More babies ...

Our replacement chicks arrived today, hand delivered by the US Postal System and our local driver Kevin.

All birds seemed healthy, save for one DOA meat bird.

Admittedly, we were a little shell-shocked after the massacre ... and Sprocket had been killed just a few weeks earlier ... so I went a little overboard and bought all the extra supplements.

The chicks won't mind, I'm sure.  And hopefully the "Broiler Booster" will help condition the meat birds so that their legs don't break!

Delicious, nutritious green gelatin for baby birds!

 

1/2 cup water, add brown powder, stir...

Here's what we ordered from McMurray:

5 Buttercups (females)

5 Light Brahmas (females)

5 Dark Brahmas (straight run)

20 Jumbo Cornish x Rocks (straight run)

1 pkg "Quick Chick" electrolytes
1 pkg "Broiler Booster" nutritional supplement
1 pkg "Gro-Gel Plus"
All chicks: vaccination for Marek's Disease

The hatchery gave us three free bonus chicks, too: one Jumbo Cornish x Rock, one Dark Brahma, and one "Free Rare Exotic."

Sad to admit it, but we can't tell yet which one is the "Exotic" chick.  Should become more obvious as they grow ... must be one of the yellow chicks.

Dear Murray McMurray

Dear Murray McMurray Hatchery,

I am very disappointed that the chicks were sent over the weekend. I live on the border with Mexico and all deliveries take at least one extra day to arrive, and sometimes more.  It seems impossible that the chicks will arrive alive.

I am especially embarrassed because this order contained chicks for multiple families, and I had bragged to everyone that Murray McMurray was the best hatchery hands down.

I should mention that before this email went out and a simultaneous robo-call (4 am phone call? really? thanks), I got a call from a very confused and worried postal employee.  That's how I found out that the birds had shipped early.  A postal employee in El Paso cold-called me to find out what he wanted me to do about the chicks.

We've been very stressed about this since yesterday afternoon, and I wish there were some way to call anyone at the hatchery when the operators are off duty.

Thanks for the tardy notifications.

Sara and neighbors


QUOTE:

[BOLD added by me]


On 2/12/2012 4:00 AM, McMurray Hatchery wrote:

Dear SARA COLANDO,



Your chick order has been hand-filled and mailed by US Post Office Priority mail.
Your delivery confirmation number is 94-----------------33. The US Post Office does not have detailed tracking information. If you look this number up on the Postal Website it will only show that the order has been shipped. It will not show you detailed information or where this order is now.

You can expect your chicks to arrive anytime from Sunday through Tuesday
If you have not already done so you may want to call your local post office and let them know you are expecting a chick order and have them call you as soon as the order arrives.

You can access details about your order, at https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acct/login.html.
After logging in, click the Order History link then click on order number 871992 in the list.

To help you get your chicks off to a great start, here is a document that contains information on what to do when your chicks arrive.

Care of Baby Chicks

Thank you for ordering your poultry from Murray McMurray Hatchery.
If you have any questions or problems with your order, please call us at 1-800-456-3280 and refer to order number 871992.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia (CDC) has asked us to distribute an educational Salmonella Brochure. As a public service we are happy to comply. McMurray Hatchery routinely vaccinates and tests our parent flocks to produce the healthiest chicks possible.

Sincerely,

McMurray Hatchery

Sorry Murray McMurray hatchery, but my post office isn't open on Sunday.  Is yours?  Geez....