Unofficial Poll: Have you Received Chicks Lately and Are they OK?

[Ruthster55]

I have seen one or two reports in Twitter about shipments of baby chicks being DOA recently.

Obviously, this is not peak chick season, but some people still order at this time. I included a poll to see whether anyone has had any problems. Please reply IF you have had problems....

 

[BudgieKing15]

I just ordered some chicks. Fingers crossed that they will be ok

 

[Big_Matt]

Just received 8 new chicks from Meyer. Shipped on Monday and in a tote in the garage by Tuesday afternoon. No problems and all seem to be thriving.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Shipping is sketchy right now. Just ordered a female button quail and had a CRAZY complicated experience but she was fine. A little lethargic and seemed to have a minor head injury but is now 100% better in my humble opinion. Deer Run Farms has temporarily stopped shipping eggs (and maybe chicks??) for the time being bc of multiple costumers bad experiences

 

[Ruthster55]

Worrying report out of Maine from a small farm that raises meat chickens:

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/08...s-costing-maine-farmers-thousands-of-dollars/

There are no hatcheries in Maine.

 

[Parront]

I got ducklings Friday from Iowa -- they sent 2 extras. So 17 total, 5 were DOA, 12 happy ducklings survive. The shipping time was normal, I think it was too hot. The dead were all on one side of the 2-section box, and the green gel was not even touched.

 

[trescloudy]

15 New Hampshire chicks coming from freedom ranger hatchery Friday the 11th. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[trescloudy]

I know the post office hates dealing with chicks. I think they actually shake the boxes sometimes to harm the chicks so we dont order again. The old postmaster used to bitch at me for ordering chicks and ask questions like... "how many times a year do you need to order chicks?" Or, "Can you please come pick up your noisy chicks?" They keep them in the air conditioned room and if they decide to deliver them the constant stop and go driving involved with postal delivery is ridiculously dangerous for day old chicks. I always instruct that I pick up my birds at the office. Definitely the best way. Postal workers are dumb as a stump about chicks....

 

[Jeanw]

I know the post office hates dealing with chicks. I think they actually shake the boxes sometimes to harm the chicks so we dont order again. The old postmaster used to bitch at me for ordering chicks and ask questions like... "how many times a year do you need to order chicks?" Or, "Can you please come pick up your noisy chicks?" They keep them in the air conditioned room and if they decide to deliver them the constant stop and go driving involved with postal delivery is ridiculously dangerous for day old chicks. I always instruct that I pick up my birds at the office. Definitely the best way. Postal workers are dumb as a stump about chicks....

I agree, ordered in late March 2019, granted it was very cold but the PO kept the chicks in the box in unheated room for 1 day before they called me to get them. I lost 7 out of 10, I assume the chicks could not handle the careless handling and Ice cold conditions by people that could care less about living animals. I will not order through mail again. The Hatchery credited me for the lost chicks.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I have received 4 batches of chicks this summer from four different hatcheries. Two since July 1st. I had ZERO DOA, and less than five that failed to thrive out of about 75. My post office has been helpful and prompt each and every time. I think it is greatly determined by how taxed/apathetic your local postal workers are. My state is connected to Maine, so even regional anecdotes or random twitter posts are not very reliable imo. Each situation and local postal service is different.