How to Package a Feathered Bird for Shipping

The United State Postal Service, or USPS, ships live birds if all packaging requirements are met. The regulations for shipping birds are somewhat confusing, and may be interpreted differently by different postal workers. For best results, talk to a postal worker or your local postmaster before you plan on shipping your bird. The USPS will only accept birds if it feels they will be able to arrive at the destination alive with 72 hours.

Things You'll Need

  • USPS-approved poultry shipping box
  • Packaging tape
  • Shavings or straw
  • Permanent marker
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Check to see if your bird can be shipped via USPS. Birds that can be shipped include geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, chickens and swans. Adult birds must be disease-free and weigh at least six ounces. Chicks must be less than 24 hours old. According to the USPS Publication 52, pet birds like canaries, finches, parakeets, cockatiels and parrots cannot be shipped.

    • 2

      Calculate when to send newly hatched chicks, if necessary. Chicks should be shipped earlier in the week -- Monday through Wednesday -- to ensure they will arrive before Saturday afternoon or a holiday. Chicks need to be shipped within 24 hours of hatching, and must arrive at their destination before they are 72 hours old. These factors will determine whether you can ship the chicks.

    • 3

      Purchase a shipping box that USPS has approved for shipping birds or chicks. The container should be made of 275-pound test, double-wall, weather-resistant, corrugated fiberboard and be adequately ventilated. Obtain these boxes from hatchery supply stores.

    • 4

      Label the outside of the container with the shipping address, a return address and a description of the contents. Write "Live Animals" on the box. For chicks, the date and hour of hatching should be noted on the box by a representative of the hatchery with first-hand knowledge of the chicks. Do not write "If Undeliverable, Abandon" on the box. If using a mailing label, write the address on the box in case the label comes off.

    • 5

      Write the phone number and name of the person who will be accepting the delivery of the bird on the box, along with a note for the post office to call him. This way, the bird can be picked up rather than waiting for delivery.

    • 6

      Isolate an adult bird for several days prior to mailing. Provide it with plenty of food and water during this time to ensure it is well fed. Watch for any signs of illness. Don't send a bird that may be sick.

    • 7

      Line the bottom of the box with litter, straw or similar bedding to absorb any moisture and provide the bird with a foothold. Do not include food or water.

    • 8

      Contact your local postal office to find out when the first truck arrives. You should try to get the bird to the post office about 30 minutes before this time, so the bird won't spend a lot of time sitting around before being shipped.

    • 9

      Prepare to mail adult birds early in the week. USPS won't accept shipments later in the week that might arrive at the delivery post office on Sunday or a holiday, or the afternoon before a Sunday or a holiday.

    • 10

      Place the bird or birds inside the container. The box should not contain more birds than allowed by the container's manufacturer.

    • 11

      Tape the top and bottom of the box with packaging tape to keep the birds from escaping. Do not tape over the air holes.