Cardboard box used by Murray McMurray Hatchery to ship baby chicks.
Well, here is something I am never going to do again. I have always been leery of ordering chicks online and getting them delivered by the US Postal Service. It just seemed odd to me to get fragile baby chicks delivered in the mail. However, this time I relented because I wanted to get a very rare breed (Dorkings) and they are rarely available from local sources. So, I called up Murray McMurray Hatchery in Iowa and made my order. Because of the fact I was ordering them in winter, I had to get a minimum of 25 chicks (apparently because they huddle together for warmth, and the more, the merrier). So, I ended up ordering 5 Dorkings, 10 Partridge Rocks, and 10 Golden Laced Wyandottes. I ordered them in November, but Murray McMurray informed me they couldn’t ship until January (probably has to do with their hatching schedule). Despite the fact I ordered two months in advance, they called me up in early January and told me that the Wyandottes would not be available, and they wanted to delay shipment for a couple weeks. I asked for a substitution instead of a delay and they offered me 10 Dominiques, which I accepted.
Eventually, the chicks were shipped on time and I was notified by text and email (as I requested) which was very convenient. Then all hell broke loose. At 5 in the morning someone from the Post Office called me (my cell phone number was on the outside of the box). He would not reveal his name, as he said he would be fired for calling me, as he was “just a schmuck that loads the trucks” and shouldn’t be doing this. At any rate, he said he had my chickens and they were going to freeze on the truck. He instructed me to call a number to the Post Office in Manchester, NH and request that the driver put them in the heated cab. I did call the number, but the clerk there told me they already shipped.
Later that day, I got a call from my local post office that my chicks had arrived. I headed down there to get them, but in the interim… they had been calling me repeatedly. It would appear the well-meaning Post Office employees had opened the box to try to give the chicks water (probably letting all their body heat out in the process). They also drove them to my house (I am at work) as I am pretty close to the office, and no doubt they sat in a cold car both on the way there and back. I wish the box was labeled with instructions on what to do (keep warm, don’t feed, etc). The fact is that a box full of peeping chicks is just irresistible to curious mail-people and no doubt they thought they were helping me. The net result was I had a box of dead and half dead chicks. However, inexplicably, there were only 20 chicks. Apparently Murray McMurray did not have any Dorkings (the entire reason I made this order in the first place!) and just shipped the other 20 without asking me, but they did credit my account the difference.
I tried to revive as many of the survivors as I could under a heat lamp… a couple limped around for a day or two, but eventually died. As you can imagine this was heartbreaking for everyone associated with Swampy Acres, and no doubt, the Hampstead Post Office. As of this writing, I have only one survivor out of 20. I had to go buy a few more chicks at the local grain store, as you can’t raise a solitary chick. I called Murray McMurray immediately and they were very understanding. They offered to ship me out an entire new batch (just on my word that all this happened) in February. I said.. let’s wait until spring. So April 7th, I will get a new batch.
Baby chick survivor and friends.
All in all, from this experience, I can’t recommend ordering chicks via mail in the winter. The combination of freezing temperatures and the fact that the Post Office employees have no idea how to deal with baby chicks, seems like a recipe for disaster. I will say Murray McMurray did a pretty good job helping me. They didn’t get stressed out or make me fill out a bunch of forms. it was easy to get someone on the phone. It was a plus that I spoke with an American rather than a help desk in Burma… always great if I can conduct business in English.
So in summary, be very careful when considering chicks by mail! Swampy Acres has not had success on the first attempt.
Baby Chickens For Sale in
Bluffton, Indiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bluffton Indiana,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Bluffton
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bluffton Indiana, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Bluffton IN.
Baby Chickens in
Bluffton, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bluffton Indiana
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Bluffton Indiana * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Bluffton
Indiana * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chickens And Heat Lamps in
Bluffton, Indiana
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Bluffton Indiana is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Bluffton,
Indiana Baby chicks are very
adorable and
tough to withstand,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
right products, yet
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just have to give them with the following: A
clean and also warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food as well
as water Focus and
love Environment Your environment could be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
give them with a heat source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be decreased by
about 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you should include some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bed linen
frequently and also
always give clean
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite fast
which calls for lots of clean
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient at all times and also examine
usually to prevent thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Interest and love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will more than likely bond with you and
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you can
catch ailment or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Make certain to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers and clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our
section on chicken cages for more information
concerning cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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