How to ship birds?

[walkswithdog]

Sorry - I tried a search but it gave me a bazillion posts that didn't answer it. Maybe we could do a STICKY, since I know I've seen it before all over the forums and shouldn't it be here, if anywhere?

Where do I get the box? What "postal service" ships live birds? If I'm shipping four juvenille delawares what size do I need?

If a sticky is made - perhaps other answers should be included, like
how many bantams in what size box? Giants?
adding fruit for hydration?
should I just dump food on the bottom incase?
Litter/hay any? none?

Thanks for the help...

 

[Larry Waughon]

Check with the US Postal service. I think they still ship birds.

 

[jqs birds]

As far as I know the USPS is the only way to ship live birds. Adding a slice of melon or apple is a good practice. I wouldn't add dry food. They don't really need the food it's the water content in the fruit you add that is helpful.
You can search for Horizon shipping boxes on the internet. Eggbid has a couple of people who sell them.
The size of the box depends on the size and age of the chicks. If your birds are 4-8 weeks old a standard (single adult size box) should work for you. You will need to have a the biofilters glued in and some places require a NPIP #.
I hope this helps.

 

[Calebs Acre]

I found that it was less expensive for me to purchase small number of shipping boxes via Foy's Pigeon Supply because the shipping costs were less. You might want to compare.

I purchases hay nests from Cutler's Supply to put in the bottom of the boxes and I use frozen veggies and apple slices.

Be sure to write instructions prominently on the Express Mail Shipping Label with the contact information, phone number.

 

[walkswithdog]

Thank you- I'll chug on over to cutlers, hey I did find out that Fed Ex does move livestock - aka fowl you have to call their live animal desk for details 1 800 405 9052 for details but it's there.