I swore I wasn't going to freak out, but....

[kar0427]

I looked online and found 53 results for sorting facilities in Lexington. Not much help sorry. Hoping they pull through.

I know, there are a lot and apparently they are no longer able to release them from there anyway. But thanks for trying!

 

[Shabana]

Oh dear
I think we will all be worrying over them now till Monday.
I wonder if Earl can sense all the bad feeling from us all in the cosmos :/

Please post as soon as you get the little guys. Urgh stupid hatcheries and unhelpful uncaring people !!

 

[littlesparrow11]

Oh that's just terrible!! I dislike MM even more now
If it's any consolation at all, when I ordered from them before the schedule was the same- shipped on friday, arrived on monday... I lost 4 out of 25, but they were shipped all the way to VT in April (when it's still around 35 degrees at night). They're hardy little things!

I've got chicks coming soon too (from elsewhere)... I'll be thinking of you & hoping for the best!

 

[PapaChaz]

I got ahold of a CSR at the 800 number and although he wasn't able to help much as to where or when the chicks would be here, I did learn something I didn't know about hatcheries (or at least McMurray). He asked if I minded telling him how much I paid for them, and when I told him $83 he told me they had insured them for $150. The way that works is that if my chicks expire, they refund my $83 and collect $150, for a $67 profit. No wonder they insist on shipping no matter weather conditions, location or risk of delay! They have absolutely nothing to lose and since they insure them for close to twice the worth (for $9) they are making more money on dead chicks than live ones. There's nothing "nice" or "helpful" about their refund/replace policy; it's profit every time they collect on a loss.

Regardless of my outcome, I won't order from McMurray again simply because of the distance involved, weekend shipping, and lack of shipping notice. But still hopeful that this order makes it here without any chick suffering

wow that is very interesting! Glad I found local breeder to get what I wanted. Although I have to admit chicken math + TSC chick days = me getting more than I intended, LOL

 

[keesmom]

No wonder they insist on shipping no matter weather conditions, location or risk of delay!

Once the chicks hatch the clock is ticking. They need to go out that day or be culled. Hatcheries and the USPS cannot be blamed for unforeseen weather disruptions and unexpected delays.

That being said my local USPS offices are far more user friendly than yours. I've received calls from the sorting facility when birds come through wanting to know if I want to pick up. My local PO will call at 5 am when the first shipment comes in saying my birds have arrived. They're waiting for me at that hour to come and get them.

 

[lazy gardener]

That is strange. When I ordered geese they called me at 4:30 and told me to come get them now... maybe they were just getting on their nerves. Yeah I'd take a camera with you and try and see if there is someone else you can talk to.

Kar, I'd suggest that when you take your camera to the PO to take your pics, you have Earl hold the box of chicks, so you can capture his smiling mug.

 

[kar0427]

Once the chicks hatch the clock is ticking. They need to go out that day or be culled. Hatcheries and the USPS cannot be blamed for unforeseen weather disruptions and unexpected delays.

That being said my local USPS offices are far more user friendly than yours. I've received calls from the sorting facility when birds come through wanting to know if I want to pick up. My local PO will call at 5 am when the first shipment comes in saying my birds have arrived. They're waiting for me at that hour to come and get them.

Completely understand the hatching/shipping process and unexpected postal delays. I'm not placing blame on anyone but myself for not being very clear as to when they ship and time involved; however, there isn't a delay. This is the routine USPS route to Kentucky from McMurray. Hatch occurs sometime Friday, they drop the chicks at 6p, they don't move until morning when they travel 4 hours north to St. Paul before heading back south toward Kentucky. They know there is no Sunday pickup so arrival on Saturday night or Sunday morning means at least another 24 hours sitting in the sort center, and they know it's risky, which is why they insure them for twice the purchase price.

That being said, there is always a chance that the sort facility will call before Monday, or if not, that they'll call earlier than 9a on Monday. And there's a chance of receiving all live, healthy chicks if they do arrive on Monday. I won't lose any money, and the hatchery will make money, if that's not the case. But because I don't like knowingly taking chances when dealing with animals, I won't order from McMurray again due to the distance and weekend shipping.

 

[kar0427]

Kar, I'd suggest that when you take your camera to the PO to take your pics, you have Earl hold the box of chicks, so you can capture his smiling mug.

I doubt Earl does a lot of smiling and really hope he's not working Monday since he was there this weekend, but the visual did put a smile on my face (along with the fact that KY is getting ready to go 39-0 undefeated and advance to the NCAA championship game in about four...three...two...

 

[kyexotics]

Our box of 43 are with yours heading a little more north to Elizabethtown! They too shipped yesterday and shows in St Paul...We've done lots of biz with McMurray and didn't know we could check the account until you said it, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And we're not sure how they got to 43, we only ordered 25 LOL but once we looked over order, we're ok with it! We ordered 20 more for later this month and thought they added them together, nope, we still have that one coming too!!!!!

 

[Rhetts]

I have had really great service from Mcmurray and the USPS. I, too, look at my mcmurray account to see when they are shipped and have been called the very next day (Saturday) to come get my chicks from the sort facility less than 24 hours from shipping. I have also been called on a Sunday to come get them from the sort facility. This last shipment I actually had my chicks before I got the Mcmurray email/text/call that the chicks were shipped. We ALWAYS opt to go pick them up from the sort facility rather than wait for our local PO to get the chicks on Monday. I have had one order that was shipped that had dead chicks on arrival, I did not need to take a picture mcmurray took me at my word at the loss and which breeds. I am a loyal mcmurray customer and have had great service. Too bad others have not! Hope yours arrive safe and sound!