When the shipping box was opened, there were 10 dead ducklings, and then four more died in the next couple of days leaving one duckling (The Lone Ranger), who is happily growing with his five gosling companions in their brooder.
The Oklahoma breeder told us he didn't want to chance sending another box of replacements because ours wasn't the first problem he'd had shipping to Minnesota. He said he'd issue us a full refund instead. It had been his experience there was some kind of a bottle neck along the way (perhaps in Minneapolis?) where the shipments were held over too long.
Disappointed in not getting the Muscovy ducklings which were to (hopefully) be the nucleus of our breeding stock, we waited to receive the refund.
Then last week, the hatchery owner called and said he had been thinking about us and feeling badly about what had happened. He said he would send us another shipment offering to pay for the 3-day shipping (again), and suggested we add to that and make it a 2-day express shipment, if that would be agreeable to us. Papa Pea and I talked it over and decided to cross our fingers and go with it.
The hatchery man did some checking with the postal service on his end, and we did the same from our end. He found the best possible time to get the ducklings to the post office for the beginning of their journey was late this past Monday night, and our very helpful post office staff (thank you, thank you!) contacted people in our state. Everyone really bent over backwards for us in this endeavor.
The good news? The very good news? We picked up 15 energetic, healthy-looking ducklings early this morning at our local post office. (Such a difference than the last unfortunate shipment.) The little yellow guy on the left of the picture above had just hooked his right foot on the top of the shipping box and darned near launched himself over the side and onto the concrete floor of the garage!
They scooted around the brooder like busy little bees checking out their new home.
After finding their water and food, it was nap time under the heat lamp.
One big hurdle overcome . . . getting them here. Now we'll do all we can to make sure they stay happy and healthy . . . and out of harm's way!
36 comments:
hooray! so happy you had success with this batch!
That's awesome. I'm glad the hatchery guy was willing to bend over backwards to get you your ducks....the post office, too. I'm sure we'll be seeing more pretty pictures of the babies soon.
That's wonderful! Glad to hear that people were really interesting in helping you!
Happy you got them there & all in one piece, or at least 15 pieces. Good luck!
Nice to know that it was a good outcome for you and those little ducklings. It must have been quite depressing to open that first box you had delivered, but well done the hatchery guy in organising a second shipment for you.
Oh frabious day! The tide has turned!
Oh, hurray! Now, keep those beautiful babies away from the crows!
So glad it worked out for you!
I guess that WAS a great company after all. Best of luck to you on this batch. And watch for crows!!
Tracy H - Us, too!!!! Thanks.
Laurie - I think that box of dead ducklings kinda haunted everyone involved!
Jan - And those kind of people need to be praised and talked about . . . instead of just the ones who don't seem to care these days.
DFW - Fifteen healthy, fuzzy, energetic little pieces! Thanks.
Vera - We were sure happy with the way the second shipment was handled!
Susan - Would you believe hubby and I both lost sleep last night thinking about the shipment arriving this morning . . . or not? I actually was afraid to take the lid off the box! But, you're right, the tide did turn!
Michelle - You can bet your bippee on that!! :o)
hoosier girl - Thank you!
Sue - So fortunate we were that it turned out that way. Thank you and the crows better watch out for themselves!!! (Wink, wink.)
Now that's customer service! I'm so glad you got your ducklings. So cute, I just want to pick one up and hold it! -Jenn
Jenn - I'm not sure just why but ducklings seem so much cuter than little chicks, don't you think?
Aww that is lovely news. Glad you got your ducklings.
Well that was a great solution! Hope all goes well from here on.
That is wonderful!! They really do look healthy and happy. And that was the kind of business owner you like to hear about. Such a difference from the cold, impersonal "press this button and wait for 20 minutes" service that is so common these days.
The next challenge will be, as I'm sure you've considered, keeping the predators (both furred and feathered) away while they get big. But that's a problem for another day. Celebrate your ducklings today!
Glad everyone cooperated and you had success at last. They look very healthy and content.
Glad they arrived healthy and alive. They are all in good hands.
Totally Awesome!
Sparkless - We sure didn't think it was gonna happen this year . . . but we lucked out!
JoAnn - Thanks! All were still very much alive and well this morning. Not a one lost.
Mark - And don't we run into the "press this button and wait for 20 minutes" the majority of the time these days?!
You can be sure we will do all we can to insure these little guys grow up into might fine ducks!
Glenda - You can know we're busy building safe, secure pens for when they can go outside. (With machine gun turrets on the top to ward off crows!)
Kristina - You can be sure these ducklings will be coddled!
Thanks, Fiona!
You must have done a happy dance when you opened the box to find 15 healthy ducklings. I will be praying that they remain so and grow to old age under your care.
Fairview Farm - You have no idea how hesitant I was to open that box! I think getting the first shipment with all those dead ducklings really affected both of us. (Ugh.) We'll now do our best to take really, really good care of these happy, healthy guys!
That is so great to hear! So amazing to hear about those kinds of people who really help out! I love to hear stories that remind me of the good people in the world.
Leah - We would all be better off if the media would broadcast all of the good things that are happening out there rather than concentrating on only the awful things, don't you think? Because there truly are good people in the world!
Thanks for commenting.
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