wood&feathers :
Oh I almost forgot - I ran into
TSC in Richmond today to grab some feed and was APPALLED. They had just got some banties this morning and nearly half were spraddled, unable to move, eat or drink. The pens were lined with 1/2 inch hardware cloth! their little feet couldn't hope to work on wire that size. I mentioned to 2 sales staff that they better put down some paper or towel or SOMETHING or they would lose the birds. In hindsight I was also wondering if those little guys could reach the water or feed, provided in really large size and height containers.
Anyone in that area? You might want to drop in and check it out, they were absolutely adorable and responded when I dripped water on their beaks. The
TSC in Winchester uses big tubs like I use, with litter, and size-appropriate water and food containers. I was a bit startled to see theRichmond
TSC put chicks in displays better suited to seed potatoes. The sides of the bins were too short, perhaps only 8" high.
Hooray for you looking out for those little fuzzballs! A lot of the
TSC Stores are ran by business people that don't have any farm experience & they change help/workers frequently, so they are 'stupid' about animal care,just doing what corporate tells them. Why don't you call corporate or email them about chick care? If I lived close to that store I would go there & complain. My 2 stores are Bardstown & Shelbyvile. Shelbyville's Best Manager retired last June, he was a farmer,from a current farming family & he knew everything or where to find you an answer. The new man is trying but I really don't know anything about him.