So how do these little ones make it out of the shell and into the post office? First, a customer will place an order either online or over the phone with a hatchery. Hatcheries have thousands of chickens that produce fertile eggs for incubation. According to Townline Hatchery, a chick production business based in Zeeland, Michigan, they house 55,000 breeder hens and hatch out an estimated 5,000,000 chicks annually. Eggs are incubated for approximately 21 days and then hatch in large batches. Chicks are sorted by customer order and packaged in special transport boxes. These boxes are lined and dotted with ventilation holes to keep the chicks comfortable during their journey through the mail.

According to the United Postal Service Publication 52, Section 2 of the Perishable Mail Requirements, chicks must be no more than 24 hours old and presented for mailing in the original, unopened hatchery box from the hatchery of origin. Day-old poultry must be mailed early enough in the week to avoid arriving at the post office on a Sunday or holiday when they are not open. The goal is to have chicks safely delivered to the addressee no more than 72 hours after the time of hatch to ensure chicks can be cared for properly. Most will travel by mail truck or plane to reach their final pick-up location.

Alpena Postmaster Kimberly Kanarr says, “We love when the chicks come in, especially hearing them cheep. We get approximately 150 boxes of chicks a year at the Alpena Post Office. They come in Express Mail and have the customer’s phone number on the label. As soon as they arrive, we call the customer to let them know so they can immediately come to pick them up.”

Why order chicks in the mail? Melissa Smith, Agriscience Teacher at Alpena High School, says, “We order all our broiler chicks from Townline. You’re able to get shipments on specific dates. The prices are very reasonable, and we had great success with the chicks in our FFA, Future Farmers of America, contest. We generally will order other chicks as well from hatcheries instead of getting them from stores because we are looking for breeds and varieties we cannot get locally. You will often have shipping minimums, usually around 25 chicks depending on the company and time of year. The post office will call you right away when they arrive, and you pick them up. Super easy process.”

Courtesy Photo William Smith, of Alpena, holding his new chick. William raises Cornish Chickens for his family and to show at the Alpena County Fair.

If ordering chicks is something you’re interested in, you have a few options available. A quick internet search for hatcheries near you would show the ones located in Michigan or neighboring states. Ordering from a hatchery in the Midwest would ensure quicker delivery times. You can select the species and breed of chicks and which week you would like them to arrive. When your ordered chicks are sent out from the hatchery you receive a tracking number to monitor their progress.

“If customers have any questions about USPS mailing requirements when shipping live animals, they can contact me at the Alpena Post Office,” says Kanarr.

Another choice would be to go to a local feed or farm store to place a chick order. Many are running their chick day specials. You select the chicks you would like from the hatchery catalog in store. The knowledgeable staff can help you make good choices for your poultry needs and you can pick up necessary supplies right there in store. They then place a large order with customer’s selections with the hatchery to ship with USPS. Chicks will arrive at the post office, and someone will transport them back to the store for customer pick-up. Hardies Seed and Ag Supply, of Hillman, has their next chick order by date on April 16, with an arrival date of April 29, and there are two more opportunities after to order as well. Chippewa Farm Supply, of Spruce, is taking orders for their chick days until April 5, with an arrival date of May 7.

The United States Postal Service plays a unique and vital role in supporting agricultural practices across the country, whether on the farm or homestead. They ensure we and hatcheries can reliably and safely transport live chicks to their destinations. Happy chick days everyone!

Bryanna Beyer is a local farmer with a passion for educating others about agriculture. She and her husband Collin operate Beyer Farms in Alpena. To reach her, email beyer_farms@outlook.com.

Bryanna Beyer