NEWBIES with Hatchery orders!

[MamaFreeRange]

Ohhh that's TOO COOL!!! I'd LOVE to get in on something like that! This so seriously exciting to me. I feel like I belong to an elite group of people LOL Yes, I'm easily amused! But, seriously, I'm really enjoying this new adventure already! Cannot wait to get things moving along. Meeting new people, finding new chicks to add to my flock, just...belonging to something so neat! My girls are 3 days old today and all are doing great...and guess what....I want more! LOL I've contacted someone here where I live (who probably belongs to BYC, too...it wouldn't surprise me!) to purchase a few more. Help...I think I'm addicted *bites fingernails* LOL

 

[DianaMallory]

It was a 3 hour driv e for me but went up and back in the same day. It usually only takes 2 1/2 hours but I went a different route and it took longer plus it was raining. But I am so glad I came and read this page because day 2 one of my little girls had pasty bum and I just got through cleaning her up. and Now she seems to have little attitude doesn't like having her feathers ruffled! Well at this point her downy!

 

[leahlefler]

It's heartbreaking to receive chicks that are dead or close to it. I have been reasonably fortunate, but then I always get 25 or more, and they do travel better that way. I would suggest that anyone with reasonable experience and facilities buy 25 chicks next time they order. If you make up the difference with pullets of popular breeds and get them all going for a week, you should be able to sell the locally. You will be doing your neighbors a great service and might even get your chicks at a reduced price, or at least pay the shipping.

For my part, I am concentrating my laying flock on breeds that are sexable at hatch, so that I can sell pullet chicks locally. I believe they are healthier for not having been shipped. I'm filling a need and satisfying my addiction to hatching chicks (I hatched over 500 this year !).

That is not a bad idea. We couldn't keep 25, but I never thought about getting 25 and then selling them locally. I think I'll go for a local breeder, though (if I can find one) the next time we do this.

 

[MizG]

I am so sorry. I have never had that experience. I've had DOAs but not like this! It is devastating to have so many. I hope they will replace for free but that really doesn't begin to mend a sad heart.

 

[leahlefler]

I am so sorry. I have never had that experience. I've had DOAs but not like this! It is devastating to have so many. I hope they will replace for free but that really doesn't begin to mend a sad heart.

They are replacing them for free. We should get our second batch on Tuesday - I am so anxious about them. I hope they all arrive alive & healthy!

 

[MizG]

Sometimes they are just sick or weak on arrival. There just isn't much you can really do for them if this is the case -even if you are totally prepared for them. If I get weak ones I separate them so if they do come around, they have a chance to eat/drink and recover without being in the mayhem of healthy stronger chicks. Chicks are small and fragile. I've not had much luck with weak or sick arrivals. It is heart breaking. Pasty Butt is a separate issue that usually begins within the first few days. You'll notice it if they have it and you should gently clean them and dry them asap. Raising chicks isn't that hard if they are healthy and vigorous on arrival. Pretty much a no brainer, keep them warm per hatchery instructions, keep the brooder cleaned regularly, keep their food and water supply clean. If they came to you healthy - you shouldn't have too many problems. If you do however, there are some folks at BYC with excellent advice and lots of experience. I've been amazed by some of the home vetting I've read about here. One member cut open a hen with an impacted crop, cleaned the crop out, stitched her up and the bird recovered. I'm too squeamish to attempt anything like this but it is none the less wonderful that a pet owner could do this. We aren't up to a vet bill for this so I imagine if it were my bird, it would not have survived. I do have a five week old chick that seemed to be struggling with a crop issue. I massaged the crop very gently and he seems to be fine now. I guess I rearranged the food that wasn't moving so it would pass. He began eating a few hours later.

 

[leahlefler]

Our second batch all arrived healthy and happy. They're 4 days old now and have wing feathers! The first batch had heat stroke. This batch was shipped WITHOUT a heat pack and was healthy and happy at arrival. No pasty butts here at all so far!