Post office lost chicks????

[celticgarden]

Mypetchicken sent my chicks out yesterday, post office said guaranteed delivery today at 3pm. They weren't on the 3 pm delivery to my post office. Numerous phone calls later and no one knows where they are. My daughter (11) and I feel crushed. Are we doomed to open a box with dead chicks? We ordered 9.

Needless to say I've placed a complaint with the post office, they are looking into it. I'm really angry at them. This is 2012, why wasn't the package scanned? Assuming it left Ohio at all. Sorry, I'm worried. Any words of comfort would be appreciated.

Linda

 

[Gargoyle]

Hopefully, they will arrive tomorrow and they should still be ok. I'm sure MPC put in enough water to hold them an extra day. As soon as they arrive, have water, perhaps with ACV (raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar) and electrolytes mixed in, and also maybe some yogurt.

 

[Cluky]

SO my per chicken says that they are not lost till thursday. I would suggest giving it time. Hopefully they will come all well

 

[dainerra]

Hopefully, they will arrive tomorrow and they should still be ok. I'm sure MPC put in enough water to hold them an extra day. As soon as they arrive, have water, perhaps with ACV (raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar) and electrolytes mixed in, and also maybe some yogurt.

I've had chicks shipped many times and have never had water in the box. Chicks will be fine for the trip as long as they don't get caught in extreme weather. It usually takes 2-3 days to receive my birds.

 

[ImportTheBest]

I literally just got our chicks this morning! I also ordered from MPC. If you look in their "help" faqs you will see one about the express guarantee NOT being true for chicks. I was so disappointed when my chicks didn't show by the guaranteed time of 3pm Tuesday, according to the USPS tracking info. Then I read the answer on MPC and saw that live animals don't falls under the same rules and need to be transported in special ways.
We got our phone call about our chicks at 8am and we scurried off to pick them up. They were all fine and cheeping in the office!
I am sure your chicks will be fine too and they will probably be there bright and early tomorrow morning! Hang in there, the wait is difficult but you can do it!

 

[Adenium]

I had the same reaction as well - saw the 3pm guarantee and then was upset when they didn't seem to have even entered our state and the post office couldn't get any better info than I could - they literally see the same tracking readout.

The chicks shipped Monday and arrived Wednesday, all fine. It's hotter now, but I wouldn't lose all hope just yet. And yeah, unfortunately the Express "guarantee" doesn't apply here as pointed out above. Will cross my fingers for your chicks' safe arrival.

Remember that the whole reason they're shipped so young is that they survive off the absorbed yolk sac for the first couple days. Give them water when they arrive and they should be OK.

 

[celticgarden]

Thanks so much for the support. I had left my info at the main post office that they would pass through en route to my little post office. Got the call at 6 am, I shot up and answered on the 1st ring. Got my 11 yo and off to the post office we went. All 9 were alive and peeping. I was very grateful to the post mistress who took the time to call.

Of course all was ready when we got home. Everyone settled in fine except my little sultan. Her bottom had some eggshell stuck to it, blocking her like pasty bum would. I am hoping she makes it but she isn't active like all the others. We dipped her beak in water several times. She seems passive. We'll hope for the best.

So between checking on chicks I worked on the coop. I started months ago - June I guess. Of course I wasn't satisfied just building a coop and run. First I built a little shed that will more resemble a cottage when I'm through. That took time. But I'm learning so much. I've built it all on my own, dh is not a fan of this escapade. Anyway, I look forward to posting the whole story some day on a coop page. Thanks again all, hope my little sultan pulls through. The others are 2 austrolorps, 2 buff orpingtons, 1 silver Maran, 1 blue hamburg, 1 Easter egger (she is cool and her eyes are blue!). And I'm missing someone! Well, I must be forgiven, it's been a long day. Thanks everyone!

 

[jdywntr]

If the one isn't going well, offer it some sugar water, it can make all the difference in little ones.

 

[celticgarden]

Thanks, I offered a honey/raw cider vinegar in water for day 1 ( a la Harvey Ussery's book Small Scale Poultry Flock). Wee sultan did just fine through the night! I rousted them at 5:30 to check, happy to report that all are well.

Gotta say I love the Ecoglow. One less thing to worry about (hot lamp/fire hazard). Especially since I moved everyone to a giant lawnmower box I forgot I had in the attic. Covered with screens. About 5 inches of pine shavings covered with paper towels.

Anyway, need to get my routine down, am on vaca from work this week but back to it next. I'm sure all of you have equally busy lives, kids are back to school next week so I'll have to have a good routine with the newest members of the family.

Up with the chicks, out to work on coop!

Linda

 

[mstricer]

I just give mine Gatorade deluted. I have never had chicks ship in one day. I have always received them within 2 days. Except for that time I ordered freedom rangers and they sat at post office for 2 days in the heat, were delivered to me in the heat, I had to work 12 hrs that day, would you believe I only lost 1 chick, all the rest did great.