Shipping Chickens?

[diamondsilkies]

Hi everyone! Even though I've been breeding chickens for a while, I've always done local pickup only, but I want to be able to ship eggs, and possibly birds. From what I've read, I have to get NPIP tested...correct? If so, what does this entail? How expensive is it? Is it worth it? I really don't know that much about it.

If I don't (although I'm pretty sure I do), what do I have to do to be able to ship? I'm really only interested in shipping within the US. Is there anything else I have to do? And finally, what are your tips for shipping eggs/birds for when I finally can (specifically temperature and packaging wise, although anything else is more than welcome!)? Thank you so much and sorry for all the questions!

 

[3riverschick]

If you are not NPIP, you can still ship to any State that doesn't require it.
Shipping birds is fun. Buyer pays all expenses.
1. Go to www.boxesforbirds.com tell them the number, breed and age of birds being shipped and their experts will sell you the right box. Very experienced.
2. Go to Thomasnet.com and find the directory of wood wool manufacturers. Order some Excelsior pads for flooring on the box.
3. Buy 2 bottles of Bovidr Labs poultry Nutri Drench. Keep one and send the other to the buyer
Or instruct them to buy one.
www.nutridrench.com
Tell them any guarantee on the birds wellbeing is void if they do not give the birds the Drench to combat travel stress and adjustment to their new home when they arrive.
Dosage is for chicks, one drop by mouth. Repeat every 8-10 hours as needed until bird is perky. The 1 1/2 teaspoons in a quart waterer for one week as birds adjust to their new home.
For older birds see Bovidr Labs site for help with dosage per birds weight. They are very helpful. Give them a dosage before shipping and require new owner to do the same upon Arrival. Then the 1 1/2 teaspoons per quart waterer for a week.
4. Buy some Grogel Plus for nutrition and hydration inflight. Do not use fruit. Some States are very picky about what fruit crosses their borders. Don't want the birds held up.
5. If you use hand warmers , tape them to the sides of the box. Do not use hand warmers that last longer than 40 hours. The ones longer than 40 hours heat up too high in an initial heat spike before they level off.
6. Ship the birds USPS Express Overnight. Get your shipping number and send it immediately to the buyer so they can also track the birds. Be a stage Mom. Check often if they seem to be in one place too long, call that place and ask. Have buyer pick them up at PO which was told to call buyer upon receipt of the birds.
Have fun!
Karen

 

[I Love Layers]

I would reccomend you become NPIP, most states reuqire it to ship birds. They do an inspection of your facility and all of your birds over 4 months in age. Price depends on the area, and the tester. It is definently worth it, as most shows also require your birds to be tested.

When I have gotten birds shipped to me they come in a box. A lot of people buy their own shipping boxes directly from the postal service, but some also order them online. The site @3riverschick suggested sounds like a great idea. You need some bedding for the birds, most people just use woodchips or straw, or both. Also included in the box is a something that they can eat put not make a mess, so like an apple or a peeled orange. I have heard that some states are picky about fruit crossing the border, but I have never heard of someone actually getting caught. I suggest not to use warmers for older birds, I had birds shipped to me in February, I live in North Dakota, and there were no warmers the birds were happy and perfectly healthy. Get a tracking number so you and the buyer can track where the birds are. It is especially helpful if the birds get held up. Mine were held up 60 miles east of me last year during an ice storm, without the tracking number I would have had no idea on where they were. Always do overnight shipping, although in some states that actually means 2 day. Make sure the buyer picks the birds up at the post, and they let the office know they will be coming.


For eggs I have heard many things. Most breeders will not ship eggs, or many eggs. Many people will complain when they don't have a good hatch, or eggs arrived broken. From what I have heard most people fill a box with woodchips and individually package each egg in some type of protective wrapping, whatever you choose to use.

 

[diamondsilkies]

Wow! This is all great info, thank you both so much. So...some states don't require NPIP testing. What states do? As for the ones that don't, do they require something instead of the NPIP testing?

 

[I Love Layers]

I am not sure which states require NPIP and which don't. I feel like California is one that does not require it

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
if you are not in NPIP you can go ahead and take the birds to the vet and get a USDA health certificate for each bird ,just like if you were shipping a puppy or kitten. I've done that and it worked out great.
Karen

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Wow! This is all great info, thank you both so much. So...some states don't require NPIP testing. What states do? As for the ones that don't, do they require something instead of the NPIP testing?

I live in New Mexico, and have never had problems shipping, no questions about being NPIP certified, or anything else, other than the bird must be healthy, and the box must have filters over the air holes. So I am assuming at least that here, you don't need any certificates of any kind for shipping. Have a great day and God Bless!

 

[3riverschick]

The filters over the holes of the "boxes for birds " boxes are removable and replaceable with new filters which "boxes for Birds " sells.
Karen

 

[diamondsilkies]

Thanks everyone! This is great, sounds like as long as I have a vet qualification and don't ship to Hawaii or Alaska (which I wasn't planning to anyways), I should be OK. I can't get a vet certification for eggs, though, right? Do I need any certification for those or no? Again, thank you all for your help! This can be a confusing topic...

 

[3riverschick]

No, you do not need a health certification or NPIP or anything for eggs. just ship them anywhere you want to.
Best,
Karen