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

[fatcatx]

Poking around I came across this page on Valley Hatchery's site:
https://valleyhatchery.com/usps-concerns/

"Our teams have met with USPS officials who assured us shipments of live animals will continue to take priority over regular mail as they always have. We do not anticipate this year to be different from any other year and many hatcheries have been shipping live poultry these past winter months with no issue."

So according to USPS, there should be no delays for live poultry. I know that has not been everyone's experience, but thought it would be helpful to post for peeps just passing through.

 

[Justy59]

I received an order from Cackle on Feb 5 and they were just fine. They were healthy and happy. I did order 15 assorted but they did include a couple more. No packing peanuts though...had a heater pad and green food.

 

[fatcatx]

I received an order from Cackle on Feb 5 and they were just fine. They were healthy and happy. I did order 15 assorted but they did include a couple more. No packing peanuts though...had a heater pad and green food.

Thanks for chiming in. Has it been your experience that most hatcheries include some Gro-gel?

 

[Brooks_]

I don't recall when my wife ordered or selected for ship date, but it was delayed once or twice. They contacted us to let us know. We ordered 16. Received 17 near the end of May last year. Shipping was next day to Florida. One did die the first night. There were no peanuts, seemed to be stuffed in just the right size box. My experience with them was good, but I have nothing to compare it to.

 

[Justy59]

Thanks for chiming in. Has it been your experience that most hatcheries include some Gro-gel?

Yes, I know McMurray does too. I believe most do include a grow gel.

 

[fatcatx]

I got a response from Hoovers. They didn't directly answer any of my questions but their answer implies no packing peanuts, no gro-gel, no heat pack. The answer was they use a special insulated "winter" box that has foam at the bottom and a ring at the top. I'm really not sure how that fixes anything with a box that has vent holes all over.

So I'm sitting on the fence whether to keep my order. It is not shipping until April so bitter cold is less of an issue but temp still concerning for 15 chicks. Based on the answer I would definitely steer clear when you want Feb/Mar chicks (in small numbers).

 

[INchiclady]

First time ordering from a hatchery (mail order) and can honestly say it will likely be my last. Ordered 15 rare breed -colored eggers- from Hoover’s Hatchery. They shipped the 9th from MN (to Indiana).. I didn’t receive them for 6 long days (they went to VA for some stupid reason before finally heading back to IN). Of course when I received them they were all DOA
My local PO said normally hatcheries send them over night. So sad.

I would avoid ordering from this hatchery at all costs.

 

[fatcatx]

First time ordering from a hatchery (mail order) and can honestly say it will likely be my last. Ordered 15 rare breed -colored eggers- from Hoover’s Hatchery. They shipped the 9th from MN (to Indiana).. I didn’t receive them for 6 long days (they went to VA for some stupid reason before finally heading back to IN). Of course when I received them they were all DOA
My local PO said normally hatcheries send them over night. So sad.

I would avoid ordering from this hatchery at all costs.

Most large hatcheries send priority mail so in your case it was likely a USPS goof. Some offer expedited shipping but my understanding is for most postal routes, you don't get it any faster. (read this on several sites as well as BYC threads) It just depends on where you live and where the package is coming from. One BYC get suggested calling postmaster and getting info on the postal centers the package would be routed through. Never even occurred to me that I could do that! It may be that all packages from that part of the country get routed through VA to get sent your way or maybe there were weather conditions that prompted it.

 

[pathognomonic]

Most large hatcheries send priority mail so in your case it was likely a USPS goof. Some offer expedited shipping but my understanding is for most postal routes, you don't get it any faster. (read this on several sites as well as BYC threads) It just depends on where you live and where the package is coming from. One BYC get suggested calling postmaster and getting info on the postal centers the package would be routed through. Never even occurred to me that I could do that! It may be that all packages from that part of the country get routed through VA to get sent your way or maybe there were weather conditions that prompted it.

First time ordering from a hatchery (mail order) and can honestly say it will likely be my last. Ordered 15 rare breed -colored eggers- from Hoover’s Hatchery. They shipped the 9th from MN (to Indiana).. I didn’t receive them for 6 long days (they went to VA for some stupid reason before finally heading back to IN). Of course when I received them they were all DOA
My local PO said normally hatcheries send them over night. So sad.

I would avoid ordering from this hatchery at all costs.

That was definitely a USPS issue, not a hatchery issue. Once the birds leave the facility the hatchery does not have any control over it.

 

[pathognomonic]

The Hoover website currently says that order minimums are 20 per breed AND sex! Not sure what is going on there. I'm sure they are honoring prior orders, but it is definitely attention grabbing. Anyone with insight?