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

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:

 

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.