Really bad experience with My Pet Chicken

[skinsey]

I just received an order of 7 chicks from MPC. This is my third order - first two were great. Out of 7 chicks, 5 dead. I am so upset - I feel like I sent these chicks to their death! I tried calling and emailing MPC - no response so far. I checked with a couple other online companies - they all ship USPS 2 day - what's with that???? Why not overnight express? I now think I need to find a local source where I can pick them up - even if I have to drive 4 hours to get there. Any ideas? I really want another Faverolle rooster - I miss my guy terribly and I think they are the most beautiful roosters of all the breeds. Any ideas or suggestions appreciated.

Sharon Kinsey
Follow Your Dream Farm
www.followyourdreamfarm.net

 

[Whittni]

Call them when they're open. They should just refund you.

 

[wondertwinpower]

I would be devastated, too, but it's not your fault!!! I'm sure it does not help, but I've been hearing about a LOT of DOA chicks lately, from other hatcheries besides MPC. Maybe MPC will re-ship your order, and hopefully this time nothing bad will happen with the PO. I have to assume it was handling or temperature extreme, because the chicks should be fine for a few days. Also, MPC may offer the option to get overnight shipping. Just ideas. Don't beat yourself up too bad.

 

[skinsey]

I finally got a call from MPC - they are going to arrange a reshipment but I will have to accept substitutions as not all the chick types I wanted are available now. He said that USPS has changed its description of Express. They no longer can or will guarantee one day delivery even thought that is supposed to be what we pay for. The guy said that he and his friend were talking about the idea of starting a special shipping company for chicks because USPS is the ONLY option!!! They are not accountable for any problems. The one chick that was fighting for her life died last night - I'm still crying about it - I know I am just a sloppy sentimental female! But all life is so precious and I tried to saver her. Anyway - I am hoping I can find a reasonable local source for the breeds I like - would rather drive 4 or 5 hours to pick up healthy chicks and know that they will arrive home safely.

Sharon Kinsey
Follow YOur Dream Farm
www.followyourdreamfarm.net

 

[Just Wingin It]

Im so sorry for your loss, its hard to lose chicks, theyre so cute and you get attached so quickly. They are young and fragile tiny things being shipped right after theyre born in a tiny box, I think its amazing any of them survive. Its got to be a hard first day or two for those little guys.

I had paid an extra .50 a bird to have a frozen gel food shipped in the box with my goslings. They were supposed to be in transit 2 days, but they arrived a day late, they arrived fine and all the food was gone. Might add that option if you want/can. Good luck with the new shipment, I hope you will post the new arrivals pictures.

 

[Fred's Hens]

MPC is merely a broker, a Go-Between, if you will. The hatcheries actually supply the chicks. I understand many of the boxes even come straight from Meyer Hatchery.

The summer is a tough, tough time to ship chicks. It's hot, very hot here lately. If there were baby chicks, stuck in a post office truck somewhere, they'd be cooked. The USPS doesn't necessarily deliver in 2 days either, as most of us have found out. Sometimes it is 3 or 4 days. Sometimes, packages get lost for a week.

Over night courier express can sometimes cost $45 a small box. That sure raises the price considerably and more than most folks are willing to pay. Some hatcheries don't even offer that service.

 

[HEChicken]

Fred's Hens is right - the hottest months of the summer and the coldest months of the winter are a dreadful time to try to get chicks through the mail. I really wish the hatcheries would be responsible enough to refuse to ship at these times, but I guess the Almighty Dollar comes ahead of the health and well-being of live animals....

As consumers we can help by refusing to place orders at these times of the year. I prefer local sourcing of chicks anyway as I believe its far less stressful for them. But, I know at times you can't find a particular breed, and shipping is necessary. If you DO need to ship, Spring and Fall reduce the stress on the chicks, since they don't have to contend with heat/cold extremes, in addition to the stress of the actual shipping.

 

[ESofVA]

We have 1 place here on the Eastern Shore of VA that we can buy chicks from without going back over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel or by driving to MD. The owner of the store...a Southern States store, will special order chicks for us. Have you tried that? I ordered Faverolles chicks last year from Cackle and I was really pleased. I ordered from a different hatchery this year and I am so angry I could just...well. I changed hatcheries because there wasn't another that carried all of the breeds I wanted. I would have had to order from 2 hatcheries instead of the one.
I want some more bantams to replace my lost ones and I asked the owner of the SS Monday to get some and they will be there Friday. I get 1st choice. I didn't ask for specific breeds, although I could have and then would have to take all of them, but I just wanted a variety to pick from and I don't have to worry about mine arriving dead or so stressed they die within a day or two.

 

[HEChicken]

We have 1 place here on the Eastern Shore of VA that we can buy chicks from without going back over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel or by driving to MD. The owner of the store...a Southern States store, will special order chicks for us. Have you tried that? I ordered Faverolles chicks last year from Cackle and I was really pleased. I ordered from a different hatchery this year and I am so angry I could just...well. I changed hatcheries because there wasn't another that carried all of the breeds I wanted. I would have had to order from 2 hatcheries instead of the one.
I want some more bantams to replace my lost ones and I asked the owner of the SS Monday to get some and they will be there Friday. I get 1st choice. I didn't ask for specific breeds, although I could have and then would have to take all of them, but I just wanted a variety to pick from and I don't have to worry about mine arriving dead or so stressed they die within a day or two.

Keep in mind that when you go to a feed store and place a special order, the feed store is ordering through the mail from the same hatcheries - so you don't bypass the shipping - you just have someone else receive the shipment. This is also something to keep in mind for anyone buying chicks from a feed store, even if not by special order. The chicks get to the feed store by being shipped - just the same as if you place the order yourself. The only difference is that if a shipment arrives dead because they couldn't tolerate the weather conditions, you never know about it because it is the employees at the store who dispose of the dead bodies and arrange for replacements.

 

[skinsey]

Update - 2 more of the chicks died. I am left with one. I cannot tell you how angry and sad I am. Yes MPC is going to reship but there is a problem with USPS - and I got it straight from my mail carrier. USPS no longer uses its own planes for packages - it is subcontracted out to Fedex and you know Big Brown (having a senior moment). Anyway, they do not handle them the same and causing all manners of problems. As to time of year - ummm well, how do you get chicks shipped if none are hatching??? I think Spring and Summer are the only choices???? I like the idea of hatching my own but my luck I would end up with 40 roosters Still hoping to find someone local.

sharon kinsey
follow your dream farm
followyourdreamfarm.net