Should I cancel this order?

[kar0427]

Not sure how they'll handle it at this point. No one saw this coming but it looks like we're definitely in the winter storm path and Kentucky doesn't handle snow and below zero well. It tends to cripple roadways. In googling, I did see where Meyer posted on their FB page last year in January that they were offering people a choice to not ship due to extreme weather, but that was on their end and they probably couldn't get around (Level 3 snow).
As close as they are I wasn't too concerned about 30s and 40s but 7 degrees below zero while in transit (both Ohio and Ky) seems like certain doom for a box of chicks.

 

[Fluffnpuff]

I ordered 15 chicks - 5 each of Australorp, Oprington and Barred Rock to meet the minimum - from Meyers last month. February 17 was the first available shipping date and with the weather being decently mild for winter (and my impatience), I chose that date. I think it was 54 degrees the day I ordered and I foolishly felt "springy".
Now they're 2 days away from shipping, the weather when shipped will be below zero between Ohio and Kentucky, there's a winter storm warning of 6-12 inches starting tonight, and my impatience has turned into dread/fear.
Do they know what they're doing with shipping at the hatchery, or do I use my common sense to think there is no way they can survive given the weather and road conditions? I hate to lose the money (policy is no cancellations 2 weeks before hatch?) but there could absolutely not have been a worse time for shipping to this area and I will be kicking myself for weeks for the choice of dates if they suffer for it.

Here's my 2 cents. They are unlikely to refund your money so the amount you paid is gonna be gone from your bank account no matter what you decide. From a purely financial perspective, it would make more sense to pick up the box of chicks even if many of them will die. That way you may at least get a few live chicks for your money. I know there is a morality perspective on purposely doing something that will cause pointless animal fatalities, but i'm not entirely sure the hatchery would keep them alive anyway after the cancelation. There is a short window after hatching that baby chicks can be mailed. The nutrients they get from the yolk can only last so many days. Unless the hatchery can find a new buyer, in a warmer part of the country on very short notice, they may decide to cull them. Maybe someone more knowledgeable about hatchery protocol can answer that question.

If you do decide to pick them up, here are some few tips to increase their odds. Arrive at the post office as early as possible. My post office lets people picking up baby poultry to go around back between 5:00-6:00 am. Pick them up asap, have the heater in your vehicle running full blast, and have a heat lamp ready to go when you get back home.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I had the same thing happen to me last year Texas to south Dakota in January -20°F. Ideal sends "packing peanuts" I believe I had 20 chicks and 4 ducks and lost one duck and three chicks. You may be able to add a surplus male special or some other assortment or opt to upgrade your shipping with a heat pack. Good luck.

Eta: I personally didn't care for the quality of their stock and I'm making no recommendations. Simply sharing my experience.

 

[kmartinez]

I ordered mine the 1st week in FEB on a Friday, now I wasn't thinking to well I will add we had a good week of nice weather in the 50's Monday they shipped Tuesday night omg it got so cold well below freezing in the single digits the wind would cut through you. It snowed Tuesday night i was panicking now afraid they were doomed. However wed morning when i got that box my teenager held it up to the cars heater vent. It was cold but i am sure it was colder in Michigan where they came from. I did not even think of how cold it was up there until our weather went sour while they were in transport. Anyway they all made the shipment.

I have not ordered from Meyer I went with another hatchery because of reviews..It is going to be cold. As i read another posters post I do recall even the hatchery I used did not carry chicks over a day old. So they might be right in if you don't proceed they might be culled..If that is the case i would just go for it and make sure u get their tracking number asap and call ur PO to let them know they are coming. My PO was watching for them and even had backup cell numbers just encase. I was allowed to pick them up before the PO actually opened I got called around 6 am to come and get them.

 

[farnorth]

I doubt they have to cull pullet chicks. I think they have local buyers who can pick up right there or they might add them as packing peanuts to another buyer.and they do grow and sell older started pullets and could put them into that program......so I'm pretty sure they would not have to cull them.


Seems rather wasteful to order chicks in cold weather and then watch them fade and die after arriving.... when it's not going to hurt anyone to wait for warmer weather.....


Please let us know what they say.

 

[kar0427]

I talked to Meyer and did cancel the order. At this point, I don't think I could get out of my driveway to the road to pick them up (snow) regardless of the temperature. They were great, refunded the order price since they wouldn't be able to ship the Australorps until June and those were the ones I really wanted in the order. With my weather luck, it would be 90 degrees here in June and I'd have to worry about heat.
I do feel very relieved and know I'll have a much better chance with shipping around April, but now I'm chickless for the duration and have to figure out another route for ordering. Better than watching chicks slowly die, though!

 

[song of joy]

I doubt they have to cull pullet chicks. I think they have local buyers who can pick up right there or they might add them as packing peanuts to another buyer.and they do grow and sell older started pullets and could put them into that program......so I'm pretty sure they would not have to cull them.


Seems rather wasteful to order chicks in cold weather and then watch them fade and die after arriving.... when it's not going to hurt anyone to wait for warmer weather.....


Please let us know what they say.

I agree. It's highly unlikely that pullet chicks would end up being culled. They usually end up hatching a few more chicks than are ordered, as they don't want to over-estimate their hatch rate and be short on pre-ordered chicks. These chicks are offered for sale the morning of the hatch, and are often snatched up right away. That's how I've been able to get some rare breeds from Meyer during the height of the hatching season - they hatched a few more than anticipated, posted them the morning of the hatch, and they were bought up rapidly.

 

[song of joy]

I talked to Meyer and did cancel the order. At this point, I don't think I could get out of my driveway to the road to pick them up (snow) regardless of the temperature. They were great, refunded the order price since they wouldn't be able to ship the Australorps until June and those were the ones I really wanted in the order. With my weather luck, it would be 90 degrees here in June and I'd have to worry about heat.
I do feel very relieved and know I'll have a much better chance with shipping around April, but now I'm chickless for the duration and have to figure out another route for ordering. Better than watching chicks slowly die, though!

There is a plus to June orders. You can move them outside much sooner and avoid the chick dust! I moved 2-week old chicks into my small outside coop in late June last year.

I'm glad you were able to work this out, and wish you the very best!

 

[kyexotics]

We're in Elizabethtown and we're at 12" and counting...

 

[kar0427]

We're in Elizabethtown and we're at 12" and counting...

I'm not sure what we've gotten here. A lot of snow, lol! It's beautiful but I don't know when I'm going to be able to get down to the road again.