight they went from Trenton to Harrisburg, and then on to their final destination, Fayettteville PA by 9am this morning.
The chicks were supposed to arrive tomorrow by 3!
I heard from the buyer at mid day that the chicks were picked up by her husband earlier in the morning, that they had arrived safe and sound. She sent me photos when she got home.
I have figured out how to attach the top so that I can relax, and am also leaving extra stickers in my car!
It wasn't nearly as hard as I had anticipated!
Good luck to everyone.
Eva