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 Chicks Near Me in
Ellerbe, North Carolina
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Ellerbe North Carolina,
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. Ellerbe
North Carolina also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Ellerbe North Carolina, 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 Ellerbe NC.
Baby Chicks Order Online in
Ellerbe, North Carolina
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Ellerbe North Carolina
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
Ellerbe North Carolina * 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 Ellerbe
North Carolina * 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 Chicks Facts in
Ellerbe, North Carolina
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
Ellerbe North Carolina 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 Ellerbe,
North Carolina Baby chicks are very
cute and
challenging to resist,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
appropriate materials, however
likewise the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you merely need
to give them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment A lot of food as well
as water Focus and
love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using only
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
give them with a warmth source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also work very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource need to get on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is key as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bedding
commonly and
consistently supply clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow extremely quickly
which requires a lot of clean
food and also water. Offer
sufficient at all times and inspect
typically to prevent parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't take
up that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Interest and love There are a
few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will probably bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
view their actions, you can
capture disease or other troubles previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes and also obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is important to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and also move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
regarding cages as well as
proper coop environments.
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