Meyer Hatchery 2 questions please

[Nathan J]

but having been an airline pilot

Yep, as another former pilot I can totally see that. I never saw chicks enroute myself, but I know that it's a bit too optimistic to think that all the airline, USPS, etc. workers enroute are conscientious and caring, to say the least. The good news is that these little buggers are really quite resilient. I still remember being amazed to hear that they had been being mailed for very long time now.

 

[av8torcrj]

One time I picked up ducks from the airport sorting station out of one of those big white roll around bins they use. They were running loose as the box had dissolved in the rainstorm they were left in. They even included the ones that had died.

 

[Merrymouse]

Just talked to Meyers and as expected I have to wait until tomorrow. They said it might be possible to replace the breeds I ordered even though they look like they are unavailable. I still have two more truck deliveries to my post office. 3:30pm and 5:30pm EST. Meyers said I have to wait to the end of the local postal day and of course Meyers closes at 5:00 so I have to wait until tomorrow. @av8torcrj I am not a former pilot so I don't have the same "in" as you did, funny though

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah you’re talking about airport employees, not post office, at least I assume the post office employees don’t put them on the planes. I had not thought of that. I have no idea what their protocols are or if anybody bothers to enforce protocols or even what training is involved.

My brother is a rural carrier with the post office, we’ve discussed this some. As with any organization you get some post office employees that don’t bother following protocols, some enjoy tossing around things labelled fragile. It depends on the postmaster if there is any discipline for that or not. According to him most post office employees he’s been in contact with aren’t like that, but a few bad apples can spoil everyone’s reputation.

 

[av8torcrj]

I just remembered another time I was on duty but flew through Memphis and was able to get my birds. They had to go with me on an overnight to Knoxville I think. The front desk at the Hampton Inn gave me a really strange look as we checked in. I made the HUGE mistake of pulling out one of the dresser drawers once I got to the room, lining it with a towel and letting the birds out under the warmth of a bedside lamp. They went crazy and were increadibly loud. I just knew I was going to get kicked out of the place. Man I use to be nuts. I dont use the dresser drawers at hotels now. You never know what's been in there.

 

[debid]

I just remembered another time I was on duty but flew through Memphis and was able to get my birds. They had to go with me on an overnight to Knoxville I think. The front desk at the Hampton Inn gave me a really strange look as we checked in. I made the HUGE mistake of pulling out one of the dresser drawers once I got to the room, lining it with a towel and letting the birds out under the warmth of a bedside lamp. They went crazy and were increadibly loud. I just knew I was going to get kicked out of the place. Man I use to be nuts. I dont use the dresser drawers at hotels now. You never know what's been in there.

That's HILARIOUS!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Hmmmm, call me cynical but I see an out here. They could still dispose of in humane ways and still be in compliance with their statement (and that's quite subjective though I will say I think there is a legitimate distinction to be made).

Hey, there's a LOT I don't know about hatching eggs and just how precise they can be in getting exactly how many chicks they need, and actually selling all of them. But if they sell every single hatched chick I'll eat my hat!

That said, I'm sure they try to get it as close as possible, for economic reasons if nothing else. It costs money to run incubators for eggs that won't produce salable chicks.

Well, no, they said the donate them. But you're right... a chick thrown in the macerator or garbage bags is lost money, and even with males if you're over hatching by even dozens then it starts to add up in wasted electricity, labor from setting to sorting, and so on. I just bought 35 bantams from Ideal for $52 shipped, which is a loss of about $80 for them but they still get more than if they tossed them. I think overhatches of bantams would be the hardest to deal with since people generally aren't going to buy them for food or layers, but for sexed pullets and even males I'm sure they can be sold pretty quickly. They don't have a time limitation on how long they keep them and can adjust prices accordingly, and then the ones that are donated are written off on the taxes.

 

[debid]

Just talked to Meyers and as expected I have to wait until tomorrow. They said it might be possible to replace the breeds I ordered even though they look like they are unavailable. I still have two more truck deliveries to my post office. 3:30pm and 5:30pm EST. Meyers said I have to wait to the end of the local postal day and of course Meyers closes at 5:00 so I have to wait until tomorrow. @av8torcrj I am not a former pilot so I don't have the same "in" as you did, funny though

If what I've heard about AL is accurate, there is a whole state's worth of orders that will need to be canceled/delayed and therefore inventory that is unexpectedly available.

 

[av8torcrj]

I will agree 100% that the post office employees are far more likely to go the extra step as opposed to airport cargo handlers..... in general with exceptions as always.

 

[Merrymouse]

If what I've heard about AL is accurate, there is a whole state's worth of orders that will need to be canceled/delayed and therefore inventory that is unexpectedly available.

AL??? as in Alabama?