Shipping Live Eggs & Birds

Shipping Eggs & Birds

This is how I ship my birds and hatching eggs. 
You are welcome to use this as a guide in your own shipping adventures.

Shipping Live Birds

If you are interested in shipping birds or having birds shipped to you this 

is just a little information I have compiled, I hope you find it helpful. 

You will need to be NPIP tested for most states to accept

your shipped birds or eggs. For more information on NPIP testing

please visit my NPIP page!

I have included a link at the bottom of the page so you can look up

your state requirements for having birds or eggs received. 

All live birds must be shipped in USPS approved shipping containers.

Most containers cost around $15-18 to purchase. A new container should be

used each time you ship birds. 

http://www.hm-e.net/

These boxes are specially made so that there is less heat built up in the box, adequate ventilation and filters to protect the bird from air-borne diseases or spreading of diseases. They are also designed to prevent stacking on all sides and top of the container.

You should start getting the birds you are going to ship used to eating fruit a few days before you plan to ship them. Apple slices, orange slices, grapes and water melon slices are great things to use because they contain a good amount of water, vitamins and minerals and won't rot rapidly. You can also add a few crumbles to the box for good measures. On the day of shipping you want to be sure your bird has had free choice food and water. You can also add a little water to their feed to be sure they take in plenty of water for their trip. 

You need to do a "Dry Run" weighing to be sure your box will not be over-weight and also to calculate your shipping costs. Put everything in your box that will be in the box on the day of shipping, your bird, your fruit, shavings and extra crumbles. Now weigh this if you have a scale or take it down to the post office and let them weigh it for you. If you go to the post office they can give you the price then, if you weigh it at home, you can go online and look up the costs. You will be shipping your bird Express, so make sure that's the price you look up. If you are shipping day old chicks they can be shipped Priority, otherwise they must be shipped Express. Be sure your box is not over weight according to the containers instructions as well. You also don't want to put too much in the box as it could roll around and squash your little birdie. The above box has a total maximum weight, including the box, of 8lbs. 

To plan your shipment make sure the weather is going to be nice enough for your bird. You can contact your post office and ask them about their regulations for shipping LIVE birds. I believe for most instances the requirements are 32-85 degrees, anything above or below and they will not ship. You will need the zip code to where your birds are going so they can verify the weather. If the weather is good then you need to find out when to drop your birds off. You will be shipping express and you want to drop your birds off at the closest time to when the express deliveries leave out. You don't want to drop your bird off at 9a if they don't ship out until 3p, then your bird is just sitting in its container that whole time. You want your bird to be in it's container for the shortest time possible to ensure it arrives safely. Drop your bird off about an hour before the scheduled delivery/pickup time. 

When labeling your box be sure to include the customers Name, Address and Telephone Number, in BIG, CLEAR LETTERING, also you can include something like "Please Call on Arrival/Live Animal." You can also include your name and phone number in case of an emergency. 

You want to have all of your paperwork filled out and ready to go when you get to the post office or arrive with enough time to have all of that sorted out, you don't want your bird to miss it's flight because you didn't have all your forms ready. When you ship Express you will receive a tracking number and you will also get insurance on your package, however, insurance only works if the package did not arrive at the time it was guaranteed. There is a risk in shipping animals through the post office. I do my best in preparing my birds for shipment but I CAN NOT GUARANTEE their safe arrival once they leave my possession. They are in the hands of the postal service and I can not ensure that they will arrive in the same shape they left me in. You should send the buyer the tracking number for the birds as soon as possible so they can be prepared to pick up their birds as soon as they arrive. 

If you are having birds shipped to you, you will want to be available to get your birds as soon as they arrive at your nearest post office. You do not want your birds to be put on the truck that delivers to your home address. You may be able to call your local post office ahead of time and ask them to please call you when your birds arrive. Your shipper should have placed your phone number on the outside of the box with some kind of message stating the same. You may need to give your new bird some vitamin water or other supplements once you get them home if they had a rough trip. Try to get them re-hydrated as soon as possible.  You can offer a mash or other treat to get them back to eating and drinking quickly.  Your bird may need a bath after its trip as well, especially if it was handled roughly or took a considerable amount of time to get to you. 

As of Spring, 2011, the following zip 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

Please be aware of your state's shipping rules. I am NPIP tested each year, NPIP Ga-1275. My flock has been certified clean for Pullorum Typhoid and Avian Influenza.  Currently I do not ship to those in MN, SD, VA and HI due to their regulations for entry.  If your state requires more than NPIP please contact me before committing to a purchase!

Shipping Hatching Eggs

I cannot guarantee your hatch rate due to conditions beyond my control. Hatching eggs are a risk so please DO NOT buy if you do not understand this. I do not replace eggs or refunds for bad hatch rates. If there is a problem that results in none of your eggs hatching please email me, I may replace your eggs for the cost of shipping.

If you do not want to risk eggs I also sell young birds.

Check your state's regulations prior to committing to a purchase.

Georgia's Regulations are as follows:

*** POULTRY & HATCHING EGGS ***
(includes chickens, turkeys, quail, pheasants, peafowl, guineas, chukars and other partridge, grouse, ratites & waterfowl)

A. All poultry including but not limited to hatching eggs, chicks, poults, and poultry breeding stock entering Georgia must be accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or an official National Poultry Improvement Plan (N.P.I.P.) Form 9-3 if produced under a pullorum-typhoid control phase of the N.P.I.P. Individual identification is required. A copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection should be sent to the State Veterinarian of Georgia, Agriculture Building, Capitol Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. A copy of the N.P.I.P. Form 9-3 should be sent to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory, P. O. Box 148, Oakwood, Georgia 30566.

B. Poultry not participating in the control phase of the N.P.I.P. must be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease within thirty (30) days prior to entering Georgia. Individual identification is required. Hatching eggs or unfed and unwatered poultry may enter Georgia provided the breeder flock from which they originated was tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease within the past thirty (30) days.

C. All domestic quail, pheasants and pigeons not participating in the control phase of the N.P.I.P. must be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease within thirty (30) days prior to entering Georgia. Homing pigeons entering Georgia only for competition are exempt from the pullorum-typhoid test requirements.

D. The order Anseriforme, which includes waterfowl, is exempt from pullorum-typhoid requirements.