July 18th "Due Date"! Anyone else?

[GardenState38]

Congratulations Iroth217!
They're adorable! Glad everything went smoothly and they're settling in nicely.

I'm still waiting, and everytime I hear a truck motor, my stomach leaps into my throat...
Called the Post Office and was told that they should arrive today if sent via Express yesterday, and yes...probably should have come by now--they sometimes send a special carrier out but sometimes send Express mail with the regular carrier

If that is the case, my chicks will sit in a hot truck making rounds until 4pm!?

And will be delivered by the comedian who jokes around with my husband about how much stuff I order online (MYOB!) I can just hear him, "Ha! NOW she's getting live chicks!!"
If I had a tracking number, he could see where the package is, but...Carriers are in a separate building than our Post office, and to contact them I have to call another number--which is NEVER answered, no matter when I call.

Called MPC hoping to get a tracking number, but the man explained that they were in the midst of an incubator crisis and he needed to make a bunch of calls to notify customers. He didn't have time right now to track my order, but would email me the tracking info. when he could. He checked the list of orders affected by the incubator problem, though, and my order wasn't one of those affected, and it went out yesterday.

If I'd received an automatic shipment confirmation email with tracking number, I wouldn't have had to bother MPC and I could stay on top of the Post Office to make sure they didn't give the chicks the scenic tour of the city!

Not getting a whole lot done today except worrying!

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Quote:
I have a tracking number, but no info is available on the USPS Track & Confirm site yet, though my chicks shipped yesterday. They have updated my weather forcast to "excessive heat watch" with highs at 100 degrees and heat index of 110 degrees. We are overcast and getting rain today, which has kept the heat down. I hope mine come early tomorrow. They get the only truck of the day at about 9:00 a.m.

When I worry or am stressed, I bake. Usually cookies are my therapy of choice, but today I have baked four loaves of zucchini bread--so far.

I love to bake, but I don't like sweets, so my Sunday school class and my family better be ready to eat up all of my worry baking if I don't get my chicks tomorrow.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Quote:
I love the videos! What a bunch of little piggies they are. And, already trying out their wings! Thanks for sharing!! I am sooooo excited to get my little piggies with feathers tomorrow!

 

[GardenState38]

Great idea Wildflower!! I love to bake, too--it's a wonderful stress reliever for me. I'm so nervous, I don't think I'd be able to eat until I know the chicks are here and safe! This calls for chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing...and brownies...and oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies...

It now looks like I'm past the deadline for getting my chicks today--finally got through to the "carrier desk" and they have not gotten any chicks in today.
Got the tracking number from MPC and the latest update (USPS tracking stinks BTW!) says they were shipped out at 5:06pm last night from Mansfield, OH and are in transit.
Gosh, they will be hungry, thirsty, and tired little soldiers if/when they arrive.
Express Mail "should" have gotten here today--the woman at the carrier desk was puzzled why it wouldn't have.
This is really agonizing! And the weather conditions just add to it! We're due for thunderstorms tonight, too--it's beginning to cloud up.

I'll have to dump the vitamin/electrolyte water I had out for them, but the crumbles will keep until tomorrow if I cover them, right?

Iroth217 you are so lucky! I love your videos! I got a vicarious thrill

Great idea making the Chick ID chart! I may steal that idea. Newman's a cutie, too! I'm wondering how my shih tzu, Lulu will react to the chicks--I imagine she will be afraid of them, but I'm hoping they'll eventually think of her as one of the flock, and vice versa. My cat, on the other hand--I know exactly what her thoughts will be, and she'll be kept away from the brooder at all times!

 

[lroth217]

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Steal away!!! I just had 3 weeks of time to kill between my order and their arrival so I thought I might as well be prepared!!

I also have a shih tzu, Misha, and she was bored with it all. I sometimes take in all kinds of stray animals so I guess she figures this is just another batch that will be gone in a couple weeks. Poor old girl!! Little does she knows these will not only stay, but more than likely be bigger than she is!!

Can't wait til you all get your chicks!!!!

 

[GardenState38]

Our poor shih tzus! They should have a support group!

This year, Lulu found herself dethroned as queen of the house by the stray kitten I found-- who uses my poor Lu as a doormat and random punching bag.
Now, it's chickens that will eventually be horning in on her outdoor territory.
I can almost imagine the look I'll get when she sees them--she's so judgemental! LOL

 

[lroth217]

Lol, I don't know how old Lulu is, but Misha is 12 and lost one of her eyes 6 years ago, so she has been through a lot, but, she also was displaced by an abandoned stray kitten - a year ago!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Darn! My chicks didn't come in on the same truck that my last two orders did.

I went to my local distributing center this afternoon and asked about my chicks. The guy there was great! He asked me if they had called and I said no but explained that I was expecting chicks. He walked to the other end of the building and came back empty handed. He asked where they were coming from and said that there would be trucks arriving all night and suggested that I leave a note asking that they call me at any time.

So . . . hoping for a late night/early morning call.

 

[ozarkhen]

Two weeks off? You are dedicated!!! I tried to incubate back in the spring. Lost them: power failure! Got a broody hen and she started on July 1st, so day 21!!! I'm gettin ready.

Psalm 103

one mean roo, 8 hens, 4 baby quineas, 2 cats and my constant watch over the chickens dog Rocky and me on this mountain.

 

[GardenState38]

Ozarkhen--I'm 80% dedicated, 20% don't have the money this year to go on a real vacation LOL! Best of luck with your hatch! I'd love to try incubating some day...we'll see how this goes first!

From what I've gathered talking to rep.'s at MPC--there was a pretty big incubator debacle Monday, and orders may have gone out later in the day than usual.
I wish my PO was accomodating enough to offer to call me even if trucks came in tonight! They didn't want to entertain my suggestion that I could pick up the chicks whenever they arrived.
The best I can do is subscribe to email tracking updates (which should tell me where they are 4 hours after the fact)
Here we go--Another sleepless night!

Iroth217, Lulu is only a 7 year old baby. Always thought of myself as a "big dog" person and never would have dreamed I'd own a shiih tzu, but she came to us as a rescue puppy just after my Lab passed away. Quite a change! Now I can't imagine life without her and I fell in love with having a toy dog! So much easier and less mess! But not quite as much fun as a Lab at the beach or in the snow...LOL
How did little Misha lose her eye?? Poor baby! Give her an extra hug from me!
Hope the chicks are doing well! How's that feisty little RIR?

Hope to be able to post some happy pictures tomorrow!