Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Agreed. Do not refund. If ther had been something that happened while under your watch, it would be different, but she is the one that erred. Not any different than purchasing a glass bottle of anyhing from the store and dropping and breaking it as you get it out of your car to take inside.

 

[City farm]

OK. I need suggestions on a hairy situation. Ive had an AZ local buy chicks from me the past two times i've ordered from hatcheries. The first batch were brown layer pullets and this batch was 6 dUccle chicks. I threw in extra chicks this last time. Even though she only paid hatchery price for the chicks. She texted me four days ago saying they died two days after purchase. It's taken until an hr ago for her to finally call and tell me what happened. They all died after 36hrs of purchase with no symptoms of illness besides lethargic behavior. When I asked about the brooder temperature she confessed she had no idea they needed a lamp. Then went on to say she feels I am at fault for not telling her they needed a lamp. I did however explain the difference between bantam chicks, gave reference to BYC website and let her know she needed to keep them warm. I assumed she knew about chick care, she seemed to have little to not interest in talking. I have no idea how her first batch of chicks made it, i assume since these are bantams and it's been raining out they chilled. Her prior batch was standard fowl and the weather was very hot during their first week. Now, she wants a full refund AND replacement chicks. I have neither for her until the end of my hatch. Frankly, I do not think I should offer her anymore chicks without proof of death and proof she has purchased a lamp. I want to wash my hands of the people who blame others for their lack of education. And I want to cry to think that 7 amazing little dUccle chicks could have been in my brooder, safe and happy.

Bless your heart.. Stand your ground she seems like a bully.. AND she is DIFICULT just to be DIFICULT ..

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Well said. And in the original post, it sounded like she emailed(?) and then didn't respond for some time to the OP's apparent request to call and tell you what happened? Oh, and the OP THREW IN EXTRA CHICKS.

 

[jbolt]

umm i bought 10 chicks from redrocketrooster 3 days ago. Their brooder is outside to take advantage of the free hundred degree weather. I supply them with frozen jugs on a concrete slab, to give them a COOL spot. Sounds like this lady had them in AC on too of no light. All my chicks are healthy and she even gave me an extra chick. She gave me all bearded orloffs (some were not bearded and she kept those), she gave me a show quality silkie chick, along with some non crested hatchery types, and duccle that are bearded and properly feathered. I expected nothing more than hatchery stock, as states in her ads on both byc and cl. What I got were picks of the bunch, healthy , vaccinated birds from a reputable hatchery, and a reputable chicken raiser. I drive from 10 miles n. Of surprise to Chandler, and have made plans to do so again in a few weeks. No refunds for ppl who don't put value on those little lives.

Jess

 

[Arizonachicken]

The chicks I got from RRR were all healthy and vigorous. They are doing great with my broody. I am in agreement that the chicks' deaths were the result of improper care. So sad.

 

[Twinklin]

is anyone familiar with this plant? what in the world is growing in my yard?
the black barrel is my compost bin and many things volunteer in that area. i let this grow because it vaguely resembled cantaloupe - but it is definitely NOT that. those spikes you can see in the second picture are all over the stems and leaves. doing an internet search the only thing that looked similar was oak-leaf thorn apple, and i dont believe its that either.. chickens wont touch it.
any ideas? i'm dont know all the native plants.

That looks like Buffalo Bur. I think I recall it growing from bird seed if you happen to have any of that making it in or near your compost bin.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I was at Pratt's today, and I saw 2 very handsome boys. Ernie approached then beside the cage, they met noise to beak, I so wanted to take them home. They were so sweet. I so hope they get a good home. I have to admit the clased up the. Place.

 

[AZKat]

I got three chicks from Redrocketrooster, and all of them are doing great with my broody. I third that the problem was with the care, not the chicks.

 

[countrygirl74]

WOW!!! All the way "down there?"

From your info near your avatar, I thought maybe you were right here in the Kingman area.

Thank you for your offer, and I will seriously think about raising those meaties. As I recall reading, they are harvested at around eight weeks, gee, that's about the time I would normally be putting newborn chicks out into the yard. I have the brooders, and the room in my office to get this started, and I have a freezer that my sister gave me that is just sitting next door doing nothing more than gathering dust. When would be a good time to find, order, secure meaties and should I be looking at some of the mail order places to get them?

You could definitely look at mail order places... there is someone selling meatie eggs and chicks on the Natural Chicken Keeping thread too if you would like to stay away from hatcheries. The last batch we did was just a group of 13 from Cal-Ranch (hatchery quality) that they sold for about .50 because they needed to get rid of them. Cheap organic chicken for us! We processed them around 10 weeks. We lost 2 that week to heart attacks and 2 that we processed already had fluid around the heart. They get fat quick! The best way to raise meaties, if possible, is to MAKE them free-range and just feed them some dinner at night - but take away their food overnight and make them forage again in the morning. It forces them to find their own food instead of laying in the feed dish all day and makes them exercise. They don't handle heat real well, so maybe the best time would be just as temps are starting to go down a little? If you purchased them in September, they would be ready to process by early November.
P.S. Great signs!

Oops. I have been watching these pods for about a week now, so they probably aren't any good. Not that I would know...I have never in my life eaten an okra.

Me neither... so I would have no clue.

Thank you for all the replies and breed suggestions! I definitely have some more to research and think about. I found the Australorps and even found someone local who sells them. Has anyone bought from HatchBawks?
Although I have 5 kids, and they are excited to get chickens, I claim this idea...the chickens are all mine!! My husband thinks I've lost my mind, but that's ok, not that he's opposed to chickens but, we are buying a new house, nearly twice the size we currently have and a bigger lot and I'm most excited about the chickens we can get-not the big kitchen, extra bathrooms (so the kids aren't waiting in line anymore), etc - but chickens!!
Thank you all, i appreciate the opportunity to learn from your experiences.

You sound like me!

When you buy an animal from a pet store or adopt one from a shelter they don't tell you that you need to feed it and give it water. They expect you know the basics if you're buying the animal. If she didn't know what she was doing she can't ask you to replace the chicks. I wouldn't give her any more. I personally would try to get out of refunding her the money as well since she admitted she didn't know she needed a lamp and it's her responsibility to know that. If she just said they died I would give her a refund but she already admitted to not caring for them properly.

X2 - it's not your responsibility... however, if it makes you feel better when letting your chicks go, you could make up a "care sheet" to send with the buyers - again, it would just be for your peace of mind, not necessary by any means and it's not your fault at all what happened.

is anyone familiar with this plant? what in the world is growing in my yard?
the black barrel is my compost bin and many things volunteer in that area. i let this grow because it vaguely resembled cantaloupe - but it is definitely NOT that. those spikes you can see in the second picture are all over the stems and leaves. doing an internet search the only thing that looked similar was oak-leaf thorn apple, and i dont believe its that either.. chickens wont touch it.
any ideas? i'm dont know all the native plants.

I've seen this before but have no idea what it is???

 

[redrocketrooster]

You guys have made me feel 100% better about this situation. I'm really happy you are all so dang supportive too! I haven't heard anything from her or her husband yet. I'm crossing my fingers, toes and dotting my eyes that i don't! She won't be getting anything out of me anyway. After work I went to my Ace Feed/Hardware store and those nice employees gave me a copy of the stores "live chick policy" for ideas. It's not a bad one...you have exactly 48 hrs to report a death of a chick and you will only get a replacement of equal value. I go way back with these guys too, we order chicks for the same ship dates so we can show off our cute chicks in the Post Office parking lot.

I set my 24 eggs tonight too! W00t! It's my first time using a Brinsea but hey, i've heard great things.