Does TSC sell chicks with clipped wings?

[davidhunt122]

I'm wondering if tractor supply co sells their chicks with their wings already clipped, I'm hoping to not come home one day to find my chickens are flying around all over my room. I'm a brand new owner.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Hi, welcome to BYC!
I don't think TSC sell them with clipped wings. As long as your brooder is tall enough, they shouldn't be able to fly out until they're older. When mine were big enough to fly out (3+ weeks, they loved it and did it ALL the time) I just set a light plastic lid over the brooder. Keep it away from the heat lamp, otherwise you may come home to a pile of ashes. (Sorry, that's a little morbid, but could come true)

Congrats and good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

Day old chicks have no wing feathers to clip. For their own safety, when they start flying, you'll need to have a cover over the brooder. B/C babies, while they can fly out, they may not be able to figure out how to fly back in. They are at risk of getting chilled, if they're young enough that it is still an issue. And, even if they don't get chilled, they could injure themselves, or will certainly poop all over your most prized possessions. Then, there's the fact that they will molt their feathers quite a few times in the first year. I'm not sure but it may be as many as 5 mini molts, which will include wing feathers.

 

[tsmith91]

They won't be clipped already they wouldn't be old enough they will be flying out in no time just make sure your brooder walls are tall enough

 

[KrysPel]

Hi there, welcome to the forums and raising chicks!
I don't believe any supplier would provide people with chicks that have pre-clipped wings, as they are way too young for all of their wing tissue and feathers to be developed/grown. I'm not exactly sure when you would clip them yourself, either, but diffidently after they are a hand full of weeks old. I'm not too fond of clipping, personally, because that is the only line of defense they have against predators once you decide to keep them outside in a coop without your constant supervision. If one were to get out, or something were to get in, all they have are their wings!

Anyway, both my batches of chicks began flying rather quickly, and all though they seemed like they didn't want to venture too far from perching on top of there brooder, I did make a top for them. First though, I recommend making sure your brooder walls are tall enough and if need be, make a top out of chicken wire. What I did was take two wooden stakes, cut them to length if it was necessary, then staple the chicken wire to the wood stakes and kept it laid across the top, fitted to the top of the brooder. And that's what I have my third batch of chicks in as we speak! What kind of brooder are you using? A cage, tin bucket, card board box e.t.c?

Like Silkiecuddles said though, be careful using plastic tops, they're usually not recommended because of how prone they are to melting, especially with that heat lamp. (and don't use one if your brooder doesn't have a lot of holes or is actually made up of wire, they could suffocate!)

If you would like me to show you a picture of the current set up I have, I can help! If not, Good luck!