Meyer Hatchery 5 of 15 chicks, 8 of 9 ducklings dead

[KanaKukkula]

One month ago, we received a shipment from Meyers Hatchery in Ohio, for 5 Rhode Island Reds, 5 Barred Rocks, and 5 Columbian Wyandotte chicks. 3 arrived dead, and 2 more succumbed despite dropper feedings with electrolyte water. We are not novices to raising chicks and lost at the most 1 per shipment before. It's not so much the money; it's the suffering of these little ones, which were to be basically pets. We won't be doing business with Meyers any more, needless to say. (Today June 12, 2013 a shipment of 9 Indian Runner ducklings arrived with 8 of 9 dead.) No refunds can compensate for what those poor birds endured. KanaKukkula, PA

 

[crayon]

I soooooooo feel you! We got 2 shipments of BA in December from Meyer- a total of 70 chickens and we lost at least half of them. The first shipment was really not healthy when we got them, and we lost 5 in the first 24 hours- then they kept dropping like flies- one after another. It was insane. Even at 2-3 months old we were finding dead chicks. It was so frustrating and I did get "credit", but it has made me not order again.

I am in Michigan and I love the chicks we get from Townline Hatchery in Zeeland- Their website sucks- but their customer service is great and their chicks are healthy. They are the hatchery that supplies all the TLC's and most feed stores in MI and I have had nothing but VERY healthy chicks from them. And my ducks are super healthy from them too.

Sorry for your loss- I totally feel you- there is nothing like seeing a little one suffering :-(

 

[Sonia]

I experienced this with meyer this year too. Ordered 25 chicks and most arrived dead, the rest within 24 hours, they sent me a new order, several arrived dead and kept dropping, less than a month later and there are only 4 left out of 50 sent (still in the brooder so no outside influences).

 

[crayon]

I should say, I am not new to having chickens and baby chicks either. So, when I contacted them they went down the "too hot?" "enough water" and so on... I had to send them a picture of my coop to show them, they are spread out, with water and food and they are still just dying. It was so frustrating. :-(

From Townline we have had at least 150 birds (from chickens, ducks, turkeys and guineas) and aside from the average losses one thinks should happen or the random stupid moment that ends in death (like drowning) they have all been REALLY healthy and very well balanced (personally) chickens!

 

[PoultryGirly]

I'm never ordering live birds from Meyers ever again either. I ordered 16 chicks: 3 were dead on arrival and 7 more died after they were in my hands. I also had another of the 6 left die a few days ago.

 

[Sonia]

Even the ones that arrived alive just don't seem healthy and are not thriving. I have other chicks from other places in brooders side by side under identical conditions. The meyer chicks were a great dissapointment. I didn't even bother calling when the second order died as I would not have been able to remain civil and I did not order cheap breeds :-(

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I wonder if there is something going on at Meyer's. I've ordered from them twice (once a year and a half ago, and once about a year ago) and in both cases I had only one chick not survive the trip. The rest was / is healthy and continue to lay great. I'm also wondering if the postoffice has changed some handling protocols to cut costs and it's putting undue stress on the chicks during transit.

I'm very surprised to hear these stories. I think for my fall chicks I'll stick with my local breeder to avoid extra stress.

 

[RedDrgn]

I received 3 new chicks from Meyer yesterday (to add to our 6-chicken flock that we also got from Meyer two years ago); all arrived in perfect health and condition. Several family members also deal with Meyer and have had no serious catastrophe (though sick or dead chicks have on rare occasion happened). We courted disaster with our batch 2 years ago due to the postal service; they received the chicks late in the day and if we hadn't checked the tracking, we'd not have known, because the post office they arrived at was getting ready to close and we called THEM to see if tracking info was accurate and they actually asked if we could wait until morning (which we adamantly argued against and managed to convince to wait a whopping 5 minutes while we drove to pick them up) - otherwise, they could have sat in a non-temperature controlled loading area or truck all night.

Bottom line, keep in mind that these chicks are going through the mail as any other package might and a whole lot can happen to them between any hatchery and your post office that is hard on them (huge temperature swings, drafts, bumps, drops,etc.). I've received numerous non-organic items in the mail that were absolutely smashed to bits over the years, so I cringe just thinking what could happen to the chicks during their journeys. Not every package handler cares one bit whether the contents (alive or not) arrive in good shape or not.

 

[crayon]

The shipping could be a factor- but not a large one. I got 45 from Townline and they were all alive and fine. I also got 101 broders from McMurray and all were fine but one in shipping. So, shipping is stressful, yes, but not a factor in all or nearly all chicks dying- and it sounds like a lot are not dying in shipping- a lot are dying in waves over weeks (as happened to us).