Shipping policy

Live Animal Shipping Policy

All live quail from Southwest Gamebirds are shipped via USPS Priority Mail Express to ensure the fastest possible delivery and the best chance of healthy arrival.

Shipping Schedule
- Orders are shipped on the week selected at checkout or when earliest available if option is selected.
- We ship Monday–Wednesday to avoid weekend delays at USPS facilities.

72-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind the health of our birds at the time of shipment and offer a 72-hour live arrival guarantee under the following conditions:
- Quail must be picked up from USPS within 2 hours of delivery at local USPS location.
- Any issues (DOA or unhealthy birds) must be reported to us within 72 hours of delivery with clear photos of the birds and packaging.
- Customers must make a good faith effort to follow the care instructions provided with every shipment (proper temperature, access to water immediately upon arrival, proper holding time before feeding, etc.).
- Refunds or reshipments (at our discretion) will be issued for valid claims, minus original shipping costs.

Risk & Responsibility
- Live animals are shipped at the buyer's risk.
- We take great care in packaging (ventilated boxes, appropriate bedding, inspection of birds prior to shipment, but we cannot control carrier handling, delivery delays, or extreme weather.
- The buyer is responsible for being available to receive the shipment or arranging prompt pickup from the post office. Generally the post office calls as soon as the birds arrive.

Weather Holds & Delays
- Shipments may be delayed if temperatures at origin, destination, or along the route are unsafe (generally below 20°F or above 100°F at any point).
- You will be notified at our earliest availability and offered the choice of rescheduling or a full refund if your order preferences cannot be met.

Questions?
Please contact us before placing your order if you have any concerns about shipping or care requirements.

Thank you for trusting Southwest Gamebirds with your quail needs!