- Thread starter
- #21
I would respectfully challenge that "you will not get any better quality chicks from other random feed stores". True the genetics will not be any better as the chicks are coming from hatchery stock, however I strongly believe it is still important as to how those chicks are handled, housed, etc. prior to sale. And that can be the difference between a random feed store and knowing the entity that you're buying chicks from.
Based on my own personal experience, I originally purchased chicks from a feed store in Monroe. The store had a very lazy approach to their chick conditions, setup, and so on. Obvious older chicks were kept with day old chicks and several were not looking healthy. My wife and I tried our best to pick two of the "better" looking chicks, but when we got them home it took nearly a week of obsessive nurturing to get them healthy enough to mix with our other two baby chicks (purchased from the Issaquah Grange Supply that same day, which is another fine store to buy chicks from). Honestly that first night we figured they were doomed and were already looking at the chick delivery schedule at Grange Supply for the next weekend's shipment.
It is not that these chicks from the feed store were better/worse than from Baxter Barn. In fact, the hens from these original sick chicks are measurably better layers than my hens that originated from the Issaquah Grange. My point is you can set yourself up for better success right at the start by purchasing chicks that you can be more confident are healthy and well cared for prior to sale. How many times have people purchased feed store chicks and have a couple of them die?
Having said all that, I'm 3 years into my (declining production) hens and am starting to replace them. I purchased more chicks from Baxter Barn this weekend. I'll even say that Cory, the proprietor of Baxter Barn, is not warm and fuzzy and always easy person to do business with. But I trust the source of my chicks and have had 100% survival rates from here.
Just my two cents and far from expert advise, just based on my personal experience.
Based on my own personal experience, I originally purchased chicks from a feed store in Monroe. The store had a very lazy approach to their chick conditions, setup, and so on. Obvious older chicks were kept with day old chicks and several were not looking healthy. My wife and I tried our best to pick two of the "better" looking chicks, but when we got them home it took nearly a week of obsessive nurturing to get them healthy enough to mix with our other two baby chicks (purchased from the Issaquah Grange Supply that same day, which is another fine store to buy chicks from). Honestly that first night we figured they were doomed and were already looking at the chick delivery schedule at Grange Supply for the next weekend's shipment.
It is not that these chicks from the feed store were better/worse than from Baxter Barn. In fact, the hens from these original sick chicks are measurably better layers than my hens that originated from the Issaquah Grange. My point is you can set yourself up for better success right at the start by purchasing chicks that you can be more confident are healthy and well cared for prior to sale. How many times have people purchased feed store chicks and have a couple of them die?
Having said all that, I'm 3 years into my (declining production) hens and am starting to replace them. I purchased more chicks from Baxter Barn this weekend. I'll even say that Cory, the proprietor of Baxter Barn, is not warm and fuzzy and always easy person to do business with. But I trust the source of my chicks and have had 100% survival rates from here.
Just my two cents and far from expert advise, just based on my personal experience.
