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!

 

[peggythechicken]

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.

they are pullets actually. 15-20week olds. thank you for the advice i will call the post office today

 

[peggythechicken]

thank you @Debbie292d and @BigBlueHen53 for your comforting and helpful replies! I am happy to report that this was just a false alarm! USPS didn't estimate the delivery right at all because i got my girls at 1pm! LESS THAN 24 HOURS! Montana to east coast how amazing! While i am not pleased to be wearing the freak-out-for-nothing queen crown i am so glad my worry was for nothing and thank you @backyardchickens for providing this platform!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Congrats!
They do tend to estimate later than it often takes, and sometimes ship too quick to update (*was going to mention this earlier, but didn't want to cause stress or jinx it)

Well, I've only ordered chicks once. Know others who have ordered chicks a few times if they couldn't get any locally
Don't know anybody who ordered older birds. Do they provide a gel food and/or a wet foods?

 

[peggythechicken]

Congrats!
They do tend to estimate later than it often takes, and sometimes ship too quick to update (*was going to mention this earlier, but didn't want to cause stress or jinx it)

Well, I've only ordered chicks once. Know others who have ordered chicks a few times if they couldn't get any locally
Don't know anybody who ordered older birds. Do they provide a gel food and/or a wet foods?

Haha thank you for the jinx caution! I usually order from heritage pullets because my kid is too young for me to have chicks in the house (kid is a tornado lol) they put apple slices in the boxes with them which seems to do the trick. Im so happy it all worked out this time. And glad youve had a good experience too! there is so mu h stress in mailing live animals im glad there are successes too!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

❤

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Translation: I'm very happy for you. Thank you for the update. Please keep us posted. We love pictures. And don't worry about the Freakout Queen crown, it moves from head to head VERY rapidly around here, lol!
It's part and parcel of being a Chicken Tender. Welcome to the Club!

 

[peggythechicken]

Translation: I'm very happy for you. Thank you for the update. Please keep us posted. We love pictures. And don't worry about the Freakout Queen crown, it moves from head to head VERY rapidly around here, lol!
It's part and parcel of being a Chicken Tender. Welcome to the Club!

lmao thank you so much!!!