My babies are finally here!Not Good

[silkiechicken]

It might not be too cold to ship chicks where the hatchery is located? I ordered from Ideal and I remember reading a post of a lucky member who's temps were in the 70's already!!! I think the site has a disclamer that says that if weather is going to be cold in your area, you can call them up till like 3 days of shiping to have the date changed. It's tough on both them and the customers.

 

[jjthink]

beekybuzzard, thanks for your knowledge of the law. I wonder if USPS warns people that they will take no measures to keep living beings in livable temps, before they accept their money? I imagine if they did, some people - at least - would wait on shipping till more forgiving temps arrived. Many hatcheries would probably carry on, just hatching more when some are reported dead. While intellectually I understand they see it as a business and about the bottom line, I have trouble seeing these little lives as so easily expendable. Freezing to death or dying from too much heat - who amongst us humans would want to trade places with these babies (or any live being shipped in those conditions)?

I still think it would be good for anyone who has experienced a problem to register concern with USPS about their transport system, because maybe they would be inspired to devise a better transport system for the future (granted, not highly likely, but it will never happen if no one raises the concern).

If USPS (or any other transporter) doesn't find a way to keep chicks (or any other living being) warm enough in frigid weather or cool enough in blistering temps then I can only hope that increasingly people will avoid shipping living things during such extreme weather. Many people probably innocently have chicks (or other living beings) shipped, thinking proper safeguards will be taken. Since this is not the case, maybe we can educate folks to the best of our ability.
JJ

 

[beekybuzzard]

Aun <HIS>< :

It seems like there could be a middle ground on putting chicks in the cab of the USPS trucks. Couldn't there be a simple restraint put in? Or even secure the box under the passenger seat belt? Or a mesh restraint on the floor board? As long as USPS agrees to transport live animals, I wish they would take some responsibility for them arriving as live animals.

Sorry, no middle ground. Restraints can and will break at some point. If a truck rolls or turns over any flying object can be deadly. Believe me most companies care more for the truck and cargo than the driver. The DOT is aggravating to most of us drivers but if it were not for them there would be more driver deaths than there are now. At last count average was about 3500 per year. Drivers already are pushed to keep driving beyond safety now. It is normal for a driver to run 12-20 hours a day 6-7 days a week just to keep a job.

JJ as far as companies putting different measures in place like something for heating or cooling, good luck. You are right that's not going to happen. with all of the packages shipped daily and the relatively small amount of live packages shipped they are not going to retrofit the trucks to accommodate a very small percentage. I have bees shipped in and it is the same way. But most bee suppliers will not ship in the cold months. I have a friend who has been driving for the USPS and for the last 6 years has not delivered a package of live materials. It just depends on the area and routes. The big trucks do not know if they have live packages or not. They pick up the trailer with the seal locked and do not break the seal until the delivery stop.​

 

[halo]

The way I see it, the ultimate responsibility is upon the person ordering the chicks. If you see that your weather is going to hell in a handbasket, you can cancel the order and delay it until the weather warms up. Its wrong to put the onus of responsibility on either the hatcheries or the UPS. They are doing their job, their job that you ordered them to do. If you see that the weather is going to be frigid for shipping time, call the hatchery and delay the order.

It is just so wrong to blame the USPS or UPS for losing chicks in frigid weather. It is your responsibility to be aware of weather conditions, if you are going to have live deliveries to you.

 

[ebonykawai]

Yeah, that's why I changed my ship date to mid-March. It's so hard to wait, but I want healthy chicks.

 

[beekybuzzard]

I have pushed back the ship date on my honeybees about 3 weeks to make sure they are able to make it.

 

[hcammack]

I am just confused why it could ever possibly be the PO's or the Hatcheries fault that they did not make it. People knowingly order chicks at this time of year and they are almost garunteed to die.
Sorry If my opinion offended anybody it is just what I think.
Henry

 

[beekybuzzard]

I think for the most part they arrive fine but when your ship date draws near it is best to watch the weather forecast for what your order might be going through and adjust from there. Most places will have no problem with delaying the shipment, it will cause them less trouble in the end.

 

[modenacart]

I am not sure why everyone is blaming USPS. It the responsiblilty of the people shipping to ship at the correct times and to pack properly. USPS only ships the package, they don't heat the packages or or pack them for shipment, they just ship them.

 

[chickenranchwife]

I am not holding anything against the USPS, as it was my fault for not canceling my order. After having all day to think about it, I take full responsibility. I think I will wait til mid March to get my order or request my money back and buy them from my local Runnings as they come in. I will just tell them what I want, and drive over and pick them up if McMurrays is willing to credit me.
Thanks for the sympathy everyone.