Makes me rethink buying Hatchery Chicks

[AZKat]

The way that I look at it is that the chicks aren't actually being injured, and that for the hatcheries that sell on a smaller scale to individuals, the indignity of the first few days is the worst thing these birds are ever going to deal with.
I save my pity for the birds who go from a hatchery to a large scale commercial meat or egg operations.

 

[mistyfeather]

it didnt look like they were falling to far, but still made me wince every time they were tossed about.
it would be nice if they could be alittle gentler with the babies. tho i am glade that they make ther way to nice home and coops with nice people like everyon on BYC ! they are tugh little guys !

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

I have seen chicks, hatched by a hen, fall 30 FEET out of the hay mow onto the floor of the barn. We found that the wood duck boxes we placed along the small streams that ran through or farms were best utilized at about 20' above the ground. They only got placed in locations where we could haul the extension ladder pretty close with a tractor. Ever see that video of little Woodies jumping out of a nest box?

Why would any integrated poultry operation want to injure millions upon millions of chicks that they raise and depend upon for a profit?

This is one of those "agenda without facts" situations.

 

[IggiMom]

Well, my 15 chicks from Cackle just came. Even though the weather is COLD out and more snow than we know what to do with, they came on time, and they all look healthy, and they are big, big, fluffy chicks.

If we couldn't get hatchery chicks sometimes they would be so much more expensive.

I really do enjoy hatching my own, though.

One of my precious RIR eggs just hatched! I am sure the hatcheries don't watch each chick hatch the way I do. But still, I am glad they are out there.

Catherine

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I wanted to add, similiar to another's post. But I had a hen who insisted on flying up in the hay loft to hatch her eggs. I did not always note whey she disappeared so I did not always know when her chicks were going to hatch. But they would come off that loft and land on a concrete floor. i tried to keep a couple of inches od hay / straw on the floor just incase. My point, they can handle a lot. They are more soft and pliable at that age I think.

 

[Ban seabhag]

Quote:
Entirely right about the woodies. I think the point is, the careless "mass production" indifference gets me. The chicks are clearly tough, and can take it, but......