Safely shipping juvenile birds from warm climate to cold climate ?

[BayWest Farm]

Hello, i’m not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I have some questions about having some juvenile birds shipped to me in Massachusetts from Florida.

I have had juvenile birds shipped to me in the past, but during the summer months and everything went well.

But now that it is winter and been hovering at or below freezing, I need to ask the group how I can have these birds shipped to me safely. I can easily obtain a shipping carton, but what else will I need to get for placing food and water into the box and will a normal chicken shipping container work ?

Thank you John

Please move thread if in wrong area,

 

[GodLovesU]

I contacted a moderator, who will move this to the right forum.

 

[BayWest Farm]

Thank you, I wasn’t exactly sure where to post this.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Yes please..does anyone have any help or information from shipping chicks from warm to cold? How to make it safe? Hydration?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not really worry about the temperature, water or feed when shipping juvenile birds. But I would worry about time. It would need to be less than 48 hours, with the least amount of time the best. Obviously give them food and water when you get them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How old are they? Are they fully feathered or will they need heat? How many? Are there enough that they will generate enough heat to keep each other warm if they need it?

How are you shipping them? The post office will have regulations on how to do it. I'm not sure if UPS or Fed Ex will even ship living animals. Talk to your shipper and see what the requirements are.

As long as they are fully feathered I don't see any major difference in shipping them now as opposed to summer as far as food or water goes. To me the risk is in them getting stuck somewhere due to bad weather. If you can, time this so the weather is predicted to be fairly mild, no winter storms forecast.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

How old are they? Are they fully feathered or will they need heat? How many? Are there enough that they will generate enough heat to keep each other warm if they need it?

How are you shipping them? The post office will have regulations on how to do it. I'm not sure if UPS or Fed Ex will even ship living animals. Talk to your shipper and see what the requirements are.

As long as they are fully feathered I don't see any major difference in shipping them now as opposed to summer as far as food or water goes. To me the risk is in them getting stuck somewhere due to bad weather. If you can, time this so the weather is predicted to be fairly mild, no winter storms forecast.

6 weeks old. Almost fully feathered, few spots not fully feathered under the wings. 3.. maybe 4 if it's necessary for heat in travel. Going from high 60s and 70s to below freezing. What to give for hydration in travel? Should they be brought to the post office first thing in the morning or wait til afternoon so they can eat and drink more? If they go to the post office early will they just sit in the box until the truck leaves?

 

[BayWest Farm]

My huge concern is having these shipped here either overnight or second day and there’s no doubt they’re going to have to take an airplane ride and if the cargo holds are not pressurized, they can be extremely cold, that’s what I am worried about. I will speak to the Postal Service tomorrow to see if they can give me a better idea on how these birds will be shipped.

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens actually produce a lot of heat. A cardboard box will help keep that heat around them. With out a doubt, shipping birds a long distance can be hard on them. And it is a reality, that you might lose one or two.

 

[aart]

My huge concern is having these shipped here either overnight or second day and there’s no doubt they’re going to have to take an airplane ride and if the cargo holds are not pressurized, they can be extremely cold, that’s what I am worried about. I will speak to the Postal Service tomorrow to see if they can give me a better idea on how these birds will be shipped.

Do you know what shipper the seller is using?