We put our 2 week olds and 4 week olds together the other day, and the noise from their playing chicken with each other was driving me nuts, so I headed to TSC to get them some pecking blocks. Of course I stopped by the brooder tanks to see what they had in stock. One tub full of Barred Rock chicks labeled "Black Australorps Pullets." One full of Cornish X. Two types of "Assorted Ducklings" -- looked like Pekin and Mallard to me, but I'm not a duck raiser. One large tank of "Araucanas - Pink, Blue, and Green Eggs" (NOT Araucanas, as you can probably guess). And one tank with Old English Game and Dutch Bearded D'Uccle bantams. Some of the D'Uccles were week olds, and perhaps three were new arrivals yesterday. The older bantams were keeping to themselves, and the younger D'Uccles were sticking with the Old English (all on the other side of the brooder and all new arrivals). However, one new little D'Uccle kept trying to tag along with the older ones, and the older ones would peck at it and make it scurry away... only for the poor baby to try again.
I picked the little chick up and, sure enough, the older ones had done their harm. One of its toes was completely flayed. Not only had they pecked the down off of it, they'd pecked the skin right off. It was a horrible shade of magenta.
This time, I just couldn't bring it home with me. My husband would kill me if I brought home another chick, especially another injured one, and especially one that just doesn't fit with how we run our poultry farm. I had the cashier call for customer service with chicks, and when the employee showed up, I showed her the injured chick. She took it and assured me that they'd Blue Kote the toe but that he wasn't going to like being in the hospital brooder. Apparently, they keep the hospital brooder in the back with their inventory. Heavens knows if it has proper heat and bedding. They keep the poor little thing totally alone. I pointed out one of the toy ducklings on a rack nearby and suggested they put one in for company, but nope, they won't. I suggested putting in a couple of the other new D'Uccles with it once it had been Blue Koted, but of course not... then they wouldn't be available to sell.
So this thread has two points.
First: If there is anyone in the vicinity of the Whitmore Lake, Michigan TSC (off North Territorial Road near US-23), please go adopt this poor little bantam! This just happened last night (Wednesday, March 30).
Second: I'm thinking of contacting either my local TSC or TSC headquarters and asking them to please create a new policy for their stores, that each store sign up for a BackyardChickens.com account. This way, each store can log on and post, "We just got in a shipment of assorted pullets and bantams!" or "We've reduced our Golden Comets to 50 cents each!" In this way, they are marketing straight to the folks who'd most likely respond to their posts. BUT... the main purpose of their accounts would be to post something like, "We have a Golden Comet 2-week pullet with its vent and tail feathers plucked out, needs adopting" or "We have a D'Uccle Bantam in the back with a skinned toe, needs adopting." Again, to contact those (us!) who'd be the most likely to help. What do you think? Not sure if I should just write a letter or if I should create an online petition and post the link here for people to sign. Please leave me feedback on this!
And someone please help that chick!
I picked the little chick up and, sure enough, the older ones had done their harm. One of its toes was completely flayed. Not only had they pecked the down off of it, they'd pecked the skin right off. It was a horrible shade of magenta.
This time, I just couldn't bring it home with me. My husband would kill me if I brought home another chick, especially another injured one, and especially one that just doesn't fit with how we run our poultry farm. I had the cashier call for customer service with chicks, and when the employee showed up, I showed her the injured chick. She took it and assured me that they'd Blue Kote the toe but that he wasn't going to like being in the hospital brooder. Apparently, they keep the hospital brooder in the back with their inventory. Heavens knows if it has proper heat and bedding. They keep the poor little thing totally alone. I pointed out one of the toy ducklings on a rack nearby and suggested they put one in for company, but nope, they won't. I suggested putting in a couple of the other new D'Uccles with it once it had been Blue Koted, but of course not... then they wouldn't be available to sell.
So this thread has two points.
First: If there is anyone in the vicinity of the Whitmore Lake, Michigan TSC (off North Territorial Road near US-23), please go adopt this poor little bantam! This just happened last night (Wednesday, March 30).
Second: I'm thinking of contacting either my local TSC or TSC headquarters and asking them to please create a new policy for their stores, that each store sign up for a BackyardChickens.com account. This way, each store can log on and post, "We just got in a shipment of assorted pullets and bantams!" or "We've reduced our Golden Comets to 50 cents each!" In this way, they are marketing straight to the folks who'd most likely respond to their posts. BUT... the main purpose of their accounts would be to post something like, "We have a Golden Comet 2-week pullet with its vent and tail feathers plucked out, needs adopting" or "We have a D'Uccle Bantam in the back with a skinned toe, needs adopting." Again, to contact those (us!) who'd be the most likely to help. What do you think? Not sure if I should just write a letter or if I should create an online petition and post the link here for people to sign. Please leave me feedback on this!
And someone please help that chick!
