Shipping birds in the winter?

[djmooney]

i hope it makes a difference i will get some. And boxes can get lost at any time not just winter!

 

[joanie_maine]

I ship and receive during the winter. Usually it takes two or three days to or from anywhere.

The post offices that I deal with are great. They keep the birds away from extreme cold and call me quickly when the birds arrive within driving distance. They know me and I call them when I know birds are coming. Sometimes I drive for an hour and a half just to make sure the birds don't have to wait until 8 am to arrive here the next morning. Communication and a tracking number is important.

I would not ship chicks though. Even with heat pads. Same with eggs - too much temperature variation and a lowered fertility rate in the cold months makes spending money on hatching eggs a bad bet.

I stick to shipping or receiving just adults birds in the winter. It's more humane

JMO

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Way to twist someones words!

.... we aren't talking about keeping birds in coops, we are talking about shipping birds in the current temperatures.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Yup! They sure do... which is why we dont ship in the dead of summer either, when temps can get over 100 in the box in a short amount of time.

 

[dlolato]

I wouldn't take the chance.........unless you had to have them at this time. With the winter weather conditions, you never know when there might be a flight delay and anything outside of the normal delivery time of "express" would be risky. Even with the heat packs, the box does not offer the necessary warmth protection. It is extremely cold in the cargo area of an airplane, let alone dock and truck delays.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but Spring sounds alot less risky!!!!

 

[JenEric Farms]

I would be concerned with someone living in a warm climate shipping to a cold climate as the birds aren't as aclimated to cold weather. I would definately buy birds and have them shipped to me (I live in Maine) from someone else in the north, but I would be hesitatent to purchase from someone where the weather has been much warmer.

It's been cold here for a while, my birds are used to it and would do fine to be shipped to another cold weather area. Birds being shipped from Florida where it is rarely below freezing and doesn't stay cold (or what us Northerners consider cold) for any real length of time would be more vunerable to the temperature drop.

 

[lockedhearts]

Last I was told by my local PO, the Temp has to be agreeable one the receiving end as well. This is why I have not been able to ship birds to VA that need to go. Yes, I sold them but I want them to get to their destination safely. But right now my local PO will not accept them for shipment as the temp here and there has been way to cold.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Just reporting my shipped bird reached his destination well on time and in prime health. He arrived in AZ at 1400 their time, EARLY! I recommend you confirm with your local USPO for times to bring birds in for shipping, make sure they are aware this is a live bird, etc. I deal with a VERY SMALL TOWN PO and have not been disapointed yet.

I'm looking at buying chicks to be shipped to me in late March, still very much winter here but with simple coordination with the breeder and the PO, I expect success.