Mail Order Ducks Dying

[runner9876]

We received a shipment of chicks and ducklings today. All of the chicks are fine but half of the ducks were dead upon arrival or have died in the first few hours in our possession. Is this common? We had food, water and heat lamps ready when they arrived. We've had chickens for years but these are the first ducks. Anybody have experience with mail order ducks?

Thanks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We received a shipment of chicks and ducklings today. All of the chicks are fine but half of the ducks were dead upon arrival or have died in the first few hours in our possession. Is this common? We had food, water and heat lamps ready when they arrived. We've had chickens for years but these are the first ducks. Anybody have experience with mail order ducks?

Thanks.

Only from reading of heart break like your having. What are the temps where you are and did you order a heat pac? this time of year just like in early spring temps can cause death in shipped ducklings and chicks contact the hatchery they should replace but it may happen again with the temps going down now..

Very sorry for your losses. These tiny just hatched chicks and ducklings sometimes sit on the tarmac for long periods before loading and again temps can be way to hot to too cold. Or even temps in post office can be the culprit or how they were handled while in the box in transit.

Welcome to BYC

 

[elly21]

I am so sorry to hear this! May I ask which hatchery you ordered from? They should credit you. Perhaps you can order again in the spring? As Miss Lydia said, it may happen again with the temperature dropping daily.

 

[Buck Oakes]

We received a shipment of chicks and ducklings today.  All of the chicks are fine but half of the ducks were dead upon arrival or have died in the first few hours in our possession.  Is this common?  We had food, water and heat lamps ready when they arrived.  We've had chickens for years but these are the first ducks.  Anybody have experience with mail order ducks?

Thanks.

I only got ducklings shipped once and mine turned out all fine, mainly because the hatchery was known for raising ducks and having a great gruntee, I know that Meyer, McMurray and all other big hatcheries don't have good situations with ducks, if u want ducks go for the smaller/ closer hatcheries that mainly raise ducks

 

[jducour]

I ordered my first set of ducklings from Metzer. They had and still have an excellent reputation. I do not blame them for what happened. I ordered 4 ducklings, with a heat pack and grow gel added to their box. The Postal Service lost the package, and it didn't arrive for 6 days. They had been dead for quite a while. It was devastating. I couldn't have gone through that again, so I got my ducks from my local feed store. Those ducks were healthy and well, and came from a local breeder. I have gotten all of my other ducks locally. I don't know if I will order ducks in the mail again, once you have deaths, it is so sad.

 

[Buck Oakes]

The only reason I wouldn't order from the big is bc they ship a lot of birds everywhere, that some packages are bound to get lost. Which is kind of what I meant to add in my earlier post

 

[Carcajou]

We received a shipment of chicks and ducklings today. All of the chicks are fine but half of the ducks were dead upon arrival or have died in the first few hours in our possession. Is this common? We had food, water and heat lamps ready when they arrived. We've had chickens for years but these are the first ducks. Anybody have experience with mail order ducks?

Thanks.

So sorry for your loss. I used Metzer once with great results. Got a dozen for myself and a friend to split and they shipped 14. But the temp warnings Miss Lydia and the others mention need to be taken seriously.

And