How will they come???

[Bosque]

Thinking about ordering just a few chicks from a hatchery like, "mypetchicken.com" and wondered how they were shipped? Do You have to pick them up at the post office? How much should shipping cost for 3-5 chicks? Last question, what do you feed them once they arrive? I would think that they may be dehydrated.

Thanks,

Bosque

 

[gritsar]

They come in a sturdy cardboard box with vent holes in it. Usually a nice layer of hay/straw at the bottom. I believe MPC also puts a heat pack in the box (one of the reasons for their much higher prices vs. other hatcheries).
Generally the PO calls you very early in the morning to come pick up your chicks.
For the first three days of life a chick lives off the nutrients from the absorbed egg yolk, the reason it's possible to ship day olds in the first place.
When they arrive you should have your brooder all ready for them. As you remove each chick from the box, dip their beak in the water and then set them down in or near their feed tray.

 

[Bosque]

Is it the same for pullets?

 

[cybercat]

Pullets are chicks there name does not change till they lay then they are hens. Why not just go to the Mypetchicken website to answer your questions. There is alot of info there and you will be able to find out what shipping will cost. One thing I can tell you it will be very much more than the chicks themselves.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Are you referring to started pullets (vs. day old chicks)?
The boxes are similiar though obviously larger. I'm not sure how they handle the nutrients for the trip part, although I imagine it's some form of gro-gel type stuff they put in the box with them.
The shipping for started pullets is very expensive. Murray McMurray hatchery charges $61.20 for one bird according to their 2009 catalog.
Keep in mind that started pullets from a hatchery usually have their top beak trimmed or cut off.

 

[Bosque]

Quote:
Keep in mind that started pullets from a hatchery usually have their top beak trimmed or cut off.

They trim the top beaks off!!! I don't have chickens yet, but how does the bird eat if the top beak it cut off? Do they cut it off to keep the birds from pecking at each other at the hatchery? Does the beak grow back?
Maybe I should stick with getting day olds...

 

[gritsar]

They trim the top beak way back and yes they do it to discourage pecking. The chickens learn to adapt, but IMO it's still hard on them.

 

[crooked stripe]

When they trim their top beak, do you have to keep them cooped up and only feed them chicken feed? How could they free range and pick up stones and bugs? I just can't picture this.

 

[cmom]

I start my chicks on either medicated Starter crumbles or Starter/Grower. If I feed them Starter then at 8 weeks I switch them over to Grower. From then on until I get my first egg I then change them over to Layer pellets. If I have any Grower or Starter/Grower leftover I just mix it in with the layer. I haven't had any problems. The Medication in the feed is sulfa based to help the chicks in developing a resistance to cocci.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
For the answer to this I had to turn to my DH, a former commercial broiler farmer.
All chicks destined for the commercial houses have most of their upper beak burned off to prevent pecking and cannibalism. The feed they are fed has the consistency of cornmeal, only "greasier". The chickens learn to use their bottom beak as a scoop. Given this handicap these chickens are not suited to freeranging, but would probably manage okay with once they are older and the beak has grown back some. The whole point of the practice is to allow the farmer to keep large amounts of poultry in tight confinement without pecking issues. In the modern commercial houses everything is controllled by computer - when they eat, drink and how much light they get. The objective is for the chickens to sit in one place, eat and grow.