What carrier to use for shipping

twhyde · Post by **twhyde** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:08 pm

I have contacted Delta about shipping finches within the USA and they say they require a plastic container with a metal door, vent on 3 sides. I have talked with others that say they have shipped with Delta also and the Horizon container works great. Of course the Horizon container is cardboard and I cannot get Delta to agree to accept it. Any of you that have shipped before do have suggestions with type of carrier.

Any advice is appreciated.

Terry

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:38 pm

You might try talking to http://www.fairestfinches.com/page/page/4448852.htm
I think they could give you some info

Post by **Sally** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:38 am

The only time I had birds shipped to me, they came Delta, but they were in a wooden container. The Delta agent commented that he had never seen a container like that, they are usually cardboard. I remember reading somewhere on another forum that there had been some problem one time with a cardboard container getting wet and crumbling, so maybe that is why Delta is not using the Horizon containers any longer. I know a lot of people have used the Horizon containers in the past. I've also noticed in those same discussions that a lot depended on the individual agent, or station--what was accepted at one station was denied at another--go figure.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:06 pm

Terry,

We ship birds out of St. Louis when the weather permits. We normally use Delta cargo, and have never lost a bird in transit.

Sally is right about the type of container you need depends on the agent you are shipping with. Delta does have specific guidelines that they require, but generally they will accept card board shipping containers provided that they are designed specifically for live animal transport. They will also accept wooden home made container if they are well built and are made in a similar style to the plastic or card board containers.

We have heard about the card board container that got wet and fell apart, and if I remember it was on a Continental. They no longer transport live cargo.

My suggestion would be to get the direct number of the Delta cargo counter that you will dealing with and ask them what they are willing to accept.

Sean

twhyde · Post by **twhyde** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:35 am

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Sean: I have talked to Delta 3 times in the last week and they still say they require the plastic container with a metal door. I talked with 2 different people. They also tell me they do not have phone numbers for the cargo department in Atlanta???? I think they just don't want to give it out. You are probably right that the individual agent might accept the cardboard box but Atlanta is a 2-3 hour drive for me and I would hate to get there and them refuse to ship.

I will keep trying - thank you.

Terry

Post by **Sally** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:59 am

One thing with using wooden boxes--when I had those birds shipped in a wooden box, the shipper had me put a deposit on the box of $30, then when I shipped the box back to him, he refunded the deposit. That way, if he didn't get the box back, he had the $30 to get another box.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:39 pm

Terry,

Try calling the Atlanta airport information. They should be able to give you the direct line. That's how we got the direct line for St. Louis way back when.

I double checked with Michele and we have shipped cardboard containers into Atlanta. We have never sent them in wood or plastic to that location.

One thing bad about calling into the Delta cargo main line is that Delta contracts out the information and flight booking, so the person you are dealing with doesn't actually work for Delta. So that person you are talking to is simply reading back to you what Delta has provided them for shipping.

Sean