This is a great idea!
It may be worthwhile to target the corporate bodies of larger chains rather than approaching individual stores; we could ask them to create a responsible store policy that would apply to all their locations. For mom and pop shops, of course, we'd still have to approach the individual outlets. Actually, it may give us a little persuasive power to utilize the BYC forum or site to list all the companies that do or do not adhere to BYC Members' suggested "Save a Chick" program (whatever we determine that to be).
I'm thinking that it would be helpful for stores to distribute a flyer or card on the purchase of all chicks. For places like McMurray's, this could be when the order is placed but before it is shipped, which would give the individuals ordering time to get the proper equipment before the chicks arrive. In the case of pet shops and other stores in which you can instantly buy a chick on site, one would hope that if the purchaser realized the chick could die without proper care, they could pick up the needed items when they purchase the chick/s.
This actually might be a good way to approach it from the point of view of asking the stores to comply with the policy. After all, they may be able to make additional sales of heat lamps, feeders, waterers, food and so forth by merely providing the service of informing their customers. And those customers will be less likely to return to the store complaining of sickly chicks that died within a day or two (when in truth it was because the birds were too cold and the customers didn't know any better).
I'd be happy to volunteer time compiling, editing or designing a flyer. That sort of thing is what I do professionally (I'm in PR and marketing). Do we have contributors?
