- May 17, 2013
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Hi all. I'm doing a lot of project breeding and I'm thinking of making my extra chicks available to be shipped (only so many people locally are interested in project chicks, and there's a lot of breeders local they go to first). I don't think I'll be shipping day-old chicks - I only do 10-30 eggs every once in a while, so the chance that I have a buyer THE DAY they hatch is pretty low, and I don't want to pre-sell chicks until I am more confidant with my egg fertility and hatch rates. So that means I have to wait till they are a month old, at least, or older so I can sell sexed pullets or etc.
I've read the USPS guidelines for shipping chickens, so no need to link that. What I'm asking is more for tips. What sort of box do you ship them in? If you buy them online - links?
It says no food or water, but I've seen people suggest putting in fruit, etc - so what's recommended?
If I need to put in a heat pack, should I duck tape it to the side? The bottom? Or how to you secure your heat pack?
Do you put any bedding in? Paper towels, or a disposable puppy training mat, or a handful of hay?
In general, what does shipping cost within the US? For, say, a young pair? Or 5 pullets? Or an adult hen? I've seen people asking $15 shipping, and people asking $50 (both for about the same in weight of birds), so I'm not sure what to expect, but I don't want to overcharge (or undercharge!) for shipping before I get a feel for it.
Is there anything I should know to tell the usps people once I get there, with chickens in box?
Any other tips from the shipping-experienced are greatly welcome!
I've read the USPS guidelines for shipping chickens, so no need to link that. What I'm asking is more for tips. What sort of box do you ship them in? If you buy them online - links?
It says no food or water, but I've seen people suggest putting in fruit, etc - so what's recommended?
If I need to put in a heat pack, should I duck tape it to the side? The bottom? Or how to you secure your heat pack?
Do you put any bedding in? Paper towels, or a disposable puppy training mat, or a handful of hay?
In general, what does shipping cost within the US? For, say, a young pair? Or 5 pullets? Or an adult hen? I've seen people asking $15 shipping, and people asking $50 (both for about the same in weight of birds), so I'm not sure what to expect, but I don't want to overcharge (or undercharge!) for shipping before I get a feel for it.
Is there anything I should know to tell the usps people once I get there, with chickens in box?
Any other tips from the shipping-experienced are greatly welcome!
