Frustrated about the availability of chicks

[akroberts1085]

I wanted to expand my flock this year. I started in 2023 at raising chickens. I bought 3 RIRs from a feed store. I sadly lost one that I believe may have been ill when I bought them. I bought 4 more chicks last year from the same place. I got 2 EE's, a BSL and a WL. My RIRs are the sweetest girls. Darlin will follow me around the yard. My BSL is a PITA, however I still have her. I did get a silkie rooster from a woman that was purchasing ducklings from TSC the same day I was in there to get chicks. Unfortunately I had let him out to free range and went to check on dinner and my husband was outside and kinda watching him so I didn't think anything of it. My husband came in the house and I jumped up as soon as I sat down and said crap Mister. I ran out and saw that he had wandered near the dog outside and she killed him. I was so mad I wanted to drop her dead. I wish I would have kept him put up to keep him but I didn't. I'm really mad at myself too for thinking that my husband would make sure he was safe. All in all I found a woman on Craigslist that's hatching some chicks and they will be able on the 6th of April. I told her I want 6 chicks. She knows that all of the chicks will be different breeds but she won't know exactly what they will be. I'm really hoping that I can get a nice calm rooster from the 6 in order to grow my own flock. Eggs in Northern California are 13$ or more for a dozen at Walmart. All 3 stores near me are selling out within an hour of arrival.

 

[NatJ]

Technically, the term hybrid is really meant to be two different species that can interbreed, like a horse and a donkey, and the resulting offspring, a mule, will be sterile. These days, folks often use the term when creating a new "breed" ,for example, the term was bandied about a lot when labradoodles came on the scene.

"Hybrid" gets used both ways.

It has a pretty long history of being used for mixes between pure breeds or types, especially in the context of agriculture. Common examples: hybrid corn, hybrid chickens.

When people talk about hybrid vigor, that is almost always with mixes within the same species, where two different inbred breeds or varieties are crossed. (Obvious example again, hybrid corn that reliably outproduces pure varieties of corn.)

 

[Sinadrea]

Im glad i hatch my own and not selling any for a faze like it was in 2022 then once egg prices drop the faze is over yet again and people be dumping them. Seeing so many people wanting free eggs to hatch to, claiming classroom hatching....just to get free eggs. And people be claiming dead chicks to get more...free.

I didn't know you could get free chicks if some of your own died. I'm sure the current phase will be over soon!

 

[Iluveggers]

I didn't know you could get free chicks if some of your own died. I'm sure the current phase will be over soon!

Yes, say a whole bunch of chicks from your order don’t make it…they will usually reship for you. I had one weak chick a few years ago, she died after 24 hours and since it was only 1 they refunded me (I could have ordered more and they would have shipped that one with the new order at no cost…but I had enough chicks). Maybe people are now lying in order to get a second batch free?

 

[alwaystj9]

I spoke with someone at Murray McMurray hatchery the other day and they stated that people were having chicks stolen from either the post office or from their porches/driveways after home deliveries. Also (South Louisana, here) People are all fussing on Local TSC & Farm pages about going into the stores that have gotten chicks or ducklings and not getting any because others are buying 30 or more of them at a time. Also I am seeing people getting chicks at TSC but TSC is out of lamps/feeders/chicky stuff so they are buying their equipment from the local store who didn't get any chicks (and won't until end of April). I learned a couple of years ago to lay in enough starter by end of Feb. to get past the craziness. I ordered chicks from 2 different hatcheries in early Feb. for 2 different delivery dates, one at the end of Feb. and one early April. I'll probably make another order for early Fall. I absolutely do not understand why my local independents don't make their chick orders earlier. The hatcheries can only do so much when they get swamped with orders.

 

[lotusladyogini]

It took me a week going back and forth between TS and FFH to get my chicks, I did finally get me some. But the day they arrived at the stores, they would be gone. Went to tractor supply and the employee told me a woman walked in and bought all the rest of the 37 chicks out their brooders right away. When I DID get my chicks, people lined up behind us to get the rest of them.

 

[MROO]

Same thing happened with puppies after the Covid lockdown. People put no thought into the fact that these are living beings that need to be taken care of

My dog was a Covid puppy. He was an "owner surrender" at our local pound. He was born Feb/March of 2020 and given up as soon as lockdown was over. He was the classic over-zealous "Big Black Dog," the kind that usually languishes in shelters forever ... or worse. We "clicked" immediately! Some say he got lucky. I say it was the other way around - I'm the lucky one!

 

[MROO]

Talk to your local elementary school. Many kindergartens hatch chicks each Spring. Two of my best-ever layers were Kindergarten Dropouts!

In the US, try contacting your Agricultural Extension Service. They are tasked with promoting agriculture in the state and are usually affiliated with a local university. Ag Extension provides eggs and incubators to classrooms - and are responsible for any chicks left over after the hatch. Let them know ahead of time that you are willing to purchase "extras" and you may get lucky!

Once the schools are done with the Ag Extension's mini-incubators, some offices allow others to borrow the equipment. You may have to put a deposit down, but it's worth asking!

The same office could also put you in touch with a local 4H group. Part of 4H is teaching youth about all aspects of Agri-business. You may be able to sponsor a hatching project where you end up with chicks and a young entrepreneur ends up with a great learning experience, along with a bit of college-fund money!

Good Luck!

 

[akroberts1085]

I agree. It's been awful trying to get chicks this year. Where I purchased my girls from said that they were supposed to get 300 with the first shipment of chicks but they only got 100 so they put a 6 chick max limit on them. They were expecting more but it's been too hectic for me and I also live out of town so the drive to get them and deal with stupid people (with my bad attitude), doesn't really make for a good day.

 

[redinator]

Out of idle curiosity, because of all the posts about unavailability of chicks, I looked in my Craig list farm and garden section. Multiple posts offering started chickens, both sexes. Some adult hens, and one with chicks. People are seeing an opportunity here, hatching and raising their own, to sell. Check it out.

Personally I would be concerned about biosecurity with sellers on craigslist, ebay etc. You have no idea what conditions the flocks are in like backyard breeders and puppy mills. Get eggs shipped, less risk.