A Little Something to Make You Mad

[ButchGood]

Read this article and let the Flaming begin

http://upc-online.org/backyard/120423hatcheries_ship_chicks_as_packing.html

 

[ethingtonart]

Ugh. Where did they come up with those sexing numbers. Lol...must be the worst chicken sex-er ever.
Sigh...I can't even begin to rant about the rest of it....

 

[SarahBeth9394]

Oh good grief if shipping day olds ended up killing so many of them it would not be a profitable industry. The fact that the industry has done this for years and turns a profit proves that it's a sound practice. Yes there is a small percentage of chicks that don't make the journey but if the hatcheries had to constantly replace chicks at their loss nobody would be in the hatchery business. As for sexing the chicks my local feed store gets only hens by the hundreds so the hatchery must be doing something right. Roos for packing peanuts makes sense for smaller orders as they keep the others warm for transport. Hatcheries usually tell the customer that they may get a surprise bonus chick with their order and customers usually prepare themselves a plan for what to do with a roo. We also know that every once in a while you end up with an unexpected roo we are prepared to deal with it. It's just a part of having chickens. I think the writer of the article is so jaded by their own viewpoint that they didn't bother being an investigative reporter and therefore falls in the category of agenda driven twit.

 

[lareynadenada]

Well said SarahBeth

 

[CorinneP]

Some of my healthiest Chicks have arrived through the mail. And It is my understanding they do not need any food or water for the first three days as they are still living off the absorbed yolk. It is a sad fact that I usually have to order a couple extra as it is not uncommon for some not to make it .. Its kind of risky no matter how you get them, If you go to another Farm who knows what you might carry home too .. I still cant help but to get sad every lost chick .. though I do accept it ..

 

[NovaAman]

Oh heavens... and the poor unwanted roosters! How cruel that they'd send roosters that may end up on a dinner plate instead of in a good home! Sheesh. I eat all my excess roosters. Does this make me cruel too? I gave it a good home till it was time for dinner. Some people have nothing better to do than write stupid stuff to start a stupid BROOHAAHAA.

I have never gotten shipped chicks, and if I did, I wouldn't mind the extra roos. I only get dual purpose, so those roos will serve a purpose other than an alarm clock. LOL

 

[ButchGood]

I found this this morning on facebook. Here is my Rant from this morning:


This article written about shipping baby chicks is ridiculous. Written by a PhD. that has no clue what happens in the process. I have received baby chicks from the hatcheries and I have NEVER received one dead chick. You loose as many naturally as you do through the mail.
If it wasn't for the little "packing peanuts" small orders would not come through so well. They need warmth and padding during shipment. Consider the alternative for these roosters. Most people want egg layers and 1 maybe 2 roosters in their permanent flock. The extra roosters are disposed of. The ones used as Packing Peanuts go to a home of people who love chickens. I recently ordered 4 turkeys. They would not have made it without the warmth of the 11 Roosters that came with them. These guys will be treated with the respect and kindness of all my poultry. Ultimately being used as fresh farm raised chicken for me and my family.
As for the 24 to 72 hours chicks go without food and water. Let me tell you how it works under a hen. She lays an egg every day or two. She incubates the eggs and they start to hatch. Do they all hatch at the same time.... NO.
It takes 48 to 72 hours some times longer before mama hen takes here babies out for there first food and water. The ones that hatched first go,"gasp" 2 to 3 days without food or water. How Cruel. So the doctor that wrote this article needs to do a little more research before he prints an article and maybe go back to school and learn just a little bit more about animal husbandry.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I totally agree, on both sides. it does seem kind of cruel that they will add cockerels to a small order that may not make the trip. Although, I'm sure over 80% of shipped chicks do make it there. my aunt bought 25 assorted chicks from mcmurray hatchery and every single last one survived the trip and made it to adulthood. I do fell sorry for those chicks that don't make it though. i actually plan to start selling chicks either this year or next year. I do not dare deliver though. Mostly because I am inexperienced with that and have never even ordered chicks online (I've gotten all mine from feed stores). You should watch this one, it is terrible. I was so mad after watching it...

GAH! I was in the middle of writing this when I heard one of my chicks screaming. I went outside to find all three of my chicks and my two ducklings all running around the yard, and my little sister chasing them. I thought I already taught her not to play with them. Well I guess it's right back to telling her "If you hurt those chicks, you may NEVER see them again! Remember Sandy? You tried to hold her, then she was gone." now I'll be out to check on them every five minutes (I get paranoid whenever they even get close to touching them when I'm not around because my brother and cousin killed two chicks and a duckling two years ago, and my little sister killed the duckling I had hatched two days ago, because I forgot to lock the door...)

 

[SarahBeth9394]

I totally agree, on both sides. it does seem kind of cruel that they will add cockerels to a small order that may not make the trip

I don't see this as cruel at all. In fact I see it as an added measure of safety to ensure the safe trip and arrival of the ordered chicks.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I don't see this as cruel at all. In fact I see it as an added measure of safety to ensure the safe trip and arrival of the ordered chicks.

What I'm trying to say it, that I understand why it can be taken as cruel. I personally don't think it's cruel. I've seen way worse.

Plus one thing I want to add is that some chicks wouldn't make it even if they were shipped. Some just aren't strong enough.