usps live bird delay NEED ADVICE!

[peggythechicken]

so i have a few pullets being shipped to me from montana to the east coast and last time there was a 2 day delivery in priority mail. now usps says that the expected deliver
is 9pm on saturday. they were boxed and shipped out today (tuesday afternoonish). Will they be ok? what does this change in terms of care upon arrival. should i pester usps on the phone to see if they can get my birds here sooner. i feel totally rotten forgetting that usps is so much busier in december than in november like my order last year and feel very at fault for all the stress these girls are going to have in transit that long! please tell me what to do, think, prepare?

 

[Debbie292d]

Are these day olds or older chicks?

If day olds, usually those are shipped the day they hatch, so they don't need food/water for 72 hours.

I would get some Save-A-Chick or electrolytes or something on that order for them. Give them fresh water though first. They will be thirsty.

The only other thing you could do is call your local USPS and ask them to call you the moment they arrive so you can go get them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I can save a day of shipment by having mine sent "General Delivery" to the post office the next town over from me, 30 miles away, and make sure my phone number is on the box. They call me first thing when the chicks arrive and I make a mad dash to go get them. Otherwise they would not get to MY local PO till the following day and many would not survive.

I realize your birds are in transit and this info won't help you this time, I'm sorry. But if there's any way you can get them intercepted along the way and pick them up a day early, I think you should try to do that. Good luck!