Here is a guideline for shipping adult birds.
Be sure the boxes you ship in have been postal approved or you take the chance on the birds being returned to you. Just because they are accepted at a post office does not guarantee they will be mailed to the destination as addressed and not reurned because of the box not being approved.
Shipping using the 18″ x 12″ x 8″ or 12″ x 10″ 12″ shipping boxes will be the best choice for mailing pigeons. The 18″ x 12″ x 8″ will fit 6 rollers, 12″ x 10″ x 12″ will fit 4 rollers. Both will run you approximately $55- $70 mailing cost, depending on distance being mailed. The next size box will increase the mailing cost to over $250. I recommend using 2 of the smaller boxes because of the mailing cost. The smaller boxes are available to buy in the online store.
USPS Rules
526.42 Mailability Requirements
Adult birds are mailable only when sent under the following conditions:
- The shipment is mailed using Priority Mail Express service.
- Each bird must weigh more than 6 ounces and no more than 25 pounds.
- The number of birds per parcel must follow the container manufacturer limits.
- The mailer must use containers that the director, Product Classification, has approved.
- If the mailer is unable to secure a previously approved container, the mailer must submit the proposed container for approval to the director, Product Classification (see part 214 for address). Upon submission, valid written evidence of a test conducted by a competent authority using a full container of live birds throughout a 3-day period of the challenge must be provided. The test must satisfy the following:
- Confining live birds in the container must neither endanger the health of the birds nor subject them to inhumane treatment.
- Environmental temperatures as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit, and as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for extended periods, must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation.
- The container design must include a low level of light and no visual stimuli in order to reduce the birds’ awareness of being moved or sense of alarm due to the presence of humans or other animals nearby, reducing the birds’ psychological stress.
- The mailer must meet the requirements in Packaging Instruction 10D of Appendix C.
526.43 Claims for Adult Birds
Indemnity may be paid only for articles that are lost, damaged, or for missing contents, and not for death of the birds in transit if there is no visible damage to the mailing container.
The Postal Service will not refund postage if the Priority Mail Express shipment was delivered, or delivery was attempted, within three days of the date of mailing shown in the “Date In” box on Label 11. See DMM 604.9.5.5.
Plan on it taking 3 days for delivery!
Insurance on Adult birds:
4.3 Non payable claims:
X. Adult birds in Priority Mail Express with no physical damage to the container.
Buying the postal insurance is a waste for anyone mailing adult birds If the birds die in route and no damage to box, then no insurance pay out.
USPS Container Requirements for Adult Birds July 10, 2013
The container must be designed with consideration of the birds’ comfort, awareness, health, and welfare. In addition, the container must:
1. Remain intact and withstand crushing during transportation.
2. Prevent the bird(s) from puncturing or breaking any part of the container with their own force, or escaping from the container.
3. Contain shavings or similar absorbent material to prevent damage to the bottom of the container.
4. Have a plastic window for inspection of the birds. The window must be covered by a fiberboard flap that can be lifted for inspection.
5. Be marked:
a. Live Birds – USPS Approved Container # (once issued).
b. With directional arrow indicating “up” position.
c. With a complete delivery and return address.
6. Provide sufficient exposure to air to allow the birds to breath normally through filter covered ventilation that minimize the chance of handler contact with solid or aerosolized waste.
7. Be tested using a full container of live birds through-out a three day period of challenge. The test must be conducted by competent authorities to satisfy the following:a. Confinement of live birds in the container must neither endanger the health of the birds nor subject them to inhumane treatment.b. Environmental temperatures as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit must pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation. c. Environmental temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit and lower for extended periods shall pose no greater physiological stress on birds confined in the container than on birds in containers with conventional ventilation. d. A reduced level of light and absence of visual stimuli should be evident in the container design in order to reduce the birds’ awareness of, being moved, sense ofalarm due to the presents of humans or other animals nearby, and reduce their psychological stress.A ready-to-mail bird container must be provided to the office of Product Classification US Postal Headquarters475 L’Enfant Plz SW, Rm. 4446,Washington, DC 20260-0004along with package test results that indicate each criterion was satisfied when tested by an independent testing facility.
Do’s
✅ Feed and water birds prior to shipment.
✅ Place litter or bedding in the bottom of the box to collect moisture, reduce odors, and provide a foothold.
✅ Inform the recipient of the expected delivery time so they will be able to unpack and care for the birds as quickly as possible.
✅ Consult experienced shippers if you have any questions.
✅ Check weather conditions in your area and at the destination to insure that they will not pose a threat to your birds or cause a shipping delay.
✅ Contact your local post office for the delivery schedule that will minimize transit time and insure delivery on a business day.
✅ Write the shipping address on the box in case the shipping label comes off.
✅ Use USPS Approved Live Bird Shipping Boxes.
Don’t
❌ ship birds that are injured, ill, or under unusual stress.
❌ remove the white breathable membrane from over the ventilation holes. The membrane protects your birds from airborne pathogens, reduces excitability, and stress, and is REQUIRED by postal regulations.
❌ ship birds in very hot or very cold weather conditions. Remember, the temperature inside a closed container will always be higher than the temperature outside the container. This excess heat can be injurious or fatal to birds in hot weather. This is the reason for our complicated designs. Tolerance of heat and cold varies with species, age, and time of year. If in doubt — don’t ship.
❌ over pack the box. Too many birds in a box can cause over-heating and stress which can be harmful or fatal. Stuffing a box full of birds to save a few bucks on shipping is not worth the risk.
❌ ship birds over the weekend or holiday. They may become stranded!