United States Postal Service

[gilbert2]

Miss L, my carrier isn't even involved, since the delivery is not even made to me. It is structured so the customer goes to the post office to collect the box. A postal employee calls the customer when the box arrives at his station.
It is far from ideal, but that's life.
Be assured that I have already talked to three station managers (really blaming them!) and alerted them to the second delivery. And I will follow up next week.
If I have even a hint of a problem, I am going to write the Postmaster General's Office in Washington D.C. with the whole sordid tale. I will make it known (including names) how our fine postal system is failing me! Who knows? Maybe a head or two will roll--or at least get a criticism. I'm hoping to not have to do it, but I am prepared, if need be.

 

[gilbert2]

Oh, forgot to say--the three live ones are just as perky as can be! They are drinking, eating, and running around.

 

[littlecollier]

So happy to hear the remaining three are doing well. My condolences for the other three, I would have cried, too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd would have cried too I just don't understand how people can be so careless.

gilbert mine weren't delivered here to my home I had to go pick them up but I was such a nervous ninny about it all I figured If I talked to him and gave him the info maybe he'd be on the look out too [our mail carrier has chickens] he's an awesome guy.

 

[gilbert2]

Guys and gals, here are some pix of my new babies.

Below: Black Swedish

Below: Cayuga, Swede, Golden 300:

The reddish cast is from the heat lamp, which they seem to love. They have already adjusted to their new home, and spent the entire last hour preening! This is a great sign.
Friends, thank you for supporting me in my tough time.
Gil

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are so precious even more so because of their ordeal they had to go through a miracle they made it.
Can I make a suggestion I'd get them off the slippery paper or what ever that is they are on, Old towels that can be shook out and washed are good or that rubber shelving stuff is also good to give them traction. Don't want any leg troubles.
After a couple weeks they can be on the large shaving that are horse bedding by then they will know food from shaving.

So glad you have the 3 lil ones!

 

[learycow]

Glad they are doing ok. Unfortunately, USPS is the only carrier service that will ship live birds.
For the most part, they do a great job. They go through MANY hands no matter where they travel to. I've sent shipments to Alaska, California, Washington, etc (and I'm in Maine!) without issues. Yet going from Maine to Missouri they decided to hold a couple shipments an extra day for no good reason. It really just depends on who is working and who they get handed off to.
As a shipper, I now plan for a mishap. Extra food is always put in the box if traveling outside of New England. Extra bedding and I have a minimum for warmth. Plan for the worst that way they are as prepared for it as you can make them.

And sadly filing complaints rarely gets anyone fired and rarely changes their attitude about the whole thing. I just sent some from maine to Mass, literally a 3 hour drive. The postal worker left them OUTSIDE overnight in 30 degree weather. And left them at a tractor supply store with their shipment rather than the Post office or calling the name on the box! Luckily, the tractor supply employee found them and brought them in to put under heat. Then called the guy who's name and number was on the box so they were all ok. But that was nothing but laziness and carelessness that could've killed those innocent babies. Some postal workers simply don't care, and usually aren't reprimanded for that type of behavior.

 

[gilbert2]

Thanks for the info. Best of luck to you, as a shipper!

 

[gilbert2]

Good morning, campers! For the replacement ducklings that Metzer sent, here's how it went: Ducks left on Monday, arrived at my post office on Wed morning!! I got a call from my local post office at 6:30 this morning, to go pick up my box.
Getting home, I opened the box and saw that all three were in PERFECT condition! Now they are in their little pen (a horse watering bowl), and happy as anything.
I thought it was not advisable to put them in with the week-olds, since their sizes are greatly different, besides, the week old ducks might be territorial, and attack the babies. So I will wait until a future date to mix them together.
In another day or two, the babies will go for a swim! Happy days. And another sincere thanks to all of you, who supported me through a hard time.

Below: Babies on the left, week-olds on the right

The new babies

They are: Pekin female (rear), Welsh Harlequin female (left), Khaki Campbell female.