How to Care for Baby Chicks (and Quail) When They Arrive From USPS

What to Do in the First Hours After Your Birds Arrive

There’s a certain sound that comes from a box of newly arrived birds.

It’s small, urgent, and unmistakable. Whether you’re opening a box of baby chicks or quail, that moment tends to stop everything else for a second—because you know they’ve been through a lot, and now the next few hours matter.

Most newly shipped birds don’t need anything complicated. They need the basics, in the right order.

Warmth.
Water.
Calm.

If you get those right, the rest usually follows.

Before the Box Arrives: Set the Brooder Like You Mean It

The brooder should already be warm before the box is opened. Shipping drains young birds quickly, and they don’t have the reserves to warm themselves back up on their own.

Have the following ready:

• A clean brooder or tote with solid sides
• Bedding appropriate for the species
• A heat plate (recommended for safety and steady warmth)
• A shallow waterer
• Starter feed

Bedding matters more than it looks

Chicken chicks:
Pine shavings work well once chicks are steady on their feet. For the first day, avoid slick surfaces that cause legs to slide.

Quail chicks:
Start with paper towels or very fine bedding for the first several days. Quail are smaller, more delicate, and more prone to leg issues or accidental ingestion when bedding is too large early on.

Heat: similar goal, different precision

• Chicken chicks: aim for the equivalent of 90–95°F at chick level
• Quail chicks: closer to 95–100°F during the first few days

With a heat plate, you’re creating a warm space they can move under and away from as needed.

Set the plate so:

• Chicken chicks can stand beneath it with their backs lightly touching
• Quail chicks can do the same, with the plate set lower due to their size

Heat plates are preferred over heat lamps because they reduce fire risk and allow birds to regulate their own warmth.

For quail, double-check that the brooder is fully enclosed. Gaps that are harmless for chicks can be dangerous for quail.

Picking Up Your Chicks From USPS: Why the Trip Home Matters

When chicks ship through USPS, they are usually held at your local post office for pickup rather than delivered to your door, and you should expect a phone call when they arrive—this is why providing a reliable number at checkout matters. Once you have them, the trip home is more important than it sounds: avoid rough roads, construction zones, and rumble strips, and drive as smoothly as possible. Newly hatched chicks are already stressed from shipping, and repeated vibration can be dangerous; even a few minutes of hard rattling can cause serious harm. A calm pickup and a gentle drive home give them the best chance to settle and recover.

Open the Box Indoors, Away From Drafts

Open the box in a warm, still room. Remove each bird gently and place it directly into the pre-warmed brooder.

It’s normal for newly arrived birds to look:

• Quiet or tired
• Slightly stiff
• Slow to stand at first

Quail often look especially fragile after shipping. That doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. Prioritize warmth and keep handling brief.

Avoid delaying placement to inspect, feed, or photograph birds. Take a continuous video of you breaking the seal on the box and opening it so that your DOA (dead on arrival) warranty does not become void.

Make Sure Every Bird Drinks

Once birds are warm, the most important task is hydration.

One bird at a time:

• Gently dip the tip of the beak into the water
• Allow it to swallow
• Place it near the water source

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of early loss after shipping.

For quail:

• Use very shallow waterers or add marbles or pebbles. Additionally, narrow waterers are available.
• Monitor closely, as quail dehydrate faster than chicks

Electrolytes are optional. Clean, fresh water is essential.

Feed Comes After Water

After you’ve seen birds drinking, introduce feed.

• Chicken chicks: unmedicated chick starter
• Quail: higher-protein starter feed, typically 28–30%

Offering feed on a paper towel or shallow dish helps birds identify it more quickly.

It’s normal for them to eat very little at first. After shipping, rehydration and warmth come before appetite.

Watch Their Behavior, Not Just the Temperature

Birds will tell you if something is off.

• Too cold: loud peeping, tight huddling, piling
• Too hot: spreading out, panting, avoiding the heat source
• Comfortable: quiet peeps, relaxed movement, resting evenly

Quail are more prone to piling than chicks. If quail begin stacking or pressing into corners, adjust space and heat immediately.

The First Day Is Often Quiet

During the first 24 hours, it’s normal for birds to:

• Sleep frequently
• Sit under the heat plate
• Appear less active than expected

Shipping is exhausting. Most healthy birds show noticeable improvement within 24–48 hours.

As long as they are warm, drinking, and not piling, a quiet first day is usually part of recovery.

When Birds Are Not Okay: Signs to Watch For

Some stress is expected, but certain signs need attention.

Watch Closely If You See:

• A bird that won’t drink even when assisted
• Continuous loud peeping despite correct heat
• Lethargy that doesn’t improve after several hours
• Trouble standing or walking
• Pasting (manure stuck to the vent)

Worry and Respond If You See:

• A bird that remains cold to the touch
• Gasping or labored breathing
• Severe weakness or unresponsiveness
• Repeated piling that leads to trampling

If a bird appears weak, move it to a smaller warm enclosure with easy access to water and monitor closely. Early intervention is especially important for quail.

Keep It Simple the First Week

The first week is about stability, not extras.

Skip: roosts, toys, treats, and unnecessary brooder changes.

Focus on: fresh water daily, consistent feed, clean dry bedding, and steady heat.

For quail: confirm there are no gaps, no slippery surfaces, and no deep water sources.

Final Thoughts

When chicks or quail arrive through USPS, they don’t need perfection. They need the right things, in the right order.

Warmth first.
Water next.
Then feed.

Once that’s in place, you’ll see it—the peeping softens, the birds settle, and that tight feeling eases because you can tell they’re going to be okay.

That first calm moment is the start of everything that comes next.