FINCHforum

The U.S. Post Office is considering changing its regulations against shipping finches. The new regulations, if adopted, would allow live birds under 25 lb. to be shippped via Postal Service. This would make shipping a single bird economically feasible, as well as making it possible for those who live far from any airport to have finches shipped to them. I realize that many already do ship USPS, but it is illegal, and Post Offices increasingly are denying shipments. I know of a breeder who has shipped hundreds of birds USPS, who was told last year that he will not be allowed to ship any longer--his local Post Office is going to follow the regulations.

Though they do not have to have input on this, they have asked any interested persons to write. I would encourage all to write to the address included at the end of the linked article. This would be additional income for the Postal Service, and finches can be shipped safely (at the proper time of year and proper temperature). The Horizon shipping box that is currently approved for day-old chickens is perfect for shipping finches as well, simply needing the addition of a perch. The Postal Service, in the past, has worried about water containers spilling, soaking the cardboard and making it fall apart. Using a water container with an inward-facing lip and glued in place, not filling it completely full, and floating a small piece of sponge inside eliminates that problem. A horizontal slice of cucumber provides additional moisture.

With Delta increasing their price for shipping birds to about $160 a shipment, most people cannot justify purchasing a single bird, yet that is often all they need or want. This would open up the entire United States for hobbyists who need new bloodlines, or just that mate for a single finch.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDe ... -0030-0001

Interesting, thanks for posting!

I've been on vacation this week, but when I go back to work, I will look into it further. I still don't like the idea of it unless every individual potentially involved in the handling process is given training in the protocol involvolving shipment of delicate live cargo. There also needs to be rules in place regarding container type, shipping temperatures and "spillproof" food and water sources.

Remember, flight connections aren't foolproof and one missed connection can delay a package an extra day. Thankfully, it doesn't happen very often, but I've seen enough DOA birds over the years to realize that this method of obtaining or rehoming birds isn't for me. Also, it's not only "postal" people who handle postal packages. There are airline personnel, baggage crews and contract freight drivers not subjuct to the scrutiny and standards of the US Postal Service. Some of these people just don't give a *beep* about your fragile, live cargo package. Think about it. Bob

Remember, flight connections aren't foolproof and one missed connection can delay a package an extra day. Thankfully, it doesn't happen very often, but I've seen enough DOA birds over the years to realize that this method of obtaining or rehoming birds isn't for me. Also, it's not only "postal" people who handle postal packages. There are airline personnel, baggage crews and contract freight drivers not subjuct to the scrutiny and standards of the US Postal Service. Some of these people just don't give a *beep* about your fragile, live cargo package.

The same can be said for shipping by any method, though. Whether it's via a USPS/FedEx plane or a Delta plane, the process is the same, isn't it? Short of going to pick them up yourself, or hiring a specialized courier to do it for you, there isn't really any alternative.
I would think (hope?) the postal workers and others involved already have training to handle the live birds that are currently allowed - chicks, pigeons, etc.

Sally...I am going to make reference to your post on a few facebook pages. It would be nice to ship birds a short distance again.

John and I shipped birds back and forth and never encountered an issue. You arrange to bring the birds to the post office prior to the last truck of the day leaving for the main office (mine Tampa), they are handled properly, driven in the front seat or specified area. Loaded on the plane, flown to New Orleans, off loaded, driven to the designated post office...8 hrs later the birds are safely in John's hands....never had an issue.

When they were sent here they arrived at the annex near my home, they called me and I arrived in a few minutes and found that they had them near the front desk on a shelf...I could hear them singing when I walked in....never ever a dead bird or problem.

Bear in mind the post office has their own planes, special compartments for animals, birds.

I would think (hope?) the postal workers and others involved already have training to handle the live birds that are currently allowed - chicks, pigeons, etc

Most of them (us) do. The sad fact is that chicks and poultry are sometimes regarded as an expendable farm commodity because they're cheap and easily replaceable. Believe me, I've seen plenty of dead ones as I've been doing this for 27 years. Good luck to all who wish to do it, and I'm not going to rat anybody out who continue to do so even if it isn't made allowable. My sore spot is when people start bashing us when things don't go right for something that never should have been done in the first place.

Bear in mind the post office has their own planes, special compartments for animals, birds.

We do? That's news to me. I know that FedEx and UPS do. As a sales and service associate working the front counter, we have to ask you a million questions about the packages you intend on mailing solely because they end up on commercial, commuter airlines. Bob

I am going based on what I have been told....Bob have you ever shipped birds?

There is always going to be a difference of opinion on this topic but for those breeders that loose sales because the airlines have jacked the prices up it might be a welcome relief to have the "choice" to ship via airlines or USPS. For the bird owners that have little if anything to choose from regarding finches and canaries I am sure this will be a welcome option.

The only perfect way to get birds is to go get them yourself. However, unless you are connected to an airline, that is not practical either, so you are then restricted to getting birds that are within driving distance. A group of us have even talked about a road trip!

I've only shipped USPS once, and that was because I was shipping to a friend who lives nowhere near an airport. I took the birds to the airport Post Office about 6pm on a Monday, thinking they would go out that night to the West Coast (and I was shaking the whole time, expecting a hand to come down on my shoulder). Wrong. They went to a sorting facility near the airport. The next day, they were posted as leaving the sorting facility, but with no time posted, as had been when they left the airport and arrived at the sorting facility. All day Tuesday, I couldn't find out anything on the birds. The lady on the other end had her Post Office trying to track them down. Finally, we learned that they had not left the sorting facility that day at all. They finally went out either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, arriving at their destination about noon on Wednesday. I was a wreck, she was a wreck, and the birds were just fine! They still had water, a big slice of cucumber, seed, and spray millet, and they were in that shipping box for about 44 hours.

Birds were shipped to me once USPS from Atlanta, and they arrived in record time. My local post office even called me to tell me that they were already closed (small local post office), but if I came to the back door and knocked, they would hand me my birds. They seemed as excited about them as I was!

The first time I had birds shipped to me via airline, they were supposed to go from Canton OH to Atlanta to Dallas. I showed up at the airport cargo office, only to be told that no birds came in on the designated flight. A search of the records found that in Atlanta, the birds were put on a flight to Minneapolis. This was in late winter, but I was so lucky--it was in the 60's that day. The birds were placed back on a flight to Atlanta, and then to Dallas, arriving 6+ hours later than their original arrival time--a long day for them. Again, the birds were in better shape than I was.

Another time, birds were suposed to be shipped from Baltimore to Houston to Dallas. Without thinking (and I should know better), they were booked for New Year's Eve. They got to Houston just fine, but someone forgot to put them on the connecting flight. Two cats were also left behind. The only flight the next day was 24 hours later, and the cargo office was scheduled to be closed. Fortunately, a supervisor went above and beyond and went to the airport on his day off, met the flight and collected my birds and the other person's cats, and opened the office so we could collect our pets. I even was able to contact the airline's pet center in Houston, explained the the birds needed water above all else, and she used a straw to add water to their cup.

So there's good and bad with both ways. I've heard real horror stories, and I've had things go as smoothly as could be. I've had birds singing in their shipping box on the way home from the airport. I still would prefer to ship via the airlines, even if the Post Office changes the regulations to make it legal, but I would welcome the ability for others to order one or two birds from a breeder--something that is simply not economical now. Not many are going to pay $160 to ship a $20 bird!

I personally would be very excited if this dose change. I would love to have more options available to me, as it is fairly hard to find the birds I want in my area. Also I have shipped birds via USPS with out problems. My experience was similar to Sally's in that they sat in the sorting facility until after 9am of the day they were due to be delivered, they were however delivered right at 12. They were scanned in at the airport here at 11:15am, and delivered at 12. I was amazed, and the birds were perfectly happy. I would gladly ship through USPS again, although I would really like to avoid the whole being illegal thing. I try to be a good kid most of the time, however I can't handle the prices of shipping though the airlines.
If the USPS dose open this up to finch and canary owners, I will offer it for my customers gladly.

cindy wrote: I am going based on what I have been told....Bob have you ever shipped birds?

There is always going to be a difference of opinion on this topic but for those breeders that loose sales because the airlines have jacked the prices up it might be a welcome relief to have the "choice" to ship via airlines or USPS. For the bird owners that have little if anything to choose from regarding finches and canaries I am sure this will be a welcome option.

I could be wrong but I thought Bob works for the post office, so I would think he knows pretty well how things work there from first hand experience.

like I said...I am going based on what I was told at the local office here...this is going back a few years when they were accepting birds for shipping.

The option of a second choice for shipping for those who do not want to pay the inflated cost of shipping via airlines would be ideal, I personal hope it goes through.

I ship and receive birds through usps and only had 1 problem, it was a day late
lou

My only local option for finches is Petsmart and a shop across the river I would probably not buy from. I am very happy with my societies, but some day would love some owls that aren't available at all here. I am disabled enough that I wouldn't even consider driving hours to get them, and would never pay airline rates, so I would be happy to have this option.

Thanks Debbie. I thought I'd been pretty clear all along that any comments I've made regarding this topic come from first hand experience.

No Cindy, I haven't ever shipped or recieved birds through my employer..........one - because of all the atrocities I've witnessed over the years, and two because it has never been legal. (not sure prior to 1986 because that is the year that I began my career) Yes, most of the casualties were baby chicks and ducks, but I have seen dead parakeets and gouldians as well. Of course most were in crude, improvised boxes, but some deaths were just due to untimely arrival. If Tampa plant had been accepting them from you all along - good for you, but shame on them. I'll keep that in my memory banks in case Tampa district ever tries to crack down on my office for improper procedure regarding mailability issues.

If the post office does change it's rules, and everything's on the up and up, I may reconsider my stance. Maybe if everyone knew EXACTLY what was in the carton, how delicate and valuable they were and not trying to be passed off as an expendable farm commodity, birds would arrive alive and well close to 100% of the time. Bob