My ducklings from Meyer hatchery arrived dead

[Lynette]

I was expecting my first ducks from Meyer Hatchery. I got 2 Welsh Harlequins and 1 Blue Swedish. The post office just called me to tell me that they are all dead. What the heck happened!? Now I have to pick up dead baby ducks and I don't even want to look in the box because it is going to break my heart!!

 

[duckyfromoz]

So sorry you had to get a phone call like that. I often think that things could be so much different here in Australia if we could ship live ducklings in the post- but I read sad stories like yours all too often on here and realise that shipping such young babies is such a risk. Ducklings can at times be so resilient - but also so very fragile. OK yeah sure they dont have to eat straight away- but being in a box and transported long distances is sometimes just too much for their tiny bodies. Contact the hatchery - but also look to see if maybe you cant get your ducklings somewhere closer to home so you can get your duckings without the risk of loosing another lot.

 

[M@M@2four]

SO sorry!!! I thought there was a minimum order for shipped ducks and chicks? They have to keep each other warm in shipping. I would definitely contact the hatchery. ALL of my local tractor supplys have ducklings in right now..maybe you could just ask for a refund from Meyer and find a local feed store that has ducklings. Also there are often ads on Craigslist for ducklings!!! Again, so sorry!

 

[schellie69]

so sorry I thought that if you ordered under the minimum number they put a heat pack in and everything.

 

[Lynette]

The minimum order is 3 and there was a small heat pack in the box and a straw lining in the bottom of the box. I just got chicks from Meyer yesterday and they all made it just fine, but there box had a lining that also went up the sides of the box. This box probably should have had that too. I think they got cold. They have been dead a while too because their little feet and bills are all dried out.

 

[SassyKat6181]

How awful....Sorry for your loss.

 

[Eroc1_1]

I am sorry to hear that. Make sure to give them a call. All ours arrived in healthy order when we got them back on March 2. We got six though: 2 Welsh Harlequin, 2 Cayuga, and 2 Blue Swedish.

 

[Lynette]

Called the hatchery and found out that the truck that they were on had a mechanical issue and had to sit for an hour to an hour and a half and the birds didn't get ventilation, so all waterfowl on that truck died. How sad!! They are sending me ducklings next week to replace them.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I am glad you are getting replacements but it is still sad!

I got an order from Meyer recently of just chicks and they were so scrawny and pitiful. I believe this is the worst I have ever gotten from them. I do not think I will order from them next year.

I have ducklings on order right now from Sand Hill and Holderreads. Metzer is another good one to order ducklings from. Oh, and Strombergs.

 

[gofasterstripe]

So sorry for your loss