What you'll need:
Getting set up to ship a chicken by Express Mail is easier than it sounds, as long as you get everything done in advance. You need to purchase proper shipping boxes, ones that are approved by the USPS. I like those made by Horizon Micro Systems, they have everything you need in a box: space for the mailing address, pre-perforated air holes, mesh inserts over the holes to protect your birds from disease. Be aware the mesh inserts will need to be glued over the holes by you, the shipper, before shipment. Horizon provides them separately from the box, you can just use Elmer's Glue to attach them a couple of hours before putting the chickens in (or ideally, the day before, so it will dry thoroughly.) Follow their recommendations regarding how many boxes you need for the sizes of birds you wish to ship; I use one box for up to three bantams or two large fowl chickens.
sure you have everything under control. About a week before shipping your chickens, get them used to eating cut up slices of apple. These will provide them with food and moisture during their flights. I like to use red apples, as the color red encourages them to peck. Once you know where you're going to ship your chicken, you need to check with the Post Office to ensure that conditions are right for shipping. I strongly advise you to ship out of the Post Office at your local airport, that way your birds will be sure to go out right away, not sit in a room for a day or two. Call the Post Office at the airport and ask them about "shipping lives", which is the term they use. Tell them you're shipping poultry, and ask what the temperature regulations are in your area. You will need to know the destination zip code, as there may be some areas to which you cannot ship at all, unfortunately (see the sidebar list of zip codes at left for those as of Spring 2011 which could not accept Express Mail.) You will need to know the weight of the bird(s) in the box before shipping (assuming the person you are selling them to is paying for the shipping, which is standard.) Find a good scale, put enough shavings on the bottom so that the birds will have good footing and not slip around, place a couple of apple slices in there, put your chickens in the box, close it, and weigh it. The day that you ship your chicken, fill out the Express Mail form with the correct information. Pop the birds in the box, put in the apple slices, and secure the box well with tape. Make sure to put the destination address on the box in large letters, including the phone number of the person receiving them. Drive your birds to the Airport Post Office and send them off to their new homes! Save your copy of the shipping form, and send the tracking number to the buyer. Be sure the buyer has your phone number and calls you when they arrive. Nota Bene:
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Shipping Chickens
| Horizon Shipping Box |
| Pullet old enough to ship |
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| All material copyright 2001 to present by Pathfinders Farm. All rights reserved. No material to be reproduced in any form without prior written permission |
codes with these first three digits could not have items shipped to them by Express Mail: Bangor ME 044 and 046 Presque Isle ME 047 Elmira NY 148-149 Chattanooga TN 307,373-374 Huntsville AL 356-358 Traverse MI 496 Wausau WI 544-545 Duluth MN 548,556- 558,564,566 Billings MT 590-593,596- 599,821 St Louis MO 620, 622-624, 628-63, 633-634,636-639,650-653 Springfield MO 648,654-658 Little Rock AR 716-722,725-729 |