Venting....Got my hatchery chicks today...

[huckleberryfarm]

How awful! I'm so sorry. I have had two shipments but from private breeders and only one fatality. Just got trampled I think. I hate you have to go through this.

 

[chubbydog811]

Thanks everyone!
I know I'm not the only one who has had to deal with this, it just sucks so much!
Just got home, and I'm not looking foward to going up and checking on them...
The lady I talked to yesterday was very pleasant to deal with, it just frustrating that the first time I order from them, I lose almost all of them. Last year I ordered 30 Bantams, and lost one in the order.

Anyway, I guess I should go check them now...Hopefully no more dead ones!

 

[claud]

That stinks. I've ordered from McMurray and all survived and thrived. I would never have chicks shipped in Feb. though - especially in the upper half of the country.
Maybe a later shipment would be better.

 

[SteveH]

Quote:
Sorry for your losses on an already bad week . I wondered about mixing an order of large and bantam chicks and now I know its not a great idea . I do hope that you get your next shipment in great shape , as I'm sure most shipments generally arrive . I also hope that those making an effort to stop the shipment of chicks by mail are not saving posts like this thread in a file to bolster their campaign , but that's probably the case .

 

[chubbydog811]

Well, no more dead chicks luckily! I made a call to the hatchery already, and they said they are going to ship them out again on Saturday...to arrive Tuesday??

That seems like a box of dead chicks waiting to happen again to me, but who knows...If it doesnt work out this time, I'm just going to get a refund and get them somewhere else...

They also said they were going to pack them with redstars and leghorns...Which works out great, because I need a new leghorn rooster!


And I had never thought about the bantam/standard thing either...I see why most hatcheries dont mix! I honestly think that was most of the problem - the large ones squished the little ones...I hope that the peanuts dont squish them too though...Though the leghorns are pretty small when they hatch...

Here's to hoping for live chicks!

 

[Turner]

I had posted in another area but I got my order from MM yesterday - I had BLRW's, Cochin, Cuckoo Maran and as far as banties EE,Porcelain,Japanese, Quail D was supposed to be a total of 28 + mystery chick and they added another EE. Well went to PO, guy brings box out and not a peep,,,,,,,I knew they were all dead. Got home decided to check each one, 1st there were only 28 in box...missing 2 EE. Anyway I took each one out and it broke my heart but I found two BLRW that looked dead but were not. I warmed them up in my hands and they started to come around. Today they are better,,,still a bit weak but eating and drinking - may still not make it but I have my fingers crossed. They are getting intensive care - we will see. I called MM and I am getting the same order again shipping Sat,,no holiday contend with. I have gotten chicks this time of year from them before with no problems! If it happens again I will get a refund and order closer to home! Good Luck to everyone who is having a problem.

 

[chubbydog811]

That's horrible! Luckily that wasnt the case for mine...I would be absolutely devistated if I went and picked up a quiest box!
I ended up losing all of my bantams, and 4 SLW...I think those are it..The 5 BR's, 3 BO's, and 1 SLW looks great. They are all bouncing around the brooder, and look pretty healthy...

Though I was talking to a friend the other day who made me debate cancelling the order and going somewhere else - I this happened with his sister's order of bantams, but when they sent out replacments, the packing peanuts squished the bantams instead!! I'm almost expecting yet another bad box...

In that case, I am going to get a refund and go back to Welp. I now see why they say they dont send mixed boxes! I by far would rather have a box of 30 bantam chicks, to a box full of dead mixed sizes...

Anyway, I'll update once I get the next order! I really wish they would replace the free chick too, but I guess I cant ask for too much!!

I'll post pictures of the chicks that are left a little later!

 

[HBuehler]

My MM order this year had 5 DOA within hours 13 were dead out of 26..that exotic chick was nothing more than an EE and I'm sure a roo so wish they had just kept it.
I also lost every chick that was the reason I ordered from them anyways..so in order not to receive a bunch of roos I had to place another order for 25 more chicks to be shipped now in March.I have plenty of roos hatching out here for my freezer without shipping any but they are charging me shipping on all 25 and 13 are replacement chicks-should be half price shipping.So this time I ordered more of my have to haves than I need in hopes some will come alive.
Mine were shipped on Sat and arrived on a Tues just a day after a severe snow storm so they were in it the entire time below freezing temps-roads so bad we could hardly make it to the PO with 4x4 and yes they were 4 days old that sure didn't help.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:
I ordered (50) chicks and received 53 and all are still alive from Mcmurrays this year (13 days old now).

I had 34 White Leghorns in my order and they were the biggest chicks out of the bunch (bigger than all the cochins, New Hamshire Red, etc.). It dawned on me that the size of the chick is based on the size of the egg, not their final size.

If I were you I'd contact my local PO and see if they will give you the phone number for your Distribution Center (or call for you). I was able to pick mine up last year and this year at my PO Distibution Center and saved the chicks ALOT of time in transit that way (i.e. you would likely be able to pick them up at your DC on Sunday instead of the chicks having to wait till Monday delivery to the loca PO).

It seems there are a lot more problems with Bantams dying in transit than standard breeds. Poor little guys...

 

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:
They sent your chicks out on Sunday because of the holiday Monday. The chicks likely sat in their box an extra day at the PO DC Monday before they were delivered Tuesday.

This next shipment should be shipped on Saturday and should be at your local PO no later than Monday A.M. (but you might be able to pick them up Sunday A.M at the DC).

Mine were shipped this month on Feb. 6th, and I picked them up late in the evening on Feb. 6th. I think the short (less than 12 hours) shipping time is the main reason I have lost no chicks out of this order....

Anyways... Monday, not Tuesday is when the replacement chicks should be in at your local PO.