I realize I am posting this much later than the original discussion, but I stumbled across Kim's story and wanted to elaborate briefly on the subject.(posted 8728 days ago)This past February, we had to suspend orders farther east than Nevada. This was entirely due to a policy change not with the U.S. Postal Service, but with the airlines that the USPO contracts with to provide airmail services for. This particular airline decided to no longer accept air freight from the USPO at the Fresno Air Terminal. This airport is a smaller facility and most flights in and out of Fresno are small commuter planes. Consequently, space is very limited for air freight/cargo. Not only were we affected by this decision, but other local industry and business that releyed on air freight out of Fresno were severely damaged as well. Needless to say, it was quite an issue with Fresno City govt. officials.
As a result of this change, all air freight shipments, regardless of their status(Priority Mail, Express Mail, parcel post), had to be trucked from Fresno main Post Office to either Los Angeles or San Francisco Int. Airports. This route is 4-5 hrs and caused severe delays in connecting flights to out of state destinations. What used to take 24 hrs arrival time, turned into 48-72 hrs! This was unacceptable to us and in maintaining our standard of quality for our birds "at their time of arrival". This is why we stopped accepting the out of state orders in February.
Fortunately, we have since worked out a supplement that is placed in the box with the chicks when shipped and even after 3 days of travel, the chicks are arriving healthy and ready to go; the way we have always prided our chicks in being! So as of September, 2000, after several test shipments to the east coast with no trouble, we have reinstated our out of state ordering and everything is back to normal. The customers are extremely pleased with the strength and vigor of the chicks, which is the most important thing for us.
Thanks, J Belt Pres. Belt Hatchery