Transporting Day Old Chicks - questions!

[jendodd79]

Hi everyone!

So our eggs have been put in the incubator, and will be hatching around Sept. 25th. Yay!

I have a couple of questions about transportation of the chicks -

I'm in Canada, and I noticed on the Canada Post website, that they do ship day old chicks, but the breeder mentioned that she would like to ship them via air. The airport close to her doesn't fly to my regional airport, so I'll have to travel a bit to get to the one that does.

It will be about a half hour flight for the chicks, and then I'll have a 1.5 hr rush drive to the ferry, cross my fingers and hope to make it and then a 1.5 hr ferry trip.

How do I make sure that the chicks are happy and comfortable and warm enough during travel?

I know that thousands of chicks get shipped by mail so I'm probably over thinking it!!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chicks live off what they ate in the shell. This can last them up to three days. They will likely be just fine. Once you get them home, they'll be just about ready for food and water. Best wishes.

 

[jendodd79]

Thank you!

So maintaining a high temperature that time isn't crucial? That's my main concern

 

[Fred's Hens]

They will have to tough it out, gaining enough heat from each other. Sometimes the shipper placed a hot pack in the box as well. But the good news is this, it isn't the dead of winter.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, they will be packed in a box and will generate heat on their own. In hot hot areas, they can actually get too warm in a box! I had chicks come alive and well in 30/40F weather 2 days in the mail.

 

[jendodd79]

Thanks all!

 

[Aaron B]

When we came home with our chicks (2 hr. drive), we had them in a box on the front passenger floor with the heat on and the windows down (this was in May).