Frustrated about the availability of chicks

[Themellowyellows]

It makes most of us sad ... and sometimes angry ... because a lot of those deaths could have been prevented if people just did their homework before jumping in after all of those "free eggs!"

Exactly! As you said earlier, they probably are just breeding hens that have problems. It sucks because these cute babies are coming into the world just to suffer. That's not fair, I think that lives matter more then money, even if its chicks. Just my opinion.

 

[NatJ]

As you said earlier, they probably are just breeding hens that have problems. It sucks because these cute babies are coming into the world just to suffer. That's not fair, I think that lives matter more then money, even if its chicks.

Um, would this be the part you are refering to?

That's happening all over the place. I think the hatcheries are probably sending out some of what they'd normally cull, just to keep up with demand. That irritated me at first, until I considered that many of those chicks now actually stand a chance of survival!

That is not talking about breeding from hens with problems. When you breed from hens with no problems, you sometimes still get chicks with problems. Hatcheries normally cull the chicks with problems. This suggest that hatcheries may be sending out some of those chicks instead of culling them. It does not say anything about changing which hens are being used for breeding.

Given the time it takes for chickens to grow up and start laying, the ones producing eggs now would have been young chicks sometime last year. Most of the selection, and culling pullets with problems, would have happened before the hatcheries were taking orders for this year's chicks, so they would not yet have known how fast chicks would sell this spring. By the time they knew, they had probably already culled any pullets with detectable problems.

 

[2 Acres]

That's happening all over the place. I think the hatcheries are probably sending out some of what they'd normally cull, just to keep up with demand. That irritated me at first, until I considered that many of those chicks now actually stand a chance of survival!

Thanks for reminding me... I have cross beak Buff Brahama that needs its beak filed

 

[MROO]

Um, would this be the part you are refering to?


That is not talking about breeding from hens with problems. When you breed from hens with no problems, you sometimes still get chicks with problems. Hatcheries normally cull the chicks with problems. This suggest that hatcheries may be sending out some of those chicks instead of culling them. It does not say anything about changing which hens are being used for breeding.

Given the time it takes for chickens to grow up and start laying, the ones producing eggs now would have been young chicks sometime last year. Most of the selection, and culling pullets with problems, would have happened before the hatcheries were taking orders for this year's chicks, so they would not yet have known how fast chicks would sell this spring. By the time they knew, they had probably already culled any pullets with detectable problems.

I agree - any adults with issues would be culled, by now, but the common issues will still crop up, especially when hatching large numbers of chicks. Those are the ones that would be slipping through, now. New peeps that would normally not make it to market are showing up in the chick bins. The almighty dollar rules!

 

[Lil Country]

I understand the frustration! It took weeks to get my hand on chicks. Farm store closest to me, only gets chicks every two weeks, they sold out within minutes. Then two later they didn’t get their order. I was able to get chicks from local breeder, unfortunately straight run. I now have several roosters. Then another farm store 45 minutes away, gets chicks every Friday. Different breeds each week, I’ve gotten several over the weeks and hope to get some good hens.

But definitely been a process and lots frustration. I have 2 brooders with different ages in hopes of getting 12 hens!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hang in there folks! The drought can't last forever.

My TSC actually had 4 varieties of chicks and 2 kinds of ducks still available yesterday. All previous shipments sold out in very short order.

 

[Raubkatze]

My local FFH seems to still be getting regular shipments of more unique breeds. TSC and Blains Farm and Fleet are always sold out of everything except the poor ducks. I always feel bad for them.

 

[MROO]

I understand the frustration! It took weeks to get my hand on chicks. Farm store closest to me, only gets chicks every two weeks, they sold out within minutes. Then two later they didn’t get their order. I was able to get chicks from local breeder, unfortunately straight run. I now have several roosters. Then another farm store 45 minutes away, gets chicks every Friday. Different breeds each week, I’ve gotten several over the weeks and hope to get some good hens.

But definitely been a process and lots frustration. I have 2 brooders with different ages in hopes of getting 12 hens!

 

[alwaystj9]

For next year's ordered chicks: evaluate your flock in January and get next year's orders placed before mid-February. Most hatcheries will let you see their breed hatching schedule and you can decide your delivery date based on their calendar. It took a bit of juggling but in January I scheduled for 2 different groups of chicks, one at the end of Feb. and the second coming next week. Both hatcheries I used also offered lower prices for chicks ordered early. I wish I could split an order with someone else from my town so I could get better prices on shipping but so far that hasn't worked out. Most hatcheries allow you to wait to pay until close to the hatch date. I did pay when I ordered but I am also okay with substitutions if the hatchery has issues with a breed. The local "Chick Rush" seems to have subsided a bit. (I do realize a lot of people only keep a few hens and can't really order a batch)

 

[MROO]

My first broody should start hatchout anytime, now, so I stopped in TSC this afternoon to get chick starter. I'm glad I did, 'cause they were running low on everything but the really 'spensive "designer" feeds. I hope that means the people racing to get all the chicks have actually been getting the right stuff to feed those babies!