Ok, I am in a bit of a panic! I just ordered from Ideal because they are the only place I could find the birds I wanted. They are in TX and I am in PA. I only ordered what I wanted, never thinking they would DIE getting here!! I must be an idiot?? We have driven to get all our birds so far......as far as 100 miles away even, but there just wasn't anyone with the breeds I was looking for. I don't know how I would do with a box full of dead chicks! I ordered from Ideal btw and they said hatch date is Sep 10th, so when does that mean they will get here? Thanks from a mama who has never mail ordered a bird or any animal for that matter!! Tonia
It does not happen too often since they do thousands of orders on a busy season. They will be fine at this time of the year and it depends on the transportation as well. Never had any problems with Ideal's method of transportation and YES, do expect some losses but not drastic losses that you lose to all chicks. Stress, lack of warmth, fewer numbers of chicks, diseases, and neglience on the new chick's owner contributes to the factor of dead chicks. However most hatcheries will refund or re order new chicks to the buyer's request within certain hours as it will state in their catalogs or websites. Good luck! I had chicks shipped in from Pa and only had two losses. Not bad!
personally ive had a bad time with hatcheries but alot of people have had good deals with them. It is a chance whenever you ship something that is living but try not to worry to much about it. You should be fine! Brandon
i only lost one chick when i ordered from them... im sure u will too, they ship them out sept. 10th so they shuld be there by the 12th. best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got my order of birds this spring and lost zero! They made it to WA, in two days, during March, where temps here are usually in the 40's and damp. For every bad, terrible shipping experience, there are probably at least 100 that go though just fine. You just rarely hear about the good, but always hear the bad. I'm sure you'll be fine, if not, the hatchery will refund you or credit you even though deaths are often due the shipping process and sometimes the negligence of the people working in the post office. Glad you are aware of what can happen though, and putting a few extras in is usually a good thing just incase. Best of luck!
about 1 week before the 12th I would call your local PO and let them know you are expecting chicks. I had notified mine and they called as soon as the truck came in to let me know they were in at 3 AM.
It's not very often that birds arrive dead. It's nothing to worry about. And if some of the chicks are dead, you can contact the hatchery and they usually give you a credit or a refund for the lost birds.