Chicken Shortage?

[centrarchid]

Went to my local TSC to check what types of chicks they had,they almost never have any,but tend to put some for sale during easter,went at around 3pm and all of the bins where they put them were empty even the ducks had already been sold earlier...people are really nuts over the egg shortage ,I honestly don't understand why they are buying chicks that take more than 6 months in average to lay their first egg.

This fun ride we are on may not be over in 6 months. By estimates of some that actually know what they are talking about, the disruption could go on for a year to 18 months or until a vaccine is developed.

 

[theautumnalfox]

Well, the weasels, foxes, raccoons, and hawks will be well fed in the coming months. If the chicks live long enough to make it to their coop. Lots of free range road pizzas too no doubt.

 

[free range possum]

So...I forgot where it was at, but just like 3 hours ago I was looking through new posts and some poster in Canada said there was a chicken shortage in Ontario, and they were looking for hatcheries still selling.

I paused and was tired and didn't think about it.

But then I remembered that there was a shortage of new chicks in my area also in the agriculture stores in this area. (Utah).

I wondered is this shortage going on everywhere?

Also the entire airline industry is like a deficit black hole right now. And its not the only industry going through this. This economic slump isn't good. Its too big. There's also the oil war with Russia and Saudi Arabia that was very messy also, just a few days ago. I could name other things going on.

The point isn't to fear though. The point is to try to figure what's up and what to do about it proactively. Proactive...how to do some good.

Feel free to post.

A few possibilities to consider; if this thing is real and if they think it will take a while to rebuild economically, people could think about hatching extra chicks to give to friends, family, and people in your local churches, or others.

Other possibilities are that if there's too many problems going on, people will have to be more wary of the 2 legged predators than the 4 legged ones.

Just saying...

I regularly raise and donate birds, pigs, sheep and rabbits , good animals, to the poorest kids in our area so that they have the chance to show and a good chance at winning so the animal auctions off high for college money. Even if I have to feed the critters and haul the kids and animals to shows. This year..they were canceled so by some angels sense of humor I am fortunate to have nice breeders I can count on for next year's shows and not have to run all over country buying since show animals go "on the wagon" after auctioned.usually. everyone here is freaking out but all those whom told me I was stupid helping these kids that is was their parents jobs, now are lay3d off and think I'm owing them animals. I kindly repeat their words that I'm not "their parents/ and they are adults that are responsible for themselves I state I'm sorry for their jobs and they can't pay their boat payments and for thei fancy trucks that never saw a bag of feed but..my 25 year old van and my 74 pickup (my first vehicle ) may not be as shiny or new but since I paid for them cash It allows me to be prepared for a uncertain future and have the things that matter most..and that's kids having the chances I didn't have growing up and a positive experience with a police officer since some have parents my dog has "busted". It's not fair the kids had druggie or alcoholic parents and it's not fair the parentsl badmouth cops for doing their job. I believe in letting actions speak louder than words..you truly are blessed with that kindness of asking others to share chicks and eggs to get your whole "village" past this point with kindness and not greedy extortion. You are a hero one neighbor at a time by your actions..I'm glad that BYC is my neighborhood and hero's like you don't even have to put on a badge to make a difference! Since you have opened your heart. Would you please start a "pay it forward "forum here and your church and actively post and post each suggestion as well as how people around you and in BYC are being heroes like you suggested? I'd love to hear all across this big country that we all are going to make it even though this world is "clucked up" right now! [email protected]

 

[CatsandCrops]

As others, I don't think its a shortage so much as a high demand. We bought our house/land three years ago and I have been attempting to talk my husband into chickens for at least 2 years before that (one of my requirements for house hunting was land for a huge garden, a chicken coop and a good stop for bees). He's been a hard no on chickens up until this year.

Typically I do 95% of the grocery shopping but when all of the covid craziness started, I was working a 24 hr shift, off for 12 then back to work for another 24 - he had to do the shopping and going to 4 separate stores just to find eggs pushed him over the edge. We're not hoarders or panic buyers, but I think him realizing what the general public's response was, made him want to be more self sufficient.

Honestly, I also feel like it was the "next step" for our mini homestead dreams. We have two large fenced in gardens that provide us with the majority of our produce throughout the year via freezing, canning, drying etc, two apple trees with plans to add more, compost piles, worm garden -- livestock just seemed natural.

 

[K0k0shka]

There was an article on The New York times titled something like “People Have Stress Bought All the Baby Chicks” The chick shortage is at a national level right now.

 

[centrarchid]

There was an article on The New York times titled something like “People Have Stress Bought All the Baby Chicks” The chick shortage is at a national level right now.

It is time we backyard people step up to help supply demand from others in our immediate vicinity. I hope to generate about 60 pullet chicks in excess of what I need.