Ordered from Ideal...less than ideal...:( (UPDATED)

[FlewTheCoop]

Well, my first experience ordering chicks has been mixed so far. I received my package from Ideal first thing yesterday morning. It was a quarter box, but we only ordered 10 chicks. I expected packing peanuts and I got them. Unfortunately we lost two SLWs (one cockerel and one pullet) and a packing peanut in transit. Hard to say what killed them...

All in all we ended up with five packing peanuts (RRs, almost certainly), and seven SLWs. The remaining SLW cockerel and one SLW pullet were looking weak. Neither wanted to take food or water themselves, but took sugar water from an eye dropper. The cockerel passed this morning, feet up. The pullet is about the same as she was yesterday...still getting up and walking around a bit, but not strong at all. There are NO symptoms other than weakness. I've checked for pasty butt, and none of them have it so far. The weak ones were pooping normally, if a bit less than the others, which makes sense because they're barely eating.

The rest of them, especially the RRs, are very feisty and playful. Thriving.

Ideal said they would send replacements for all of our lost SLWs, but unfortunately we don't want to end up with even MORE packing peanuts, so there's not much point in having them send two cockerels and a two pullets with probably 10 peanuts.

I don't know what I'm going to do with all the RRs at this point. Probably try to sell them via our local feed store.

Not sure what we're going to do...I really wanted an SLW rooster.

I may end up with a RR rooster for my SLW hens. sigh.

Just thought some of you would find my story educational.


First pic, taken yesterday:

 

[shortcake1806]

Aww, I'm sorry. Why is it the ones you want the most are the ones that don't survive? I would have them reship and rehome the others. An add on craigslist will probably have them rehomed in a couple hours.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Quote:
Shortcake is right, just list free rir chicks on craigslist and they will be gone in a hurry! I'd make them ship me the replacements. Wait a day or so before asking so you know for certain how many they owe you!

 

[mylilchix]

I'm so sorry about your losses!!

I've had great experiences with Ideal. They're really good about replacing chicks or crediting you back for your losses. I'd take the replacements if I were you. If you get extra packing peanuts you can give them away or raise them for dinner. We ended up with 13 PP, and they'll go in the freezer once they're big enough.

Sonja

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Awww, I'm sorry for your disappointment. I've ordered both chicks & ducklings from the hatchery (McMurray) and had 100% live/healthy babies 5 times out of 6. The one time there were deaths was because one of the breeds had spraddle leg and they got trompled because they couldn't stand up well.

But when you think about it, it's amazing that any new-born babes could survive such an ordeal the first few days of their lives.

When I order chicks I always factor in the possibility of a few losses. I'll order multiples of the ones I especially want to get in case there's a loss of one, and raise it to sell later if they all survive. And when you order less than the minimum you have to expect packing peanuts. I'd rather order enough to meet the minimum, getting multiples of the ones I want, than take my chance getting random-choice peanuts.

What has Ideal offered to replace your losses? If they'll pay for the re-shipping and pay for the replacement chicks, why not have them do it? How few will they send? Why not get your replacements, and pay for your choice of extras to fill your box? You'll have extras in case anything else (God forbid!) happens to the chicks you want, and then you can sell the others as started chicks, young pullets/cockerels, or adult birds.

Nature herself factors in for chick loss, that's why hens lay more eggs than they need to hatch, hatch more chicks than they need to grow to adults. Like someone else here said, it doesn't make it less sad to lose chicks, but you just get more resigned to it.

I'm sorry for the loss, and wish you GREAT SUCCESS with the rest of your fuzzy feathery friends.

 

[Mandalina]

aww,i am sorry!

 

[FlewTheCoop]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice! Ideal did offer to replace the losses. I suppose I could rehome the peanuts...I know I'll get a lot, considering I'll probably only be getting three replacements (the weak pullet will probably not make it through the day). They don't have a minimum NUMBER, but they do have a minimum dollar amount ($25). But of course that won't apply for replacements due to death. It's getting warmer down here (Mississippi) and they ship from Texax, so I don't think cold will be an issue...

The only problem with the peanuts is that I figured they'd all be males...isn't that the norm for peanuts? I didn't think anyone would want just roosters. But I guess ya never know, especially if they want to eat them. I just don't have the space for very many...I'd only planned on having a max of four, so my coop isn't large. I have room to keep them for now, since their brooder is big (and I have another box the same size if it comes to that).

I'll see how it goes with the weak little pullet...I should just say she passed and get a replacement even if she doesn't go today, just in case.

UPDATE:

Ideal told us we had to reorder a minimum of $25 in order to have our replacements shipped with them! Has that been the case with any of you?? They also said they only ship a minimum of five replacements. We only lost three...I guess we should add two. But the minimum order of $25...that makes no sense at all to me. I'm very confused.

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

What's a peanut? Is that like a chick for company?

 

[WingingIt]

Quote:
For small orders, the hatcheries put in 'extras' to ensure they stay warm enough during shipping.

 

[PQ]

Sale the PPs get some of your money back for your order, somebody will want them even if it is for dinner. Good luck if you do have them re sent.