Your Hoovers story? Spec. Small order experiences and COVID delivery times

[fatcatx]

Hi everyone - I am looking for feedback from people who have either ordered small numbers from Hoover's (15 min order) and/or ordered in the last year during USPS COVID craziness, especially West coast. What were your ship times? Condition of chicks when they arrived?

I want to order from them because they have the breeds I want, but I've read so many sad stories. Also worried about it taking 3 or more days to get to us in CA. Reading some of the DOA stories it seems like many can be attributed to the small number not being able to stay warm + USPS lag times in 2020. Currently I have an April ship date but second guessing whether I should cancel my order, reschedule for summer, or just try another year during better times.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have 18 (plus any packing peanuts They add) coming the first week in march

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Currently I have an April ship date but second guessing whether I should cancel my order, reschedule for summer, or just try another year during better times.

So I'm here in California FAR northwest and have gotten shipments form many hatcheries across the country during Covid.. it has NOT effected my shipping time AT all.. and accidents can happen at any time.. I have had some shipments arrive alive after 4 days.. Heat can be just as deadly as cold.. the hatcheries use body warmth, heat packs, etc to get chicks to you alive.. Some breeds are hardier than others, some varieties of the same breeds are hardier than others!

Get familiar with your route.. most shipments go into SF before getting on the truck to head north up the 101.. Express shipping NEVER arrives sooner than priority at MY location.. My city only gets a couple morning trucks.. the ones that leave SF around midnight. But Eureka, 90 miles south gets an afternoon truck. They always call me if chicks arrive to see if I want to come pick them up that day 1 pm ish and if not they'll put them on the truck that arrives here at 6 AM the following day.. which would make it day 3 for chicks.. I make the drive when I'm able which of course increase cost of chick.. but also increases my peace of mind sooner and MAYBE saves a life or two by getting more resources about 12 hours sooner than later. Even though the hatchery will cover the cost of any chicks lost.. somehow the life itself has more value than that to me.

If I opt to wait.. the post master ALWAYS allows pick up in the back OUTSIDE standard business hours at 6:30 ish AM!

One time I shipped hatching eggs to the bay area.. which arrived the very next day.. and that post master ALSO allowed buyer to pick up at 7:30pm by prior arrangement via them calling and making the offer since they were going to be there working anyways!!

All of my Amazon shipments that come through USPS are arriving in their normal timely fashion as well. Covid is a LIE! Don't let it run your life like it's running the world. Times aren't getting better and life is short. DON'T DELAY in pursuing the life YOU want!

YOUR mileage may vary of course. But LIFE finds a way!!

NO fear, dear chicken friend!

 

[fatcatx]

I have 18 (plus any packing peanuts They add) coming the first week in march

I've read from several local people near me that their Hoover orders did not come with packing peanuts. Have you always received peanuts from Hoovers? Do they mark them or take care to use a color different than you ordered? I wish they had a heat pack option.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wish they had a heat pack option.

it might not be stated.. but that's often what the "small order" fee covers.

I have received heat packs that I didn't pay for, never any peanuts. Also nothing from Hoovers, but in my other "small order" experiences.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've read from several local people near me that their orders did not come with packing peanuts. Have you always received peanuts from Hoovers? Do they mark them or take care to use a color different than you ordered? I wish they had a heat pack option.

They won't Mark them. I haven't ordered from them before so I don't know their peanut policies, I just told them I was more than fine getting extra males for heat if they felt it would be safer than nothing

 

[fatcatx]

[/QUOTE]

So I'm here in California FAR northwest...

NO fear, dear chicken friend!

Thank you for all the detailed information! I am hopeful the experience won't be a bad one.

I will call my post master and get info from them - IF they pick up the phone. Sadly our office is not as responsive anymore. It used to be fairly good about resolving issues and now it is horrible (which adds to my chicken worry. I'm not remotely confident they will contact me when my package arrives.) We do a fair amount of shipping and across the board all Our ship times are taking longer. We had two instances where packages sat for almost a week before they moved again and USPS wouldn't even look into it. Sounds like we need to move up your way where people actually answer the phone.

I love your optimism but advise caution. While I can't wait to see Gov N in my rearview mirror, COVID is concerning. Both my DH and I have coworkers who appear to have permanent breathing issues after contracting it spring 2020. Others who never got their taste/smell fully back. And these were healthy individuals in their 40s.

 

[fatcatx]

They won't Mark them. I haven't ordered from them before so I don't know their peanut policies, I just told them I was more than fine getting extra males for heat if they felt it would be safer than nothing

I'll ping you in March to see how your experience went. Did they call you and ask about the peanuts (or did you order over the phone)? I put my order in online.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'll ping you in March to see how your experience went. Did they call you and ask about the peanuts (or did you order over the phone)? I put my order in online.

We called and I just mentioned it in passing when I was finished with the breed, so they may or may not have noted it down, they just said "okay"

 

[gimmie birdies]

Packing peanuts!