I ordered chicks for the first time...

Andora

Songster
11 Years
Aug 26, 2008
1,741
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171
Lexington, Kentucky
I got 14 chicks from Ideal. They are supposed to ship on the 24th. Do you think I can expect them to be here (in KY) on the 25th? I have a couple questions...

I know I should call the post office to give them a heads up, but when should I call? On the 24th? Will they think I am crazy when I tell them I ordered live chicks? The workers at our post office are always so rude, I hate going in there. They act like buying stamps is the most offensive thing I could ever do, I'm not looking forward to asking them to be gentle with my chicks.

I have to pick the chicks up at the post office, right? I wouldn't want them to ride around on the mail truck all morning anyway.

As soon as I get them home, what should I do? I plan on putting them straight into the warm brooder (about 100 degrees) with food and water, I'll dip each beak in the water. Is there anything I'm forgetting? I've had chicks before, just not day old ones through the mail. What age should they get chick grit on their food?

If there is a thread answering all these questions that I didn't see, feel free to link it instead of wasting time typing out answers again.

I am so excited about my baby chicks!!!
 
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Congratulations!
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You think your excited now. Just wait until the PO calls you that morning
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When I ordered from Ideal it only took a day for my chickies to get to me. I was so pleased. Yes, you pick your chicks up from the PO. When I pick mine up they are chirping like crazy. I put them in the van right infront of the heater vent and they just sit there like they're in a sauna. They love it! Heat, food and water, you've got the basics down. I'm not sure about grit though. I should be getting another order of chicks tomorrow. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for your little ones.
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I would call the post office a day or 2 ahead. Let them know you want to hold them there and you will be in to pick the up ASAP. See if they will give you a call right when they get there.

Make sure you have a nice warm and draft free place for the to go.

Some people like to add a bit of sugar to there water as a pick me up.
 
I also just ordered chicks for the 1st time but from Mcmurray. They were supposed to ship this week but I have heard no word on if they actually shipped or not. I am super excited and nervous. I don't want my babies sitting at the post office for long or if my PO is really stupid they might hang them in a plastic bag off my mailbox like they did with eggs I ordered. I am watching the mailbox very very closely and also waiting for the phone to ring so I can pick them up ASAP like I am heading out the door not more than a minute after they call and say they are at the PO. I can't wait!
 
It is exciting to be picking up your first chicks! I got mine in April for the first time. i suggest the red heat lamps, to prevent picking. also, several layers of newspaper with paper towels on top - that way you can just roll up a layer of the newspaper and what is on top - then add more paper towels to the top.
I even spread a bit of food on top of the paper towels for the first day . after a few days put some non-cedar chips on top of the paper towels, as the pooh starts to add up.
they are really messy with the water at first, so maybe put it on a towel or plastic place mat with paper towels over it. it keeps the rest of the bedding from getting soaked. they like to walk on the feeder, so one with a top and holes is nice to keep them from poohing over the food.

definitely call the post office a day or two before, as you don't want them riding around in a cold truck.

they don't need the grit until they start to eat other food beside the chick starter. I recommend the medicated chick food at the start also.

Good Luck and Happy Chicks!
 
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Definately you should contact your PO to let them know you're expecting a live shipment. Make sure you know which branch will be receiving your order, it has to do with your zip code, and may not actually be the one closest to you.

The workers there should be professionals, and treat your shipment according to protocol. I find the staff at my PO to be helpful and interested in my order. They should phone you at the number you gave to the hatchery when you placed your order. The time may vary, and you might be able to find out in advance when your branch usually receives their live shipments.

It's always fun to get that call, I can tell what it is before I say "hello", I can hear the peeping in the background.

Be sure to open the box at the PO to check for any DOAs. That can happen for such a variety of reasons, and may or may not be the fault of the USPS. You can contact the hatchery to report any problems and they should be willing to make a refund. Be sure to close the box securely before you drive home! You don't want to have chickies hopping around the car & under the accelerator while you're driving!

There's lots of basic info on the BYC home page, and perhaps there is some at the Ideal site. I know there's info on the McMurray Hatchery site, http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com on new chick care. Or ask here. The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask.

Have tons of fun with your new
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My postmaster had no problem with my chicks, in fact she wanted a peek inside the box to see them. Now when I ordered bees it was different. I got a 5:30 AM phone call telling me to get them out of there! I guess Italian bees just arenʻt as cute as day old chicks!
 
I also ordered chicks from Ideal. I called the hatchery just to make sure when they would ship and they told me they would hatch on wednesday the 12th in Texas and be shipped to arrive here in Georgia on Friday the 14th... I thought that sounded like it was going to be too long in the mail and I let my PO know that I was expecting them either Thursday or Friday. I gave the PO my and my husband's cell number just in case. Sure enough, the PO called at 07:30 Thursday morning to let me know they were ready for me to pick them up! They called within minutes of them arriving. I checked to make sure all of them were alive before I left with the box. They were cold and huddled into one corner. We turned on the heater in the car and that helped on the way home. Then straight into the "preheated" brooder. Haven't lost one yet *knock on wood*(it's only been a week now)
You so sound like me about being nervous and excited about them... Good luck & I hope it all works out for you.
 
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I am just like you. We are supposed to get them any minute/day now...I am not that far from McMurray but it looks like you are even closer maybe? I am in WI and 5 hours doesn't seem as long as several days and the temps keep dropping here. I am waaaayyy nervous. I can't stand it...I realize that the hatchery must know what they are doing...but post offices...and it's soooo cold.
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Does anyone know how McMurray ships their chicks? As in overnight or whatever? I have not been able to find anything on their site and I keep forgetting to ask when I call them to pester them. They are going to see me on caller ID and stop answering their phone...
 
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I am just like you. We are supposed to get them any minute/day now...I am not that far from McMurray but it looks like you are even closer maybe? I am in WI and 5 hours doesn't seem as long as several days and the temps keep dropping here. I am waaaayyy nervous. I can't stand it...I realize that the hatchery must know what they are doing...but post offices...and it's soooo cold.
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Does anyone know how McMurray ships their chicks? As in overnight or whatever? I have not been able to find anything on their site and I keep forgetting to ask when I call them to pester them. They are going to see me on caller ID and stop answering their phone...

I think they ship Priority. I am thinking I probably better call and see if they shipped yet or not. I know I did see that they arrive Wed.-Sat. of the week they ship but since I am in the same state they are I thought they would for sure be here yesterday. I emailed on Monday asking when and if they had shipped them for sure but have not got a email back from them yet. I'm worried because of the way my eggs were handled earlier this summer and don't want that to happen to the chicks.
 

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