Picking Up Baby Chicks at the Post Office: What to Bring and What to Do First

Baby chicks travel by USPS Priority Mail to your local post office, and the post office calls you when they arrive so you can pick them up right away. A little planning makes pickup day smooth and gets your chicks settled quickly.

Before pickup day

• Tell your post office: call a few days ahead and let them know live chicks are coming. Ask what time they sort mail and which door to use.
• Check your phone number: make sure the number on your order is one you will answer early in the morning.
• Set up the brooder a day early: turn on the heat 24 hours ahead so the brooder is warm when chicks arrive. Fill the feeder and waterer. See how to set up a brooder for baby chicks.

When the post office calls

Calls often come early, sometimes before 6 a.m. Many post offices will let you pick up at a back door before the lobby opens. Head over as soon as you can. The sooner chicks reach a warm brooder with water, the better.

What to bring

• Your photo ID
• A towel or blanket to drape over the box in cold weather
• A warm car. In cold months, run the heat so the car is about 75 to 80 degrees.
• A cooler car in summer heat. Use the air conditioning, but keep vents from blowing straight on the box.

Keep the box level and away from direct sun, and go straight home. Do not leave chicks in a parked car.

The first hour at home

1. Open the box inside, next to the brooder.
2. Lift each chick out and gently dip its beak in the water so it learns where to drink.
3. Set it under the heat and let it explore.
4. Watch for a few minutes. Chicks spread out evenly when the temperature is right, huddle under the heat when they are cold, and move to the edges when they are hot.
5. Check each chick's back end for pasty butt, a dried droppings plug. Wipe it gently with a warm, damp paper towel if needed.

Then let them rest. Shipped chicks often sleep a lot the first day. Read what to expect after getting your chicks home for the days that follow.

Prefer to skip the post office?

Free local pickup is available on many of our own breeds at 21084 Dover Bridge Rd, Preston, MD 21655. Choose Free local pickup when you place your order.

Quick answers

Can the post office deliver chicks to my house?

Live chicks are held at your local post office for pickup. Plan to pick them up as soon as they call.

How long are chicks in the mail?

Most arrive in 1 to 3 days. Chicks absorb the yolk just before hatching, which carries them through the trip.

Should I open the box at the post office?

It is fine to peek, but keep the lid on during the drive to hold in warmth. Count chicks at home by the brooder.

See chick shipping rates and times, our live arrival guarantee, or compare all of our chicken breeds.