Just received a box of dead chicks from Ideal Poultry...

[4 Georgia Hens]

Well I spent the last month researching baby chicks and building a brooder, got a feeder and water all set up, and placed my very first mail order from Ideal Poultry -- 15 assorted pullets. I've raised hens before, but this is my first time getting baby chicks shipped.

According to the tracking number, the chicks were taken to the Austin Distribution center Tuesday afternoon. They spent about 42 hours in transit before arriving at my local post office. I got to them first thing Thursday morning only to find every single one dead as a doornail

I KNOW -- it's January, and not the best time to order. I live in California and the daytime temps have been in the 60s, nighttime low is about 45 degrees F, so I thought this time of year would be better than in a few months, when it can get quite hot (the chicks were shipping from Texas).

Here's my question: I called Ideal Poultry as soon as I got the box, to let them know that nobody survived. The lady on the phone was kind and offered to reship the chicks next week. Should I try again? I *really* don't want to cause the deaths of another 15 chicks. She offered to add extra male chicks to the box for warmth, but how much difference does that really make? When I opened the box, the chicks looked like they were already dead for quite some time.

Edit: Also, I apologize that my very first post here is so awful. I'm a longttime lurker and never felt right posting without getting my proper peep credentials first...

Awww! I'M so sorry! I personally recommend buying them locally. Like, from a feed store. I have always had good luck with that! That way you can pick them out. Good luck and Best Wishes!!

 

[debid]

According to the tracking number, they were dropped off at the Austin Distribution center Tuesday afternoon, stayed there overnight, and then departed 9am Wednesday morning. The next information I got was that they arrived at the San Francisco distribution center midnight on Wednesday. The package was not scanned between Austin and SF, so I'm not sure where they could have stopped in between.

Probably Houston to San Francisco, that's a common route. With the transit so quick and the temperatures favorable, they may have been gassed as azygous suggested. Live chicks are prohibited from flying with dry ice shipments but it's always possible that someone screwed up.

 

[master186]

Well I spent the last month researching baby chicks and building a brooder, got a feeder and water all set up, and placed my very first mail order from Ideal Poultry -- 15 assorted pullets. I've raised hens before, but this is my first time getting baby chicks shipped.

According to the tracking number, the chicks were taken to the Austin Distribution center Tuesday afternoon. They spent about 42 hours in transit before arriving at my local post office. I got to them first thing Thursday morning only to find every single one dead as a doornail

I KNOW -- it's January, and not the best time to order. I live in California and the daytime temps have been in the 60s, nighttime low is about 45 degrees F, so I thought this time of year would be better than in a few months, when it can get quite hot (the chicks were shipping from Texas).

Here's my question: I called Ideal Poultry as soon as I got the box, to let them know that nobody survived. The lady on the phone was kind and offered to reship the chicks next week. Should I try again? I *really* don't want to cause the deaths of another 15 chicks. She offered to add extra male chicks to the box for warmth, but how much difference does that really make? When I opened the box, the chicks looked like they were already dead for quite some time.

Edit: Also, I apologize that my very first post here is so awful. I'm a longttime lurker and never felt right posting without getting my proper peep credentials first...

I might end up in the same situation as you! I am anxiously waiting for my chicks to arrive from Ideal. Postal missed the delivery date, which was yesterday.

 

[aart]

So @SarahGfa what did you end up doing......refund or another batch sent or ....?

 

[Moose364]

Sounds more like a Mail service screw up than anything, they should have never set anywhere that long. that being said I would look for someone closer at this time of year. here in texas we still have some cold nights in the 30s next week. I would ask for a later ship date. and maybe get some chicks closer to you for now. Ive never had problems with any chicks from Ideal but I'm only 6 hours away also. Hope you have better luck next shipment

 

[Lazy Farmer]

They spent about 42 hours in transit before arriving at my local post office. I

42 hours alone before starting the tracking process. Plus being picked up. 2 solid days w/o food or water and being bounced around in a box by employees of the U.S. Postal Service.
It is a calculated risk having live organisms shipped to you no matter what point a and point B is. Personally I don't trust the US Post Office to deliver a box of rocks and expect to have it intact anymore after owning and operating an eBay store. If you have the choice of shipment UPS would be the way to go if it is offered as an alternative, otherwise I would not trust the Post Office with such a delicate thing.
I have been there at Tractor Supply Company when the chicks arrive. I witnessed them take them out of the shipping boxes. They had lots and lots shipped. Not all were alive. The manager told me that they weren't going to sell them yet because they had to make sure they were strong enough to be sold. They immediately pumped electrolytes and vitamins into them to the revive them. Some of them just stayed in the shipping boxes dead as they put the boxes to the side and grabbed out the live ones.

 

[debid]

42 hours alone before starting the tracking process. Plus being picked up. 2 solid days w/o food or water and being bounced around in a box by employees of the U.S. Postal Service.
It is a calculated risk having live organisms shipped to you no matter what point a and point B is. Personally I don't trust the US Post Office to deliver a box of rocks and expect to have it intact anymore after owning and operating an eBay store. If you have the choice of shipment UPS would be the way to go if it is offered as an alternative, otherwise I would not trust the Post Office with such a delicate thing.
I have been there at Tractor Supply Company when the chicks arrive. I witnessed them take them out of the shipping boxes. They had lots and lots shipped. Not all were alive. The manager told me that they weren't going to sell them yet because they had to make sure they were strong enough to be sold. They immediately pumped electrolytes and vitamins into them to the revive them. Some of them just stayed in the shipping boxes dead as they put the boxes to the side and grabbed out the live ones.

UPS doesn't accept any birds for transport. Neither does FedEx. Other than buying locally hatched that you can go pick up, your chicks are going to go through the postal system.

 

[SarahGfa]

So @SarahGfa what did you end up doing......refund or another batch sent or ....?

I decided to try again this week. Temperature here is in the 70s during the day, 50s at night. They shipped Tuesday again, and I picked them up yesterday at the crack of dawn.

13 chicks made it! One somehow climbed under the straw bedding and got crushed Another one is weak and I'm not sure if it will pull through (can't stand up and keeps sleeping).

I don't think I would ever have baby chicks shipped again, to be honest. Ideal Poultry was great to work with, and I believe them when they say losses are rare. But worryng about whether the chicks would get through USPS was so nerve-wracking for me, and I can't imagine how terrifying it must have been for the chicks!

 

[SarahGfa]

I might end up in the same situation as you! I am anxiously waiting for my chicks to arrive from Ideal. Postal missed the delivery date, which was yesterday.

Oh no! Did they show up today?

 

[Nanili]

This just happened to me this morning. 15 dead babies. I feel so sad. I don't want to mail order again.