Shipping Baby Chicks?

[Ellochicken]

Hello B.Y.C!

I have a serious question for you guys. I am planning to get two little baby Cream Legbars from my dads friend... who lives in Arkansas. I am situated in Iowa, and we were wondering if shipping the little chicks would be a good idea (if at all possible). The questions we have are;

1- Do we need to use heat packs?
2- How old should they be when they are shipped/ Does it matter how old they are?
3- What companies ship live baby chicks?
4- What could we do to make the shipment as safe and comfortable for the chicks as possible?
5- If you have shipped chicks before, what would you have done differently?

Things to keep in mind are that we ARE NOT ORDERING FROM A HATCHERY, and that we are only going to be shipping TWO OR FOUR chicks.

Thank you!
-Ellochicken

 

[MySweetChickens]

1.yes they will need heat packs
2.1 day old would be best
3.there are many so i will only name a few Meyer hatchery Murray Mcmurray and Cackle hatchery are just a few
4.supply heat packs and a clean feather duster to snuggle up to
5.i have never shipped chicks before

hope this helps

 

[TattooedMama]

Most all of the breeders I have come across only use the US Postal Service and ship on a Monday or Tuesday by Express mail-that seems to be the general consensus on the safest and fastest way to ship chicks. People say one day old because right after they hatch, they are still nourished by the yolk of the egg. Heat packs are a good idea and I have heard of some using gro-gel (google it). Also shipping only two is dangerous as even with heat packs they probably won't be warm enough. The fewest most breeders will do is 5, if that gives you a better idea on what's done. If you really only want two than some people also ship birds at 2 weeks old, at this point they are stronger and need less heat. I have never shipped chicks before myself but have ordered them and done a lot of research on how individual breeders ship their babies. Good Luck!

 

[3riverschick]

Hello B.Y.C!

I have a serious question for you guys. I am planning to get two little baby Cream Legbars from my dads friend... who lives in Arkansas. I am situated in Iowa, and we were wondering if shipping the little chicks would be a good idea (if at all possible). The questions we have are;

Get the chicks as started birds. 6-8 weeks old.
They travel well at that age and your dad's
friend will be able to select the best for you.
Failing that, here is what you do.

1- Do we need to use heat packs?
You can put some in if you want, won't hurt.
Use the 40 hr packs. Nothing longer. The packs
which last longer spike to a higher initial degree
of heat than you want before they level off for
the duration of their life.
2- How old should they be when they are shipped/
Does it matter how old they are?
As the poster said, chicks live off their yolks
for the 1st 48 hours. So if you want babies,
ship them as day olds. It doesn't matter how
old they are as long as you set up the travel
and comfort arrangements correctly.
Shipping chicks is easy.
3- What companies ship live baby chicks?
You want to ship them United States Postal Service Overnight Express.
4- What could we do to make the shipment as safe
and comfortable for the chicks as possible?
Go to an arts and crafts store and buy a thin mat
of excelsior. (that's wood shavings). or go to the Dollar
General and buy the thicker version of the waffle weave
drawer liner. Either one will give the chicks a non-skid
flooring in the box for the trip.
Buy 2 quan. 40 hour heat packs.
http://www.tsksupply.com/40-hour-shipping-warmer/
Tape one ( tape all 4 sides)to each long side wall of the
box about chest height of the chicks. I think it might be
a good idea to tape a washcloth over the heating pad to
the birds don't peck at it. Or slip them under the waffle weave mat.
Buy a 4 oz. bottle of Poultry Nutri-Drench for 6.99
at Tractor Supply or your feed store. The day old
chicks should get one drop each ( day olds) before
they go in the box. You will give them 1 drop each
when they arrive at your place and put 2 cc's per
gallon in their water for the 1st 2 weeks to get them
off to a strong start. If you are getting older chicks
or started birds increase the dosage as stated below:
http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/details/Poultry-Nutri-Drench/57-25.html
( do not use 4 oz. per gallon. Use 2cc's per gallon, per conversation with science techs at Bovidr Labs.)
Here is a fuller explanation of the product and why it is
so expedient in preventing and treating travel stress:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/746509/how-to-deal-with-travel-stress-in-baby-chicks
For food you want to get a small packet of Grogel. it
comes in 100 chick doses for about 4.00.
http://www.texaspoultry.com/grogel.htm
Shop around for a good price, available everywhere. . Looks like
a green powder. Expands massively when water is added.
It has everything a day old chick need to survive,
including hydration. I also use it for shipping older birds.
It looks like green jello when hydrated. Will last about 2 1/2 days.
The box. Go to http://www.boxesfobirds.com A wonderful
company. Only one I will use. USPS and veterinarian
approved boxes. Reusable. the filters on the box can be
changed later if you want. These boxes are sized for
pigeons. Great for birds of all sizes. They a very experienced
and helpful. Depending on the age of birds you are shipping,
they will tell you if you need the one or 2 bird box.
When I am having birds shipped to me, I send the seller
everything he needs to ship it my way. I never leave
anything to chance or someone else's way of doing things.
Drop ship the box to the seller. Send them the waffle
weave drawer liner, the hot packs and the Grogel and the
Poultry Nutri-Drench.. Remember to keep a bottle of Nutri-Drench
for yourself. I would also ask the seller to put an extra layer
of cardboard on the bottom of the box. That way if the poop
gets on the bottom it won't discolor your reusable box. Make
sure the seller tapes it down with tape the chicks can't peck away.

5- If you have shipped chicks before, what would you have done differently?
Nothing. I researched long and hard before I had them shipped to me.
Now you are in charge. Get the tracking number of the box from the seller. Track the box religiously. Be a stage mom. It should make regular progress from one section to another. Make sure your travel time does not span a weekend or holiday. You don't want the chicks hung up somewhere. Tuesday is a good shipping day.
Make sure your post office knows the chicks are coming and the color of the box. Give them your phone number, the tracking number of the box , and ask to be notified. Pick them up at the post office. Don't wait for them to come in the carrier's vehicle because their trip has already been long enough.
If you are worried about shipping only 2 chicks and your friend has some lesser quality chicks he doesn't want, you could buy them to fill out the shipment according to how many Boxesforbirds.com think might be a good idea. You can always sell them on craigslist after they arrive. Do not put fruit in the bird box. Some States are real picky about how fruit goes thru their borders and you don't want your birds held up if someone decides to inspect the box. Just use the Grogel.

Things to keep in mind are that we ARE NOT ORDERING FROM A HATCHERY, and that we are only going to be shipping TWO OR FOUR chicks.

Thank you!
-Ellochicken

Huge congrats on your birds!
Best Regards,
Karen and the Light Sussex
in western PA, USA

 

[Ellochicken]

Thank you for all of this information! We're going to be calling my dads friend here shortly to talk about possibilities for getting the chicks here, and you have provided me with everything i need!
Thank you so much!
-Ellochicken

 

[3riverschick]

Hi Ellochicks ,
More than welcome. Enjoy your chicks!
And

Best,
Karen