Feed store chicks arriving

[citymeetscountry]

Our local TSC got their chicks in! We knew it would be this week and bc of my 5 year old daughter, we’ve been there 3x this week (today they finally had them). Thankfully we don’t have a brooder set up yet and we want to get ducks this year so it was a look and not buy day.

Unfortunately you could already see a few dead ones in (I told an employee and he just left it there, said they had a few this morning when they came in too) and a few about to die.

I did find their new brooder interesting and they had more variety than I expected today, I think 8 different breeds.

Anyway, enjoy the chick pic spam and have a great day!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Unfortunately the shipping process is hard on them and some die. Every tractor supply does it differently but I'm sure they check on them at certain times and remove the dead ones. This is one reason I like buying them this was instead of having them shipped to me. The ones that wont make it die before I buy them. Haven't had any die on me since I've started getting chicks.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Perhaps if the feed stores hired people who actually knew something about chicks (like that an obviously pasty butt can be easily addressed to prevent a chick from dying), the mortality rates would be lower. My local feed store (Rural King) frequently has baby poultry that are dead or dying, or where their water needs to refilled or bedding changed (and putting ducklings and chicks together in a brooder - come on! ) Seeing a trampled, dead turkey poult that no employee has noticed is, in the least, exasperating. And trust me, I've advised employees of the issues more than once...to be met with indifference or token concern.

TSC has typically been more responsible as far as keeping poultry away from customers, but when they start selling chicks for $.50 to move them...

My suggestion: buy from local farms that raise their chicks with the care they deserve.

 

[citymeetscountry]

Perhaps if the feed stores hired people who actually knew something about chicks (like that an obviously pasty butt can be easily addressed to prevent a chick from dying), the mortality rates would be lower. My local feed store (Rural King) frequently has baby poultry that are dead or dying, or where their water needs to refilled or bedding changed (and putting ducklings and chicks together in a brooder - come on! ) Seeing a trampled, dead turkey poult that no employee has noticed is, in the least, exasperating. And trust me, I've advised employees of the issues more than once...to be met with indifference or token concern.

TSC has typically been more responsible as far as keeping poultry away from customers, but when they start selling chicks for $.50 to move them...

My suggestion: buy from local farms that raise their chicks with the care they deserve.

Yeah, I’ve heard horrible stories (on here) and it does seem the employees don’t know a lot. I wish I could have cleaned up all their little pasty butts for them.

 

[viggo63]

I've worked at TSC and am proud that we have some staff that are poultry experts. I have learned a great deal and now have chickens of my own and am able to pass on my knowledge to customers. I take pride in caring for the birds in the store and consider it a privilege. Unfortunately, the few of us can't be there 24/7. I am fully aware that the shipping process is atrocious and inhumane, and conditions are often appalling. Just know that there are some of us out there that lose sleep, cry and anguish over these poor birds just like you.

 

[AOrchard]

My TSC has been really good. Always clean and cared for, they've got some good folks that take care of pasty butt and such too. The employees at the particular store make such a big difference!

 

[Kirkwooder]

There is nothing better than the $.50 chick at TSC. Especially the Cornish X that are already close to 2 weeks old. It costs me $7-$10 a week just to run the brooder. Figure in the cost of feed and the time to take care of them, and the fact they are 75% off the regular price, and you aren't dealing with the day old death loss. What's not to like?