THEY HAVE SHIPPED!

[SMonroe1990]

Thanks holm. Kattington, that was my plan after I bought my first 6 girls (I had to put one down because her cross beak was too severe). I figured I would wait until next year and then go to the feed store and pick out 6 more. After reading all the posts on here and having to put the one down, chicken math struck and I had to get more chicks because one died. I almost ordered 7 instead of 6 but the DH stopped me. Hopefully the shipping cost is enough that you can hold out until next year. I have found so far that all my EEs are super friendly. I open the coop door and they greet me, and then they all try to run out. Good luck and make sure you post pictures of your babies when they show up.

 

[leahlefler]

Our chicks shipped today, too! So anxious for them (we lost all of our last shipment last week, so this is a replacement from Meyer). I am so worried, I keep checking the tracking number! We are getting 2 barred rocks, 2 buff orpingtons, and a Meyer meal maker.

 

[SMonroe1990]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully this time around they make it for you. If they don't what does Meyer do after that? A refund? How long did they take to get to you? I think if mine don't make it I'm just going to take a refund and then get more next year from my local feed store, possibly add a couple onto someone elses order so I get what I want. I am sending thoughts your way hoping for safe arrival of baby chicks.

You'll have to let me know how the orpingtons turn out. I was thinking about getting one, but up until I actually placed the order I changed my mind about every other minute. And of course pictures when they arrive!

 

[leahlefler]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully this time around they make it for you. If they don't what does Meyer do after that? A refund? How long did they take to get to you? I think if mine don't make it I'm just going to take a refund and then get more next year from my local feed store, possibly add a couple onto someone elses order so I get what I want. I am sending thoughts your way hoping for safe arrival of baby chicks.

You'll have to let me know how the orpingtons turn out. I was thinking about getting one, but up until I actually placed the order I changed my mind about every other minute. And of course pictures when they arrive!

I don't know what I'll do if they don't make it this time. I am absolutely beside myself. I think I'll get a refund and ask a feed supply store to order me some chicks. Last week, they only took overnight to get here. They shipped on Monday and were in at our local post office by 11:50 am on Tuesday. I ran down to pick them up immediately. Three were DOA and the fourth was alive, but died 12 hours later. I have the brooder set up and ready for them, along with Sav-a-Chick and probiotics. I just hope these ones arrive alive!

My best guess is that they were mishandled by the post office - either left in a hot truck or placed under air conditioning. The way the fourth one wobbled around for several hours before she passed makes me think it was more of a heat-stroke situation.

 

[SMonroe1990]

Yeah, I've read so many things on the internet about the post office not being considerate with them. There was even one member on here who had the post office lose her peafowl! I hope they make it there okay. I think if any of mine arrive DOA I'm just going to get a refund. I think a lot of it has to do with shipping in numbers also. Who knows. Still sending thoughts your way for safe chickie travels!

 

[Xiao Casa]

Oh, I just ordered chicks today also from Meyers! 2 buff orpingtons, 2 barred rocks, and 2 Easter Eggers! I'm so excited but now that they are shipping in 10 days I'm thinking hard about how to brood them and what to feed them... I know that a trip to the feed store will clear up all the indecision, but what do you guys think about Sav a chick? How necessary is it?

 

[SMonroe1990]

This is my first time ordering chicks so I'm not really sure about that.. From what I've read it doesn't hurt to have some on hand, but then I believe I also read somewhere that some people add a little bit of sugar to the water to give the chicks pep. I know I don't have any of the sav a chick and I'm going to try the sugar water if it looks like they need it. The not so fun part is worrying about where they are and constantly checking the tracking number to see whats been going on with them. If you don't have a brooder container yet can I recommend a large rubber maid container. It is easier to clean out then a box and as the chicks get older and start knocking over their water it comes in really handy when everything wants to clump to the bottom. I learned the hard way with that with my first five girls. Within about three weeks one corner of the box was already going soggy and I had to switch to something else. As for what to feed them I'm not going to comment on that, everyone has their own personal opinion about what is best for food and what isn't. And as far as the light goes some people swear by the red bulbs and some people do fine with the white ones. I guess the red just makes it easier for them to sleep at night and so the others dont notice a visible wound and peck the poor chick to death. I will warn you it seems like EEs feather out fast. Or at the very least my five did. I have only had them for about five weeks before they were fully feathered and I put them out into their coop in the middle of their sixth week. I believe they were only a couple days old when we got them too.

Here are my beautiful EEs (Not Meyers birds that I know of)


Of course the white one is sitting on top of one of the others. The one underneath the white is a really pretty reddish color with black.

 

[Xiao Casa]

I gotta say, I love that pretty black and gray one! I'd love one like that, but at the same time, I'd feel sorry for a black bird in this hot, hot state.

 

[SMonroe1990]

She was actually the only black chick in the bin at the feed store we bought them from, same with the white one in the back. The white one I fear might be a roo though. Anyways post pictures of your babies when they arrive. I'm hoping everyone else who has commented on this thread about where they ordered from will post pictures with a review of the hatchery.

 

[Xiao Casa]

If they arrive live and in good health, I'll be snapping dozens and dozens of pictures, and will certainly post some here!