Meyer Hatchery

[FrostRanger]

FIRST TIME ORDERING FROM MEYER HATCHERY...
I am so gutted. We have been members here since 2016 when we first got chicks. Over the years we have ordered chicks by mail many times. We ordered only 3 or 4. We ordered from a couple different hatcheries---Murray McMurray, Chickens for Backyards...They always came just fine. Never a dead chick. They always contained a heat pack and gel food. For the first time we placed an order for 3 chicks from Meyers. We ordered in Feb. 2025 for shipping date of June 2. Our order was shipped Monday, June 2, and arrived at our little PO yesterday. They called me as soon as they arrived and I picked them up immediately. (We live around the corner). I was very concerned the minute she brought the box out. There was no chirping and no movement. As soon as I got home and opened the box, sure enough the 3 little things were dead and stiff. They had only been shipped less than 24 hours earlier. It was obvious they had been dead for hours. The box was in perfect condition---no damage at all. I burst into tears. I called Meyers, and they are sending 3 new chicks next Monday, the 9th. They didn't have every breed we had ordered, but were very helpful in finding a substitute that would be just as nice. Here is my issue; They sent these chicks with NO heat pack and NO gel food. In all the years we ordered chicks elsewhere, they ALWAYS had these items in the box, and all arrived safely. It is chilly here in New Hampshire in the mornings still, but I have NO idea why these chicks didn't make it. When I called yesterday after picking up the dead chicks, they told me they do not need a heat pack, and that they do not put gel food in the box because "the chicks survive on their yolk sac for the trip". Now I am freaking because I am afraid the new chicks may arrive dead as well. Coming in ONE DAY, I see no reason why these first birds did not arrive alive. I had heard Meyers was very good, but I never had anyone else ship chicks with no food, etc. (IF this second shipment arrives dead, I want my money back and will order from some other hatchery). This has been emotional to go through because our chicks/hens have always been our 'buddies' and all have names etc. WARNING: Here is a photo of the birds taken as soon as we opened the box. We didn't touch anything. I am sorry for this long ramble. I am just sad and worried...Guess I am just hoping for some info and reassurance.View attachment 4140568

They add heat packs on a case by case basis, if they add a heat pack when they don't need to that can actually kill the chicks too so they probably decided that a heat pack would do more harm than good in this case. Meyer did send me grow gel when I ordered however it's for after you get the chicks home, as they told you, chicks are fine without food for the first 3 days of life and once you start feeding them, you have to keep doing so so this would actually make the trip more dangerous hence why aside from the issues of messes and poop is why places don't include food. As for what happened idk, might be shipping stress or they passed through an area with extreme weather (this includes extreme heat as while where you're at may still be a bit cold, some places are already seeing temps near 100F. Ask me how I know.....). I wish you luck with your replacement shipment

 

[countryladyNH]

I'm sorry, that's terrible. My 3 orders of chicks this past year from Meyer all contained grogel, I believe? I could have sworn there was also a heat pad in each, under the shavings. There is no reason why they shouldn't have included those.

When I called them yesterday and then sent an email requesting that they put those things in the new shipment, this is the reply I got:
"

Katie (Meyer Hatchery) " Jun 3, 2025, 9:30 PM EDT Hi Mary, Thank you for reaching out. I understand your concern. Our packing team will make same-day shipping decisions about whether or not to add heat packs. They review national weather patterns along with other factors in deciding if they'll be added. Adding extra heat packs will have its own set of risks too so we defer to the packing team expertise on this. It may be helpful to know that the chicks absorb their yolk right before they hatch and this provides them with the hydration and nutrition to make the trip. This is why don't include gel in the shipping. We don't want to prematurely start their metabolism while en route to you should they need the full 3 days to make the trip. Please reach out with any questions, we're happy to help! Katie Meyer Hatchery" I am leaving it up to them because now I am afraid that if they put that in the box at my request and the chicks die they will not give me a refund. Hubby lost his job. We need our chicks. Have to have money back to order elsewhere if this second shipment fails...I am so stressed out at this point.