Chicks lost in the mail - is there any chance they're still alive?

[Crazy_Book_Lady]

I'm just so devastated by this. I was going to buy 25 Dominique chicks from a private breeder in August, but he wasn't able to set the eggs until September so they only hatched on the 29th, much later in the year than I'd planned, and only 15 of the 25 hatched. He mailed them on the afternoon of the 30th with 1 day priority express shipping, I had everything all set up for their arrival on the 1st. I was a little anxious because of the cold, it being much later in the year than I intended to ship chicks, but I wasn't too worried.

Then they didn't arrive all day, we went to the post office, nothing, they couldn't even tell us where the package was. The tracking didn't update until that night, saying that they were in Cincinnati, which was only an hour away from where they started, and no closer to where we are. The tracking hasn't updated since - it's been almost 3 days of them being in a box, and 4 days since they hatched. The breeder doesn't think there's much of a chance of their survival and has offered to start collecting more eggs for me, but I would be really hesitant to then ship chicks in November.

I just can't believe this is happening. I've waited 6 years to get chickens. I contacted the breeder last December and have been waiting 10 months for these chicks. Now they're probably lost for good, I don't know if I will ever even get the package, and it's likely too late to order more this year. Sorry for the rant, I'm just so upset about this. So many chicks orders arrive perfectly fine, or even with half the chicks dead, but why is it that the chicks I've been waiting years for have to be just gone like this?

 

[TexasBlues]

It seems common here for chicks to die in the mail.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm really sorry this happened to you. The vast majority of chicks that are shipped arrive healthy but there is always the possibility of a disaster.

Before the chicks hatch they absorb the yolk. They typically can live off of that yolk for over 72 hours. That's why they can be shipped. Postal regulations require they be shipped within 24 hours of hatching and that the route be such that they can be expected to be delivered within 48 hours after shipping started. That 72 hours is a minimum, some can go a decent time past that. But I agree with your breeder. It is probably too late for these.

I don't know where you are or what route the chicks were supposed to take from Ohio to you. My guess is that the Post Office transported them to the airport where they were to be flown to an airport near you. It is possible the post office messed up or the airline shipping them did.

Some hatcheries ship chicks year around. To ship in cold weather they have minimums so there are enough chicks to keep each other warm. That's why you see different minimums based on the calendar. The cold itself isn't necessarily the problem. The main risk is that severe weather will cause delays. Also, try to avoid shipping around holidays. Due to mail volume and people wanting time off you often see the number of shipping complaints go up on this forum around holidays.

I can't tell you what to do. You might or might not be fine getting chicks later this year. It might be best to wait until the warmer weather of next spring. Blind luck has a lot to do with that.

 

[The Moonshiner]

It seems common here for chicks to die in the mail.

Where's here?
It happens but I didn't think it was a common thing at all.

 

[Bawkbok]

How cold is cold? Where are you?
The USPS is pretty good at handling live animals. I've learned not all post offices are equipped to process live birds. In our case, the birds shipped from Iowa to Montana then to Florida. They were "guaranteed" to arrive in two days, but it took four. The birds were fine. The shipper usually puts gel packs in with the birds for shipping. Ensure your PO has your correct contact information. Once the shipment leaves place of origination, there really is no way to track their progress as the PO is not reliable for updating throughout travel. Hope this gives you a small ray of hope they are alive and somewhere sitting in your PO - go there and ask them to double check.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It seems common here for chicks to die in the mail.

Because most people with successes don't really mention it. I only do on my thread, which isn't labeled as shipped chicks, so they don't pop up when people look for threads about shipping

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Because most people with successes don't really mention it. I only do on my thread, which isn't labeled as shipped chicks, so they don't pop up when people look for threads about shipping

what is your opinion on Ideal Poultry?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

what is your opinion on Ideal Poultry?

I used them for years. I like them, but they definitely aren't show quality

 

[MROO]

I'm just so devastated by this. I was going to buy 25 Dominique chicks from a private breeder in August, but he wasn't able to set the eggs until September so they only hatched on the 29th, much later in the year than I'd planned, and only 15 of the 25 hatched. He mailed them on the afternoon of the 30th with 1 day priority express shipping, I had everything all set up for their arrival on the 1st. I was a little anxious because of the cold, it being much later in the year than I intended to ship chicks, but I wasn't too worried.

Then they didn't arrive all day, we went to the post office, nothing, they couldn't even tell us where the package was. The tracking didn't update until that night, saying that they were in Cincinnati, which was only an hour away from where they started, and no closer to where we are. The tracking hasn't updated since - it's been almost 3 days of them being in a box, and 4 days since they hatched. The breeder doesn't think there's much of a chance of their survival and has offered to start collecting more eggs for me, but I would be really hesitant to then ship chicks in November.

I just can't believe this is happening. I've waited 6 years to get chickens. I contacted the breeder last December and have been waiting 10 months for these chicks. Now they're probably lost for good, I don't know if I will ever even get the package, and it's likely too late to order more this year. Sorry for the rant, I'm just so upset about this. So many chicks orders arrive perfectly fine, or even with half the chicks dead, but why is it that the chicks I've been waiting years for have to be just gone like this?

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I understand, first hand, how scary and frustrating it is. While my "Disappearing Chicks" story had a tragic beginning, it had a pretty cool ending.

I pre-ordered six chicks from a reputable hatchery. They should have showed up days before Hurricane Irma arrived .. but they didn't. They got caught in the storm prep and didn't get all the way through. After numerous calls, hoop jumping and string-pulling, my chicks were located just two hours away ... at a hub facility that had a three day unloading back-up, temps hovering around (mostly above) 100 degrees F and no provisions for patron pickups.

My local post office staff was wonderful! They called the hub every day for three days. They called me when my babies were on the next incoming truck and again when the truck arrived. It was before opening, but they told me to come right away. I was there in minutes.

I was totally prepared for six dead chicks, but was ready for triage, just in case. I had paper towels, electrolytes, a syringe and a small carrier. The box smelled like "No Hope" and indeed there were long-dead chicks in there. Apparently, Post Office staff are not allowed to open mail, even if it's live (or dying) animals. It was awful and did not bode well for any survivors.

Surprisingly, there were three. One never made it to the house and another hung on for almost a week, but one plucky little blue splash Silkie (one of the order's "filler chicks" of course) managed to beat the odds. She was officially dubbed "Irma" and fought her way through every setback. I lost count of how many times we almost lost her, but she rallied every time, becoming a spoiled rotten House Chick who knew the word "treat," ran from the word "meds" and came to attention when her name was called. She also became a "Herman" ... {{ ... sigh ... }}.

By the time Herman was well enough and big enough to go outside with the rest of the flock, it was dead-winter. The older birds would not accept this furry little stranger and Herman spent his nights outside. With a dangerously wet, icy month forecast, there was no other choice than to bring him back inside.
... and so began the saga of Herman the House Rooster.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/is-there-a-rooster-in-the-house.74089/

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I used them for years. I like them, but they definitely aren't show quality

ok. when would you recommend ordering, and what is the usual survival rate? I want to get some Sebright Bantams.