Frustrated about the availability of chicks

[McChooky]

My husband wanted some more bantams this year so I picked out a few, I asked for and pointed to the 2 silkies I liked to go with our order and the employee tried to give me a cochin and then argued with me when I said no put it back. Evidently she was told if it has feathered legs it is a silkie.

Or was just trying to make a sale and didn't care . Good thing you knew the difference, right?!

 

[MROO]

I looked into the mail order thing from TSC. They didn’t promise any date that you’d get them. I think it would be much better to order straight from Hoovers or a different hatchery. That way you can at least know when they’re coming, and you’re not waiting until you get a random call mid august saying birds are here.
Also, as far as quality, I’ve mostly heard of a bunch of roosters in the “pullet” section. I think the hatchery just send whatever is available. AKA roosters. Also heard of a good many non healthy chicks… I don’t really trust TSC in this field.

It really depends on the individual store. Aside from the overall availability issues, our two closest TSC's have been pretty reliable. Their chicks have been pretty healthy and the staff knows enough about them to keep the chicks in their proper bins, both by breed and by gender. I'm guessing that's mostly due to the fact that they're both in pretty rural areas. Between lots of families keeping birds and active 4H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) clubs in the schools, there's no shortage of chicken-savvy staff. I can't say as much for the stores closer to the bigger towns. Nobody there knows what they're doing. When I (nicely) pointed out a particularly nasty case of pasty butt, last year, the sales clerk thought I was making a stupid chicken joke!

 

[McChooky]

It really depends on the individual store. Aside from the overall availability issues, our two closest TSC's have been pretty reliable. Their chicks have been pretty healthy and the staff knows enough about them to keep the chicks in their proper bins, both by breed and by gender. I'm guessing that's mostly due to the fact that they're both in pretty rural areas. Between lots of families keeping birds and active 4H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) clubs in the schools, there's no shortage of chicken-savvy staff. I can't say as much for the stores closer to the bigger towns. Nobody there knows what they're doing. When I (nicely) pointed out a particularly nasty case of pasty butt, last year, the sales clerk thought I was making a stupid chicken joke!

I couldn't keep chickens when I was living in Winston Salem but that didn't stop me from going to TS and checking out all their baby chicks and ducks during Chick Days.

 

[ValkerieGunn]

Or was just trying to make a sale and didn't care . Good thing you knew the difference, right?!

Yes after a few years. I still can't tell the colors and such and I am only guessing on breeds but I do know slightly more then when I first started. Fun fact I wasn't even sure I wanted chickens but we were at the farm store for other animal stuff and my husband and I had discussed chickens but I was not sure of them so the topic was tabled until a later date and look chicks at the store well now the husband can't pass up $1 chicks when we had sort of discussed them. The oopsie chickens were a "You can pick 2 if it will make you happier." Now I'm a chicken fan and blame my husband for it when he complains about them.

 

[McChooky]

Yes after a few years. I still can't tell the colors and such and I am only guessing on breeds but I do know slightly more then when I first started. Fun fact I wasn't even sure I wanted chickens but we were at the farm store for other animal stuff and my husband and I had discussed chickens but I was not sure of them so the topic was tabled until a later date and look chicks at the store well now the husband can't pass up $1 chicks when we had sort of discussed them. The oopsie chickens were a "You can pick 2 if it will make you happier." Now I'm a chicken fan and blame my husband for it when he complains about them.

I bought 6 big sapphire gem chicks in '22 for only a $1 They were almost 3 weeks old.

 

[McChooky]

I am in South Louisiana and have been ordering from Ideal for 7 years. Only one order went astray and the Ideal person and the post office person worked together to locate them quickly. I was able to drive to another town and pick them up. I usually order 25 -30 chicks, I usually get one of their assortments (This year's Rainbow Carton Assortment had some really cool birds in it) but have ordered individual breeds. This year one chick died the day they arrived and another died the following day, no other issues and they have always been awesome on the phone and quickly refunded the $ for the 2 chicks. I do usually place my orders in late Jan/early Feb. for a March delivery. This year they hatched on a Wednesday and were here on Thursday. I have also had good experience with Mt.Healthy Hatchery.

You're only 13 hrs from here so they'll probably make it here safely.
I suspect I may lose a few so I asked for fall shipping (September) The farther they move along on the trip here the cooler it should get (Texas is hot of course!) Thank you very much! I'm already worried about them arriving safely but couldn't find any closer.I've been trying to buy some for 3 yrs.

Edit: I bought a couple legbar cockerels a few years ago and kept one. Some hatcheries only sell pullets and others only sell SR

 

[FlockAround-andFindOut]

One for each rooster…mine started fighting. I now have four coops, each with a rooster and x amount of hens. Twenty-one birds total.

I will never hatch again. Though two of the roosters were dumped by my yard…still, it’s all their fault Jen went broody and hatched out two more r

Bantams are usually not sexed, otherwise I would have a flock myself!

So far, looks like one boy in the group.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Bantams are usually not sexed, otherwise I would have a flock myself!

I think Meyer Hatchery has some of their bantams sexed.

 

[townchicks]

I couldn't keep chickens when I was living in Winston Salem but that didn't stop me from going to TS and checking out all their baby chicks and ducks during Chick Days.

Gosh yes! I always have to stop and look. No free chick cuteness this year, the bins are all empty.

 

[ValkerieGunn]

I bought 6 big sapphire gem chicks in '22 for only a $1 They were almost 3 weeks old.

This year is the first year I didn't get $1 chicks because they were older, bins were needed ect.