Frustrated about the availability of chicks

[tigger19687]

I saw chick in TN last week. Didn't seem to be many people wanting them.
Wonder if it's certain areas

 

[MROO]

Are they looking for chickens for ‘free eggs?’ Maybe just offer them some eggs if they come over and help clean the coop/fill feeders/perform other chicken chores for a weekend? You’d have to train them up, but it might give them enough experience to either realize chickens aren’t for them or know what they’re doing if they manage to get their hands on some chicks regardless.

My coop and flock are not really big or messy enough to put anyone "off" chickens. My little Nankins are so sweet-tempered that pretty much anyone who spends time with them wants to take them home. Both of my roosters and most of my hens will ride on your shoulder and walk on a leash, so scaring anyone off is not terribly likely!

 

[Bockbockbaboq]

Tractor Supply in Springdale, Arkansas has:
Smokey Pearl Pullets: $4.99,
California White Pullets: $4.99,
Pearl Onyx Pullets: $5.99,
Leghorn Pullets: $4.99
Rustic something: $3.99,
Bantams unsexed: $4.99.
5 here, 10 there, not a whole lot, but some.

 

[2 Acres]

I also can’t find chicks anywhere! Not in stores, not online, nowhere!
We went to TCS the other day and we saw the chick bins and heat lamps on so we got excited, but there wasn’t a single chick. We talked to a worker and he said that there was a line of people going around the building and within 20 minutes of getting a shipment of 200 chicks, they were all gone.

I heard that same thing from my local Family Farm and Home store.

 

[thistlewick]

When we went just this last week on Wednesday to our local TSC, there was a ton of chicks left - we got 6 Easter Eggers but there was loads.

YMMV with TSC this year though, 3 of the 18 chicks I've purchased this year have had issues (weird crop deformity, bum wing and cross beak). Last year we got 13 and it was not like that at all, 100% healthy.

 

[catsndogs4us]

We ordered ahead through a farm store to add to our flock. We picked up a couple days ago but didn't get all the chicks we ordered, The store had to sort through it all and called again to say we can go in for replacements or refund. The hatchery never sent some varieties at all and sent some substitutions. It's snowing here and we live about 45 minutes drive away but we'll go look at the substitution chicks when it clears up, if any are left! I'm kinda disappointed since one variety I ordered that didn't come in was Crevecoeur. Maybe next year.

When we've gone to TSC and Runnings in the other direction, about an hour away both stores had no chicks at all.

 

[Themellowyellows]

They're getting 100's in at a time around here and there's lines of people waiting on them. I have yet to see a single chick in any of the stores. We always go to get feed after work. I've been hatching for myself.

Here in nj at TSC they sell out within 30 minutes according to the manager. They also increased the amount of chicks you can buy, which is anoying because some parts of NJ you can only have 4 chicks.

 

[catsndogs4us]

We all have to start somewhere but I am very worried for all the panic buying chicks. I already see messages on farm groups looking for free or cheap coops or runs needed asap and also messages asking if anyone has chicks because they bought some which all died. Chicken keeping is wonderful and I highly recommend it but it's not usually cheap, or without education and effort.

 

[Themellowyellows]

When we went just this last week on Wednesday to our local TSC, there was a ton of chicks left - we got 6 Easter Eggers but there was loads.

YMMV with TSC this year though, 3 of the 18 chicks I've purchased this year have had issues (weird crop deformity, bum wing and cross beak). Last year we got 13 and it was not like that at all, 100% healthy.

I have not gotten chicks this year but I over heard the manager on the phone talking about how someons flock had all the chicks die in like weird ways. Something seems wrong with this years chicks and im kind of sad about it.

 

[MROO]

When we went just this last week on Wednesday to our local TSC, there was a ton of chicks left - we got 6 Easter Eggers but there was loads.

YMMV with TSC this year though, 3 of the 18 chicks I've purchased this year have had issues (weird crop deformity, bum wing and cross beak). Last year we got 13 and it was not like that at all, 100% healthy.

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!