What percent of chicks arrive at your house dead?

[EggSighted4Life]

I hold off on food for about an hour or two until they warm and drink first

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Thank you for sharing, that's not half bad results! I haven't tried Hoover but I know that's where TSC gets their chicks also.

Huh, never thought about holding off on food as I figured the sooner they're pecking the better. But that is an interesting thought! It's true that hydration is very key and they are unlikely to starve to death in a couple hours... though, the sooner digestion begins... Food for thought You should make a thread about it sometime in the future!

Hope you settle in nicely here, sounds like you will have some adventures to share for sure!

 

[Manda at old mill]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Thank you for sharing, that's not half bad results! I haven't tried Hoover but I know that's where TSC gets their chicks also.

Huh, never thought about holding off on food as I figured the sooner they're pecking the better. But that is an interesting thought! It's true that hydration is very key and they are unlikely to starve to death in a couple hours... though, the sooner digestion begins... Food for thought You should make a thread about it sometime in the future!

Hope you settle in nicely here, sounds like you will have some adventures to share for sure!

Yeah it's been my own method for all three batches I've had and it has worked well as I figure proper digestion cannot occur without proper hydration and digestion takes energy and fluids so I've just always done it that way with success. just my preference to get them drinking first. plus the electrolytes with some salt and sugar should deliver some energy in the interim

thanks for the warm welcome and I look forward to sharing my many adventures...and continue to hope my horses remain good spring guards (my one mare thinks the chickens are hers and will stomp any bird attempting to take one )

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The first time we ordered, we did so from Meyer and ordered months in advance, for delivery at the end of February. The week they shipped we had an unseasonable blizzard and all the chicks arrived dead at the local PO. Meyer sent replacements the following week and the gal at the PO one city over called when they arrived, saving a day in transit, as we rushed over to get them (about 25 miles). I think we lost 3 and Meyer refunded us for them. We had ordered 24, so that was not bad.

So this year we ordered from Cackle which is in our state. It still took three days for them to get here, but the weather was fairly normal - cold but not sub-zeros - and we had no shipping losses, hooray! Three died over the next three days, though, at the rate of one a day. (They had sent three extra so we still ended up with our original order.) They seemed fine and then during the first week or so just grew weak and were dead within a few hours. I watched carefully for PB, cleaned those who had it (one never did), had given warm sugar water, etc.; it was rather mysterious.

I really like @Manda at old mill 's suggestion about hydrating before feeding! Brilliant!

So ... to answer the question ... for us, I think both Meyer and Cackle have good shipping stats. I am certain we would not have lost our first shipment of chicks if the weather had not been totally, outrageously and unpredictably unreasonable. We probably should not order so early.

Edit: changed mid-February to END of February. We got THIS year's chicks mid-Feb, lol.

 

[bruceha2000]

Ive done this in the dead of winter and the heat of summer and I excessively worry each time.

That is a long ride with cheeping unhappy chicks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hey folks.

I know some were shocked at the awful reported numbers for my route..

This year for the first time EVER in this location I got 100% live chicks with NO losses there after. Shipment was Bielefelder from Green Fire Farms. I ordered 10. They sent 2 extra, one of each gender.

Now to be fair.. I did drive 90 minutes each way to pick them up on Friday from Tuesday hatch instead of waiting for them to arrive the following day. They had 2 warming packs UNDER the straw mat and 2 tubs of blue grow gel stuff stapled to the corners of the box...

Aside from being alive.. these were the most content shipped chicks I ever received. They were warm and fed. Nobody was mad or lethargic or cold in any way. And not a single one of them stood around and sucked down water like they were super thirsty.

Plus they sent me 20% off my next order within 30 days.. I thought ya right who can afford that! After a knee jerk reaction to my hubby requesting we move which made me sell off that first shipment of chicks.. which were supposed to be my "2nd" line for breeding (even though I know my Cackle Bielefelder are also ultimately GFF stock several years back... Well, kicking myself for knee jerking I remembered the 20% and went to order more.. only they were sold out of Bielefelder.. sooo... it was difficult to make another selection.. and I went with Lavender Wyandotte's and a few black splits! I'm actually so very excited and feel as though maybe that was meant to be... I never would have considered spending that much, and wasn't too impressed with Wyandotte among my previously huge flock.. but the older ladies in my friends flock really do stand out.. AND how cool to get something that isn't sold at several hatcheries throughout the country and STILL claimed as "rare". Once that starts.. the breed ain't so rare.. but quality.. that's what is.

Hopefully my next shipment will be as successful as the last one.. Maybe conditions will cooperate??? Will try to report back if I'm able to find the thread again.

Oh one funny thing.. my Cackle Bielefelder have started crowing... with their beaks closed! I kinda hope they keep it up.