Well my chicks arrived today some dead...

[Gonzo]

Alot of people order chicks in the winter months with no problems. I don't think we need to be so judgemental. We're here to help.... not hurt.
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Why would anyone order chicks in winter?????? I wouldn't even order eggs, just common sense.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

gonzo&hispeeps :

Alot of people order chicks in the winter months with no problems. I don't think we need to be so judgemental. We're here to help.... not hurt.
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Why would anyone order chicks in winter?????? I wouldn't even order eggs, just common sense.
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Ditto....Hatching my own until Spring!

 

[CTChickenMom]

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We have to remember too, to keep things in context. I think 99.9% of people would be appalled at that video, I've watched it too and it was sick. For us in our daily living, that kind of treatment is horrific but we have to remember, it is nearly impossible for hatcheries to home the thousands of roos born on any give day. What is the alternative? If we all ordered straight run, there would be less needing to be dispatched. Many hatcheries don't offer sexed chicks just for this reason, no sexing, minimal need for culling.

As soon as we take the culling out of its context, away from it's purpose, it becomes a horrific thing. We need to remember, they are culling because most customers want just pullets, something has to give. You can buy males for meat, raise your own chicks, buy straight run, or not order from hatcheries but however you look at it, there is a need for the culling just as its sometimes necessary in our own flocks. I don't like it any better than anyone else but it does have its purpose, hatcheries just do it on a much larger scale than the average chicken owner.

(Debeaking is terrible, for me there is NO excuse for that!)

 

[Chickenaddict]

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Keep contacting MM and let them know the death toll everyday. They are very good at giving your money back on the losses but you need to keep them updated.

5 yrs ago I ordered (my first chicks) from them. I had everything prepared for their arrival and waited patiently for the call from the PO. I believe they were in shipping for at least 2 days. Over the course of 2 weeks we lost 27 out of the 52 they shipped. It was devistating! Especially being it was our first time with them. We called mcmurray everyday to keep them posted on how many we lost day after day. They did pay us back for the losses but you can't put a price on the emotional aspect of it. I have never ordered from them again. Thats just my personal prefference, I understand lots of folks have good luck with them ect but the whole experience was farr too painful for me and the chicks that lost their lives. No one can tell me that 27 chicks "failed to thrive". I don't buy it.

I wish you and the remaining chicks the best of luck and hope they continue to thrive.

 

[dutchhollow]

I have ordered from MM many times with no problems. They hatch sat am and leave there sat pretty late, are on flights Sat. night and sunday and most times get to po's very early Monday morning. The problem isn't with shipping on Sat. it is with freezing or below freezing weather. It only takes one careless worker to leave them on the tarmac somewhere to put them at risk. If you want to open a can of worms about shipping chicks, there will probably only be about 2 months out of the year where it isn't too hot or too cold!

 

[dwegg]

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What the..!!!!? Oh My God! I knew it was bad at hatcheries but really! It just helps me know what I believe is right! Those poor animals...

 

[Turner]

I have gotten many chicks from MM - this time of year. No problems. My P.O. calls me Sunday a.m. to pick up..as soon as they get home I make sure they drink the water with Quik Chick and they get Grow Gel plus then on to the chick starter etc. I always watch the weather from Iowa east to see if there will be a problem with the airlines etc. to my destination which is NE Ohio. Sorry for your losses.

 

[ejcimd]

Thank you to everyone for your support yesterday. I will definitely be calling MM, when I spoke with them yesterday I was advised to call back on Wednesday with a head count then. I had lost 15 when I called yesterday and I have lost more since.

The temperature is set correct, they have crumbles and slurry feed to choose from (maybe over doing it) but after the last 24 hours, I am not risking hunger to take anymore. I’ve had maybe 4 hours of sleep and honestly at three this morning as I lay there hand feeding the weaker ones I decided I’ll ask to be refunded, because the numbers lost are substantial and being in Maine I’d rather see if I can pick up some day olds locally then risk deaths to the weather again.

I really love the older breeds that are on the (SLBC?) lists, preferably ones known for pleasing temperaments. I only lost one Buff Orpington. Fairly certain all my Speckled Sussex passed and a great number of Buttercups along with half of my Dorkings. Not certain about my EE’s at this point maybe I can figure it out tonight.

Thank you for being fellow chick people…

Irene

 

[Sweetfolly]

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That's exactly what I was thinking. I've only ever had ducklings shipped to me on Mondays and Tuesdays, and they've arrived by Wednesday or Thursday.

Anyways, unless you live very close to the hatchery you're getting birds from, you're lucky not to experience any losses. I got ducklings from a farm just a 4 hour drive away from me last August, and even with the nice weather and short trip through the mail, I lost 2 out of 12. One was dead on arrival (it looked like he got trampled into a corner; the box was probably tipped to one side for too long), and the other didn't make it more than four hours after we got it home.

I'm expecting new ducklings from Holderread's this spring, and I'm terrified about the trip from Oregon all the way to Wisconsin - but I've heard really good things about people who have received Holderread's ducklings with little or no losses all the way on the east coast, so I'm being optimistic.

I'm sorry for your losses.

 

[Keri78]

Hang in there!

If you ever order again just do it during the summer...I'm really nervous too this will be my first winter order and I will never do it this time of year again...just too risky for me! Sorry you had to go through this...

Keri