shipping safety

[nipper75]

has anyone ordered a small batch of chicks? i'm expecting 6 chicks on april 11th and paid xtra for heating pads. now i'm wordering if that's good enough???? i'm starting to get worried....

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Yes, I ordered 6 chicks who are now 2 1/2 weeks old. I live across the country from where they were shipped (My Pet Chicken). I was worried about them as well because we still had snow at that time. They were all healthy when they arrived and the heating packets were still warm. They had put grow gel in with them as well. The post office distribution center called me as soon as they arrived. I have another order of 12 coming next week. The wait is the most difficult part of raising chicks, so try not to worry! Good luck with your new little ones.

They will be here before you know it!

 

[yoie]

My 8 chicks are in route as we speak, I'll let you know how they all turn out!

 

[nipper75]

Thanks for the feedback and calming me down a bit. Please let me know how it all turns out!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

They will be tired and thirsty when they arrive. I turned on my brooder light when I left to pick them up. I made sure that every chick drank water by dipping their beaks into it. Then I left them alone for a while because most of them crashed under the light.

I checked for pasty butt the first couple of days and some did have poop stuck around their vent, but not blocking it. I did not give them sugar water the first day, but added less than 1/4 tsp of electrolytes to their quart of water. They never did look or act like they were ill (other than when they were asleep. My husband kept poking them because he was sure they were dead).

They are all doing great and I can't believe the amount of time I spend watching them.