McMurray question on shipping chicks - need advice

[D Bar J Acres]

Hello, I have an order of 15 buff brahma bantams and 10 black stars to ship out 2/14 (yes, McMurray ships on Saturdays, odd I think, but true). When I flipped my calendar today, I see Monday, 2/16 is President's Day, so no mail (altho the post office people still work). I am in WI, about 6.5 hours away from MMM, so it would be possible for my chicks to arrive the next day after shipping, which would have been Sunday. As that was possible, I had them put on the box to call from distribution center, which is 45 miles away, no biggie. So, I called my local P.O. to see what would happen and they said they would notify the places that ship "lives" and tell them they don't take them over a "holiday" weekend. So, I called MMM and they said they delay the hatching to Sunday and ship them out on Sunday, which would mean that my chicks could maybe arrive Monday and then would have to wait till Tuesday to come as I work M-Th till five and then have to do the farm chores. Do you really think they modify their hatch dates like that even? Or do you think those chicks still hatch Sat.?

So, what would you do? Change the order date? Or just let them sit when I think from only that far it'd be a good possiblity they could arrive next day? Help! Thanks, Jenny

 

[hinky toes]

Hey D bar J!
Get ready for a good time!

Believe it or not, but we took delivery of our new chicks last year on a Sunday. The good people at our local post office gave us a call at 5 AM on Sunday informing us that he chicks arrived and we needed to get them. I hope that answers your question.

 

[D Bar J Acres]

See, the Sunday issue didn't bother me, but they'll SHIP OUT on Sunday due to the Federal holiday, so arrival wouldn't be till Monday when I'm at work and can't run an hour away on a Monday. Or do they still deliver mail to the post offices on those days? My postal person said simply "lives aren't shipped on holiday weekends". UGH!

 

[hoosier]

Perhaps it would be best for you to delay it for a week to save yourself the stress of worrying about when they were shipped/arrived at the p.o. It is supposed to be fun!!!

 

[SussexInSeattle]

If there is no way to delay the order, are you positive that you can not take off work to run get them and make the time up on Friday on your day off? Have you approached your boss on this? What type of work do you do?

 

[D Bar J Acres]

I can't take off for sure. Just had a dr. appt. today and was out with a migrane last Monday. I'm a legal secretary.

I'll see if I can delay I guess. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[tiki244]

I would delay it at LEAST 2 weeks. Last year poeple were having lots of problems getting chicks shipped in this weather. If you can get the number for the distribution center, then you can call to check on when they come in. They USUALLY call out, but I find not always.

 

[cmom]

Is there anyone you can have pick the chicks up for you? Call the Post Office and tell them that you are expecting them.

 

[D Bar J Acres]

Okay, the little fuzzies will be shipped out 2/21. They do seem to have quite nice people at MMM. Never tried them before. Our weather this time of year is unstable from now till mid April, so we take a chance any time on shipping, and I need these girls to lay asap. It's been so frigid the last 5 weeks, I am hoping it's got to warm up in the next few weeks for a bit. It was 32 this weekend and DH was outside all day w/out a jacket! Hey, that's 50 degree difference from a week ago.

 

[wasatusay]

I would delay. The post office mail room is not the ideal place for your days old's to be sitting and waiting, being shipped is stressful enough on them. It is better to wait and not end up with sickly or dead chicks.