Outragious Cost of Shipping a Live Bird

[Schroeder]

Lesson learned!!! I bought a shipping box at 3 for $60, so $20 for the box. Express shipping from Indiana to Washington $69! I had no idea when I agreed to send someone a 3 month old cockerel that it would cost me $89. I could have/should have shopped harder for a box to have saved some money, but there is no getting around the cost of USPS shipping. I doubt I'll be using the remaining 2 boxes. Wow, I'm in shock.

 

[keesmom]

Why didn't you have the receiver pay for shipping? You didn't ask the USPS for the shipping cost prior to sending him?

Shipping juvenile and adults is expensive. They have to go Express, unlike chicks. It's $20 to mail an envelope by Express mail, so a larger package does cost more. The birds I have shipped have ranged form $50-$195 depending on where they are going and that was before rates went up earlier this year.

 

[Schroeder]

Why didn't you have the receiver pay for shipping? You didn't ask the USPS for the shipping cost prior to sending him?

Shipping juvenile and adults is expensive. They have to go Express, unlike chicks. It's $20 to mail an envelope by Express mail, so a larger package does cost more. The birds I have shipped have ranged form $50-$195 depending on where they are going and that was before rates went up earlier this year.

I just wasn't thinking, I guess. It never costs me anywhere near that much when I have something shipped to me, but I've never had birds mailed other than day-olds.

 

[keesmom]

I just wasn't thinking, I guess. It never costs me anywhere near that much when I have something shipped to me, but I've never had birds mailed other than day-olds.

Don't let this experience prevent you from considering shipping again, since you still have 2 boxes. From your signature it sounds like you have some nice birds. Anyone who is interested obtaining some juveniles/adults knows the costs involved in shipping and that it is the responsibility of the buyer to pay those costs, not the seller.

 

[donrae]

Don't let this experience prevent you from considering shipping again, since you still have 2 boxes. From your signature it sounds like you have some nice birds. Anyone who is interested obtaining some juveniles/adults knows the costs involved in shipping and that it is the responsibility of the buyer to pay those costs, not the seller.

x2. Buyers should expect to absorb this cost, it's part of getting a more known quality bird.

 

[3riverschick]

When I buy birds, I pay for everything. My foundation trio came from MT to western PA. I bought Grogel+ and had excelsior pads handy to floor the box. Sent them to the breeder. Bought the superb the 16 bird box from http://www.Boxesforbirds.com (holds 3 adult size large fowl as they state sizes for pigeons so poultry folk have to divide for large fowl) had it drop shipped to the breeder. Plus postage to have them shipped to me. In all 150. to get the trio down here. Well worth every penny.
Best,
Karen

 

[Schroeder]

When I buy birds, I pay for everything. My foundation trio came from MT to western PA. I bought Grogel+ and had excelsior pads handy to floor the box. Sent them to the breeder. Bought the superb the 16 bird box from http://www.Boxesforbirds.com (holds 3 adult size large fowl as they state sizes for pigeons so poultry folk have to divide for large fowl) had it drop shipped to the breeder. Plus postage to have them shipped to me. In all 150. to get the trio down here. Well worth every penny.
Best,
Karen

Well, I guess its time for me to step up into the big leagues. I was using this as a learning experience and it certainly has been that.

 

[EastTXChickens]

It's possible the recipient of your bird didn't realize you'd be on the hook for expensive shipping. Let them know and kindly ask them to split the cost.

Yeah, I was interested in pullets till I saw the shipping cost. Still, it would be so nice to get what you want. Factoring in the cost and time and effort of raising roosters when I wanted hens may have make the cost of buying older shipped pullets a little shocking.

 

[NYREDS]

Well, I guess its time for me to step up into the big leagues.  I was using this as a learning experience and it certainly has been that.

When you go to school you have to pay tuition.

 

[3riverschick]

It's possible the recipient of your bird didn't realize you'd be on the hook for expensive shipping. Let them know and kindly ask them to split the cost.

Yeah, I was interested in pullets till I saw the shipping cost. Still, it would be so nice to get what you want. Factoring in the cost and time and effort of raising roosters when I wanted hens may have make the cost of buying older shipped pullets a little shocking.

Yes, you are right. Another thing is...when you buy started poultry, the breeder has had
time to cull then at least once for quality. The breeder has a chance to make sure you
get the quality for which their strain is known. Not every bird hatched every year excels.
If I purchase eggs or day old chicks, I don't know ( and neither does the breeder) if they
will resemble the top or average quality of his/her flock. This is why many top breeders
only sell started birds. One thng about that big box from boxesforbirds.com. It is 3 ft. long.
Way too big to be forgotten or missed in the mailroom. Big enough to require proper handling.
Personally, I think that's one reason it arrived 3 hours early to my PO. Plus, I saved money by
not having to ship 3 separate boxes ( and hen worry where they all were in transit. And
Boxesforbirds makes a special 3 way divider which turns the big box into 3 triangles that fit my
adult large fowl size started Sussex just fine. Even the cock's tail feathers came thru without mussing.
The cockerel was 11 1/2 mos. old, one pullet was 8 1/2 mos. old, and other pullet was 6 1/2 mos. old.
Best,
Karen