Shipment of chicks ... problem!

[heathersboers]

Good luck with your chicks- We purchased 100 bantams from a hatchery (Ideal) 2 months ago- I have 15 left now- they died 5 at the time. We havent had good luck either with hatchery chicks- we just wanted some to free range in the yard. We have tried everything, and nothing seems to keep us from losing them. Cackle has had the best so far-I have lost 2 out of 50, and Mt Healthy's- out of 50- I have 20 left .They were LF too.... Just keep on trying- I have noticed a big difference- the ones you hatch out yourself are so much stronger and you rarely lose those.....

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

OMGosh I just read this thread

Just terrible

 

[honeydoll]

I received around 15 chicks almost a year ago from Ideal and they all survived but one. I ordered four Chanteclers, they came incredibly tiny, and they sent 11 Dominiques for free with them to keep them warm! Mine did very well as far as mortality goes. But they did not grow very big at all, my Dominiques were tiny. They were all roos, so we grew them out to process them, most were processed at 6 mos. and were a measley 3 lbs. I here that is common with hatchery birds. My Chanteclers were small as well, but are now actually decent size, but they lay the darndest small eggs you ever have seen. They lay XS eggs. It takes three to = one large egg. So I wouldn't order from them again for this reason. I guess I was pretty lucky with all of mine living but one.

Carolyn

 

[spiritdance]

I've ordered from Ideal several times and never had any significant losses (three chicks out of 25 one time was the max). The chicks have always been healthy and my large breed birds are all very large. I have some Barred Rock hens from them from last spring that weigh 8 lbs. or more, and the RIR roos I got at the same time are only slightly smaller. On the whole, I've been pleased with Ideal for hatchery birds. If I want better quality, I go to individual breeders.

 

[RedneckChikns]

So what was the outcome of the chicks???? (ok I skipped to the last page) SOMEONE?? I cant read that much fine print.
This is my exp with Cackle...order of chicks...ALL DIED....did give me replacements....ALL DIED. Thats all I have to say about Cackle.
I order from Ideal regularly and by the 100's....ALWAYS NICE BIRDS, ALWAYS nice on the ph/email....ALWAYS keeps you UTD on the progress of the chicks. I lost one order from them (well most of the chicks) they replaced and tho some from the second shipment died it wasnt the Cackle nightmare. I continue to be VERY please with Ideal...tho my last shipment of barred rocks are strangely on the SMALL side....compared to the many others Ive raised...find that strange??
I just got an Order from McMurray...OMG talk about a shipping Bleep Up! Shipped them KNOWING there was a holiday....chicks dying...I called they are sending replacements....not as nice as Ideal BUT they are honoring the dead chicks thing tho they are in total denial about shipping over a holiday weekend. (UGH) Only reason I shopped there is bcuz they have breeds Ideal doesnt.

SO>>>>>DID THE SNOWBOUND CHICKIES MAKE IT?????

 

[Carolyn]

I am sorry about your losses. I have gotten chicks from Cackle in the past and again today but I got them thru Rural King. I was very pleased with the first ones I got...lost one to a stampede when I startled them but they were all healthy. These today seem to be doing fine. I was on here looking for my mystery chick's ID when I found your thread...it looks a lot like your easter eggers. Baby chicks are so delicate and a trip like that has to be stressful under normal circumstances, and weather this year has not been normal in our area.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

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First shipment ... all DOA. Second shipment ... received 27, 1 DOA and since then 4 eggers and 2 silkies have died. Total 7 dead from 2nd shipment.

Just moved all into larger boxes because some of the eggers were starting to fly and get out of the smaller boxes I'd separated them into.

Hope the dying is done.

As I'm done with Cackle. They were supposed to refund me for the first four that died, but that's been 4 days ago and no refund received yet.

 

[3chimama]

I am so very sorry this happened, for you and the baby chicks!! I just received my shipment from Cackle Hatchery on Wednesday, a cold day, and they were all alive and well. So sorry again.
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[phasian]

Chiming in too-- so sorry for your loss! It is always devastating to lose chicks. A.T. Hagan's comments are pertinent, but there are weather extremes that make survival for wee ones (even 25 huddled ones) a challenge. Yes, hatcheries have been shipping for a long time, but our postal system is a lot larger now than in the past, and mail sorting a lot more complex. Boxes do get overlooked- put in inappropriate places; mishandled, etc. which with living beings, can mean life or death.

I work with a nursery here in Portland, OR that is the first business in town to offer chicks to backyard flock keepers many years ago. We know from experience that it is important to get your orders in early, but get your chicks shipped on later when temperatures are more stable. We have competition now with chicken selling amongst other urban homesteading focussed businesses. They all started selling chicks a few weeks ago. We are not. I don't think it's humane for the birds to be exposed to frigid temperatures or for you (and your family) to have to go through the emotional ordeal of their perishing. Just start a bit later. No matter what commercial hatchery you use- and I have used almost ALL of them (except Mt. Healthy- haven't tried them yet) you are going to have deaths if they are traveling during temperature extremes whether hot or cold.

The best hatchery I have used by far is a mom & pop based in Sandhill, IA- sandhillpreservation.com. They only offer straight run, and are a bit pricier than some, but the quality of birds and their vigor has been unsurpassed by any large commercial hatchery I have dealt with. You do have to mail in an order with your cheque, but they are outstanding. If they can't supply a breed in their catalog, they are extremely generous with substitutions or rebates.

Estes Hatchery in MO, and Texas Hatchery are also really good sources for commercial hatcheries. As for the one famous for sexing bantams-- absolutely not impressed with their sexing ability or their quality. Silkies with clean legs?

Highly recommend medicated feed for the first week (even though I'm an organics kind of girl) and putting some blackstrap molasses (1/2 tsp. per pint) in the water for electrolytes.

Hope this helps with future ordering experiences.....