I’m nervous about ordering chicks online

[crunchygranola]

I really do not like the idea of buying baby chicks online from hatcheries— it scares me!
I want to get 6 bantam chicks (2 mille fleurs, 2 splash ameraucana, and i’m still figuring out the third breed if you guys have favorite bantam breeds!) but they’re not available to pick up in person.
Any way to soothe the anxiety? Or how to find a good hatchery? How can I help my chicks adjust?
I know nothing about shipping chicks…. Please help lol

 

[ChickyCh00k]

There are 2 reputable hatcheries in OH - Meyer and Mt. Healthy. Meyer has more selection of Bantams (and they say that their Bantams are sexed - but make sure you have a plan for "whoopsie roos"). Since you're in PA, the transit would likely only be 1 day from either of those hatcheries, but the chicks are usually OK for 2-3 days (they live off the yolk sac) and good hatcheries put heat pads and GroGel in with them.

Unless there are extreme heat/cold conditions (or a horrible weather event that delays the USPS), shipped chicks usually do fine. I've had chicks shipped in May and in September and they have all arrived safe, active, and ready to eat/drink.

The Chicken Chick is a good resource for how to set up for chicks:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/ultimate-chick-brooder-setup-video/

And this Featherbrain video is VERY in-depth on caring for baby chicks:

I don't have any bantams...yet! I have an order in with Meyer that's hatching 8/26. I'm getting 2 Bantam Cochins because literally everyone LOVES them. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone say bad things about Bantam Cochins and most just rave about how sweet they are! I'm also getting 2 Bantam Ameraucanas and a Bantam Green Queen (mostly bcs I want the colored eggs, but they have good reviews on the Meyer website, too).

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I don't think anywhere except MPC will send just 6 bantams

 

[User635240]

I really do not like the idea of buying baby chicks online from hatcheries— it scares me!
I want to get 6 bantam chicks (2 mille fleurs, 2 splash ameraucana, and i’m still figuring out the third breed if you guys have favorite bantam breeds!) but they’re not available to pick up in person.
Any way to soothe the anxiety? Or how to find a good hatchery? How can I help my chicks adjust?
I know nothing about shipping chicks…. Please help lol

Ive had good results from Cackle, McMurray, and Townline. No deaths. Disease free. Hardy birds.

 

[crunchygranola]

There are 2 reputable hatcheries in OH - Meyer and Mt. Healthy. Meyer has more selection of Bantams (and they say that their Bantams are sexed - but make sure you have a plan for "whoopsie roos"). Since you're in PA, the transit would likely only be 1 day from either of those hatcheries, but the chicks are usually OK for 2-3 days (they live off the yolk sac) and good hatcheries put heat pads and GroGel in with them.

Unless there are extreme heat/cold conditions (or a horrible weather event that delays the USPS), shipped chicks usually do fine. I've had chicks shipped in May and in September and they have all arrived safe, active, and ready to eat/drink.

The Chicken Chick is a good resource for how to set up for chicks:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/ultimate-chick-brooder-setup-video/

And this Featherbrain video is VERY in-depth on caring for baby chicks:

I don't have any bantams...yet! I have an order in with Meyer that's hatching 8/26. I'm getting 2 Bantam Cochins because literally everyone LOVES them. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone say bad things about Bantam Cochins and most just rave about how sweet they are! I'm also getting 2 Bantam Ameraucanas and a Bantam Green Queen (mostly bcs I want the colored eggs, but they have good reviews on the Meyer website, too).

I’ve encountered the Meyer hatchery! It seemed pretty legit, but just wanted to double check. Thanks so much! I really appreciate this!!!

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I don't think anywhere except MPC will send just 6 bantams

Meyer does.

 

[crunchygranola]

Ive had good results from Cackle, McMurray, and Townline. No deaths. Disease free. Hardy birds.

Wonderful. I will certainly check those out!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know nothing about shipping chicks

Each hatchery is different. The established ones are typically "small family businesses", often have been in business for two or three generations. Some will ship as few as six chicks, some will not. That is often dependent on the weather and time of the year. In cooler weather many hatcheries have higher number requirements so they can keep each other warm. Some may include artificial heat, similar to hand warmers. Some will sex bantams but most will not. Even if they do, you have a chance they will get it wrong. So read their website carefully and if you have questions call them or email them.

For the post office to accept the chicks for shipment they are supposed to be less than 24 hours old. And the typical route is supposed to normally take less than 48 hours. Before they hatch the chicks absorb the yolk. A healthy chick can live off of that absorbed yolk for over 72 hours. Over 72 hours. Often they can be a day late and still be OK but it is a risk.

A fairly typical shipping routine is that the Post Office receives the chicks from the hatchery. If delivery is close by the Post Office may truck them to your local distribution center who them trucks them to your local post office. But often the chicks are taken to the airport where they are flown to a city near you. The post office picks them up there and trucks them to their distribution center who them trucks them to your local post office. They typically ship twice a week so it is a routine that usually goes without a problem. But as with anything something can go wrong. Try to avoid ordering so they are shipped at a mail holiday. You'll notice the number of complaints go up around a holiday. Weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, or such can cause problems and can be hard to predict when you order them. But I'll repeat, most of the time these shipments go off without a problem.

When the chicks ship the hatchery should notify you. When the chicks arrive at your local post office the post office should call you. You need to go get them. With mine this is typically before the post office is even open in the morning though yours may be different. So when I get the notice from the hatchery I call the post office and talk to them to find out what their pick-up procedure is. Each local post office has its own postmaster so they can have their own procedures.

Sometimes the shipping is only 24 hours, not the full 48. A lot of that depends on how close you are to the main post office distribution center and when the airplane lands. So when you get the notice from the hatchery that they have shipped you have about a half day to get the brooder ready. Warm it up and get the food and water ready. When you get the chicks home dip their beak in the water so they know where their water is and set them down near the heat. That should be about it.

Good luck!

 

[crunchygranola]

Each hatchery is different. The established ones are typically "small family businesses", often have been in business for two or three generations. Some will ship as few as six chicks, some will not. That is often dependent on the weather and time of the year. In cooler weather many hatcheries have higher number requirements so they can keep each other warm. Some may include artificial heat, similar to hand warmers. Some will sex bantams but most will not. Even if they do, you have a chance they will get it wrong. So read their website carefully and if you have questions call them or email them.

For the post office to accept the chicks for shipment they are supposed to be less than 24 hours old. And the typical route is supposed to normally take less than 48 hours. Before they hatch the chicks absorb the yolk. A healthy chick can live off of that absorbed yolk for over 72 hours. Over 72 hours. Often they can be a day late and still be OK but it is a risk.

A fairly typical shipping routine is that the Post Office receives the chicks from the hatchery. If delivery is close by the Post Office may truck them to your local distribution center who them trucks them to your local post office. But often the chicks are taken to the airport where they are flown to a city near you. The post office picks them up there and trucks them to their distribution center who them trucks them to your local post office. They typically ship twice a week so it is a routine that usually goes without a problem. But as with anything something can go wrong. Try to avoid ordering so they are shipped at a mail holiday. You'll notice the number of complaints go up around a holiday. Weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, or such can cause problems and can be hard to predict when you order them. But I'll repeat, most of the time these shipments go off without a problem.

When the chicks ship the hatchery should notify you. When the chicks arrive at your local post office the post office should call you. You need to go get them. With mine this is typically before the post office is even open in the morning though yours may be different. So when I get the notice from the hatchery I call the post office and talk to them to find out what their pick-up procedure is. Each local post office has its own postmaster so they can have their own procedures.

Sometimes the shipping is only 24 hours, not the full 48. A lot of that depends on how close you are to the main post office distribution center and when the airplane lands. So when you get the notice from the hatchery that they have shipped you have about a half day to get the brooder ready. Warm it up and get the food and water ready. When you get the chicks home dip their beak in the water so they know where their water is and set them down near the heat. That should be about it.

Good luck!

Thank you!!!