I made an arrangement to trade some chicks with another ameraucana breeder. I shipped 15 beautiful birds to them the first of the month.
Well, I got an e-mail Monday saying they have had poor hatches and they shipped me 5 chicks of various ages on Monday.
Well, I was kind of miffed when I got the e-mail, so I sat on it until this morning.
I got the call last night from the USPS distribution center that the box was here and that I was going to be very disappointed as there was only one live chick remaining.
I rushed out to get them. I opened the box and there was one little chick peeping his head off, very weak standing over the bodies of his buddies. It almost brought me to tears. I brought it some wet food and feed the poor little thing while various postal employees walked by staring at me. (It must have been lunch/break time for them.)
Anyway, this is my response to the breeder. And, no, I will not be providing their name. Keep in mind that they did offer to pay for 10 of the chicks when she shipped the five on Monday.
Dear so and so,
I am really disappointed that you would ship 5 chicks in the manner that you did. I feel worse for the babies as they really didnt have a chance of making it here alive.
I would like to take this opportunity to educate you on some shipping protocols.
1. When shipping chicks, day old chicks should only be shipped; it is postal regulation. Adult birds and started birds may also be shipped, but started birds should be sufficiently feathered and have enough body mass to make it through shipping. (Setting your eggs late Sunday/Monday night will have your hatch done and ready for shipping on Monday/Tuesday afternoon.)
2. Small numbers of chicks should not be shipped unless you provide a heat source. A pocket warmer on one side of the box will do, if it gets too warm they can move to the other side.
3. Provide a food source they are familiar with and make sure they are adequately fed and watered before placing them in a box. (little chicks are unable to eat cherry tomatoes or hard apple slices) Day old chicks usually have enough nutrients in their yolks to last 48-72 hours and can go without adding food; I just do it to be extra cautious so no chicks are lost.
4. Provide NPIP paperwork to your purchaser.
Since it is so late in the year and I do not want to try to hatch. The reason why I wanted to swap chicks. At this time I would prefer to get payment for the chicks I shipped you. I charge $5.00 per chick. Since I only have one live chick I will deduct that from the total, so the remaining amount is $70.00. I would prefer to get a check for this so I do not have to pay Paypal fees.
Thank you,
Well, I got an e-mail Monday saying they have had poor hatches and they shipped me 5 chicks of various ages on Monday.
Well, I was kind of miffed when I got the e-mail, so I sat on it until this morning.
I got the call last night from the USPS distribution center that the box was here and that I was going to be very disappointed as there was only one live chick remaining.
I rushed out to get them. I opened the box and there was one little chick peeping his head off, very weak standing over the bodies of his buddies. It almost brought me to tears. I brought it some wet food and feed the poor little thing while various postal employees walked by staring at me. (It must have been lunch/break time for them.)
Anyway, this is my response to the breeder. And, no, I will not be providing their name. Keep in mind that they did offer to pay for 10 of the chicks when she shipped the five on Monday.
Dear so and so,
I am really disappointed that you would ship 5 chicks in the manner that you did. I feel worse for the babies as they really didnt have a chance of making it here alive.
I would like to take this opportunity to educate you on some shipping protocols.
1. When shipping chicks, day old chicks should only be shipped; it is postal regulation. Adult birds and started birds may also be shipped, but started birds should be sufficiently feathered and have enough body mass to make it through shipping. (Setting your eggs late Sunday/Monday night will have your hatch done and ready for shipping on Monday/Tuesday afternoon.)
2. Small numbers of chicks should not be shipped unless you provide a heat source. A pocket warmer on one side of the box will do, if it gets too warm they can move to the other side.
3. Provide a food source they are familiar with and make sure they are adequately fed and watered before placing them in a box. (little chicks are unable to eat cherry tomatoes or hard apple slices) Day old chicks usually have enough nutrients in their yolks to last 48-72 hours and can go without adding food; I just do it to be extra cautious so no chicks are lost.
4. Provide NPIP paperwork to your purchaser.
Since it is so late in the year and I do not want to try to hatch. The reason why I wanted to swap chicks. At this time I would prefer to get payment for the chicks I shipped you. I charge $5.00 per chick. Since I only have one live chick I will deduct that from the total, so the remaining amount is $70.00. I would prefer to get a check for this so I do not have to pay Paypal fees.
Thank you,
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