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!
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.
