my pet chicken reviews

[littlecabin]

chickisoup, I am so sorry that you have lost a chick after what you have already gone through!

Our packer also couldn't count we were missing a Salmon Faverolle and won't know for a while if that is the male I was hoping for or not. They all look like little yellow fluffs Anyway, I wonder about why we are being shorted chicks. They clearly are unable to reship just one, makes me think they are not able to fill orders.

We had one SLW that nearly died a handful of times, finally recovered and is hobbling around a bit but may make it and one obvious splay legger. Thankful for the helpful folks in Customer Service, but concerned about whats really going on there!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

All 16 of my bantams died. The last one, we thought was gonna make it survived 6 days and got the name Forest. Sadly, he passed yesterday. Since he was the only survivor, I got him friends from LFS.... Now I have 5 of those thriving. MPC is supposed to reship.... but they won't be the same age now. I fear the same thing will happen.

I truly don't believe it was me. We had a bunch of star gazers. Now I know what that is. Had electrolytes, next time vitamins for sure. I think that might be why the last one survived so long, I got vitamins added.

@littlecabin You are supposed to be able to tell gender by week 2 in Salmon Faverolles. The females will be creamy white and cockerels will display black, brown, and straw colored feathers.

I hope the shipment I have coming in August from a breeder goes much better....

@chickisoup , I am sorry for your losses and COMPLETELY understand your frustration. Someone else mentioned to me that MPC was an outlet which concurs with what you say about not steering their own ship even though they try to make things right.

Best wishes y'all!

 

[Shezadandy]

Morning Shezadandy

This is now the next day. We were up early waiting for the call and we just came back from the post office where I picked up my box of 7 re-shipped chicks. I've done all I could, water with a large dose of nutridrench, chick starter, grow gel and a pre-heated brinsea (also cranked up the furnace to warm the air in the room). Showed everybody where everything was, dipped beaks in water and gel. One is clearly dying, actually thought it was going to pass in my hand, two more shaky and stumbling, three doing well.

If you are following the count, no, I didn't forget one, they did. Sigh. Two SLW (one dying), two GLW and two Partridge Plymouth Rocks. Minus one PPR. Of course it would not be the same breed as one of the two chicks that I was able to revive out of the last shipment. I've really tried to be patient and understanding about things (after all MPC can't be responsible for the USPS screw ups) and most of the folks at MPC have been great, but clearly they have no control, of course, over the USPS, but also little or none over their suppliers. First ship they couldn't read the packing slip that clearly stated to add a heat pack and this time the packer couldn't count? He (I know from the name) actually did copy in the correct numbers on the lines and copied down the correct total but must not have been able to actually count six chicks.

I surrender. I just checked and the SLW is gone and one of the PPW and one GLW are looking worse. I know what I'm doing. I am an experienced flockmaster (even taken college level courses on poultry management, behaviors and welfare. No kidding). I have my brooder in a dedicated quiet room with limited access right in my house, I use Brinseas not heat bulbs, etc. Prior to this spring I have literally never lost a chick, mail shipped or otherwise or even the rescues I have taken in. This time it's two out of the first nine survived (the rest were DOA) and three maybe four probably survive out of the second (should have been)shipment of seven.
it's just too late to try again. Honestly, I wouldn't anyway. This is not my first time mail ordering chicks but it is my first, and definitely last, time ordering from a "retailer" instead of directly from the hatcher.

I am not even going to bother filing a claim for the dead/missing chicks this time. Both MPC and us have wasted enough time and resources on this comedy of errors. There is also no dollar number that can be placed the emotional stress of this classic case of Murphy's Law anyway. Again, I am not holding MPC to blame for anything other than their lack of oversight and control over quality of the product, packaging and shipping preps done by their main supplier. MPC went out of their way, to the best of their ability, to make things right. They just aren't steering their own ship.

I am so very happy for any of you that received all your new babies alive and well!!! Enjoy your summer everyone!

Was a heaving mess all night when our first shipment was a day late, and while everyone was fine, the memory of that extra night gives me just a little glimmer of what you're going through-- but really
I cannot even begin to imagine how you feel right now. I really hate hearing of the tiny casualties of this whole process, especially knowing much of it has to do with whose hands those little lives pass through and whether they care, and handle with care- something we chickie-mamas have no control over until the box reaches our hands. I'm so sorry, and I hope the remaining babies bring lots of joy.

 

[chickisoup]

Thanks guys for all the well wishes and understanding.

Littlecabin - I don't think it's anything to do with MPC, but I was remembering reading back on some of the early posts on here of others being shorted, I was beginning to wonder as well if there was not more than just "uneducated" packers going on with their supplier as well. I think they may be accepting orders and then for whatever reason can't fill otherwise so they are just shorting us small order folks?

 

[Jujubara]

Someone was posting on FB that they called to check on a weird update on their shipping and the USPS said they were rerouted to Puerto Rico! And I think these were adult birds! I think the P.O. is having some issues with service more than ever this year. All these lost chicks are most unfortunate.

 

[chickisoup]

Someone was posting on FB that they called to check on a weird update on their shipping and the USPS said they were rerouted to Puerto Rico! And I think these were adult birds! I think the P.O. is having some issues with service more than ever this year. All these lost chicks are most unfortunate.

Been following that. Rerouted for "domestic research"??? He can't even find out by who! These were potential breeding stock Seramas. You just know those birds are not coming back. I don't know what's worse. That or my shipment of frozen DOA's. I guess at least I know what happened.

 

[Jujubara]

Been following that.  Rerouted for "domestic research"???  He can't even find out by who!  These were potential breeding stock Seramas.  You just know those birds are not coming back.  I don't know what's worse.  That or my shipment of frozen DOA's.  I guess at least I know what happened.

The person updated a short time ago and they are flying the birds back to the states, that's 4 days in a shipping box! That's some crazy stuff right there. And yeah, your shipment sucked. I feel so bad for all the lost babies.

 

[chickisoup]

The person updated a short time ago and they are flying the birds back to the states, that's 4 days in a shipping box! That's some crazy stuff right there. And yeah, your shipment sucked. I feel so bad for all the lost babies.

fingers crossed for those poor birds

Thanks. Yea. Just made me sick to my stomach. I didn't want to open the way too quiet box but glad I did. At least I noticed the slightest glimmer of life left in two of the bodies and was able to revive them and they are now rowdy little 4 week olds.

As for the botched replacement shipment. Then there were three. Another SLW just died. When I checked I knew it didn't have long so I protected it until it passed. My last Partridge Rock is also failing. It was way too small when it arrived but was doing well this morning, eating and drinking so I had hope. Now it's staggering and falling over. Twice it wound up on it's back and couldn't right itself. I scooped it up and it curled up and fell asleep in my hand. These were shipped on Monday and arrived finally yesterday morning. Guess that was just too long with no grow gel or anything in with them. Never was able to get an answer why that was not included. (shipments from elsewhere did). Oh well. Better go see if I've lost another one.

 

[Jujubara]

fingers crossed for those poor birds 

Thanks.  Yea.  Just made me sick to my stomach.  I didn't want to open the way too quiet box but glad I did.  At least I noticed the slightest glimmer of life left in two of the bodies and was able to revive them and they are now rowdy little 4 week olds.  

As for the botched replacement shipment.  Then there were three.  Another SLW just died.  When I checked I knew it didn't have long so I protected it until it passed.  My last Partridge Rock is also failing.  It was way too small when it arrived but was doing well this morning, eating and drinking so I had hope.  Now it's staggering and falling over.  Twice it wound up on it's back and couldn't right itself. I scooped it up and it curled up and fell asleep in my hand.  These were shipped on Monday and arrived finally yesterday morning.  Guess that was just too long with no grow gel or anything in with them.  Never was able to get an answer why that was not included. (shipments from elsewhere did).  Oh well.  Better go see if I've lost another one.

That is sad. And yes, a definate long time for them to be in a box. I usually get mine the next day.

 

[lilmillefleur]

@chickisoup
i am sorry for your losses.
i dont know whether i could handle any hatcheries DOAs or sick ones, your'e just making me so SAD! ! !