Well my chicks arrived today some dead...

[ryanroth]

If you have them delivered to the distribution center, there are people there 7 days a week. I called mine before I placed the order and they assured me they would call at least once. When they did call, the PO employee said "this is the distribution center, we can put these chicks onto the truck to go to your local PO, but they will get cold and probably die, would you like to come pick them up" Most states have multiple major distribution centers. I can not say they will call, but it won't hurt to call when you place the order. There were 5 other boxes when I picked mine up. Mine was the only one that did not have dead chicks. They all originated from MM. They all went through the same shipping process. Some are destined to die regardless.

Also, just got off of the USPS website and I can not find this so called weather rule everyone is talking about. Under special handling of live animals they leave it up to the shipper...

 

[asher]

Quote:
Let me see if I can find it. I know it exists because every time I have shipped birds, they have had to call the airline to ask if the weather would be correct for shipping live birds.

ETA: Maybe it's not USPS, but the airline that regulates that?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm so sorry you lost so many. I hope the others get well and make it.

 

[Bullwinkle]

I have done what RyanRoth said last year and this year. Contact your local PO and get the phone number (or as in my case the PO was contacted the Distribution Center for Me) and get the DC to call you when the chicks come in.
Mine spent less than 12 hours in transit (shipped this last saturday) and I was able to pick them up Saturday about 9:30 p.m. or so. The little gals would have spent an extra 32 hours or so in their box if I had not done so.

Contact your PO Distribution Center and pick them up there!!

 

[ryanroth]

Quote:
I can not take credit for this. McMurray actually recommended it when I told them I lived in the middle of nowhere...

 

[ejcimd]

This was my first time ordering hatchery chicks. I've raised chickens off and on over the years but any chicks were one's hatched naturally from our hens. Back in 2005 we got rid of the few we had left to my niece and some of those are still alive and laying eggs so I did something right there.

I asked the hatchery extensively regarding how they would fair in the weather. Was reassured that they ship chicks all the time and rarely is there an issue. Yes in hindsight maybe I should have waited but a newb to ordering chicks I figured if they said it wasn't an issue then who am I to question them.

I already feel sad about losing so many and now dumb as well.

 

[Gonzo]

I'm so sorry, It's hard to lose them, especially so little. Hopfully they'll replace them.

 

[CTChickenMom]

Quote:
Our local office isn't open either but the bigger hubs always have some people working. Someone has to keep the mail moving!

 

[kcsunshine]

Our tv was on a few days ago and I happened to look up from my reading and there were thousands of little fluffy yellow chicks just hatching and people were grabbing then and throwing them on a conveyer. They rode along and some would fall through these slats. It was horrible. If this is the way hatcheries work, I never want a hatchery chick. I don't know what kind of program is was or even what station, but it made me hurt. I think they were just culling the roosters on the spot. I was sick.

 

[sepiolida]

There's an episode of dirty jobs that goes behind the scenes at MM and it is pretty brutal. The sexer was literally tossing them by the wing into one of 2 boxes. It can't be pleasant for them, but if it was seriously harmful of injured a lot of them they wouldn't get repeat business. They also wouldn't be able to process so many orders if they were as nice to the chicks as we like to pretend they are. Sorry if that sounds heartless.

And yes, they do grind up the male chickens to make fertilizer.

I've seen footage of commercial hatcheries for factory farm laying chickens where they don't care what condition the chicks are in. It's much much worse. Especially the de-beaking machine.

DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK!!! There, you've been warned.

Also, give yourself a big pat on the back for raising your own eggs. You've done well.