OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[TERRY4]

Hi everyone,

I am from Mansfield Ohio and just bought our first 6 chicks from TSC. All 6 are Australorp and supposedly all girls (purchased 3/15) although I have to admit I am beginning to be suspicious about one of them!

Hi, we live near Jeromesville, not far from you. What makes you suspect of the one chick? It could be though, although people can't really reach in those high gates they have around.

See at rual king they have low metal livestock waterers, and it used to be that people's kids, and adults could reach in and handle them. Then put them back in the wrong tub. Not so easy to do in the TSC stores.

 

[collinschicks]

I definitely didn't like that I couldn't handle them at TSC. When I was trying to tell the store associate which ones I wanted they were just running back and forth round the tub. Almost impossible to point out 6 I wanted when they were all panicking! They only had one tub of the Australorps so I think they are all the same breed. They are sexed and supposedly all are girls. But my suspicions are that one is a rooster! Is that possible? I am guessing mistakes can happen. This one just acts different. They are all coming up to me and eating out of my hand but this one almost seems to strut up to me if that makes sense. And is more likely to dangle off of one of my fingers than take food from my hand. I am completely new to chickens though so it might all just be paranoia!

 

[daniellea2912]

I definitely didn't like that I couldn't handle them at TSC.  When I was trying to tell the store associate which ones I wanted they were just running back and forth round the tub.  Almost impossible to point out 6 I wanted when they were all panicking!  They only had one tub of  the Australorps so I think they are all the same breed.  They are sexed and supposedly all are girls.  But my suspicions are that one is a rooster!  Is that possible?  I am guessing mistakes can happen.  This one just acts different.  They are all coming up to me and eating out of my hand but this one almost seems to strut up to me if that makes sense.  And is more likely to dangle off of one of my fingers than take food from my hand.  I am completely new to chickens though so it might all just be paranoia!

Last year was my first year with chicks and I definately had that paranoia of my sexed pullets being roosters... It's probably much to early to tell anyway so no use worrying! You'll find they all have very different personalities- some love people from the start and others never enjoy human contact no matter how much you handle or treat them. Maybe the one your talking about is just less intimidated by you

 

[TERRY4]

I definitely didn't like that I couldn't handle them at TSC. When I was trying to tell the store associate which ones I wanted they were just running back and forth round the tub. Almost impossible to point out 6 I wanted when they were all panicking! They only had one tub of the Australorps so I think they are all the same breed. They are sexed and supposedly all are girls. But my suspicions are that one is a rooster! Is that possible? I am guessing mistakes can happen. This one just acts different. They are all coming up to me and eating out of my hand but this one almost seems to strut up to me if that makes sense. And is more likely to dangle off of one of my fingers than take food from my hand. I am completely new to chickens though so it might all just be paranoia!

Sure it's possible one's a roo, but doubt it just because it acts different. Time will tell, but in my experience they're pretty careful. I would have told her you HAD to handle them yourself to get the ones you wanted. I would have had the manager called over if they said I couldn't.

When I was picking mine, rural king last year, Some guy let his little boy right beside me, as I was picking, screaming in my ear "WHAT'S SHE DOING?" I told the guy to get him away from me! Geez! Got home and one chick died right off. When right in for a replacement.

 

[collinschicks]

That all makes sense! Thanks for the help. I will just wait and see I guess - and will stop being so paranoid! I will definitely ask to handle them next time instead of trying to pick them the way I did if I buy again from TSC. Luckily they all seem to be very healthy and are growing quickly. I had no idea how quickly they would grow!

 

[minihorse927]

Sexed pullets come from the hatchery with a 95 percent guaranteed to be pullets. Some roosters do actually slip through the cracks, so it is possible. Now in all my years working and buying at tsc, I've never ended up with an oops pullet. When you go into look at chicks, pay attention to the signs in front of the tanks. Some people that work there think everything they get is pullets. They should be making what's in the tanks as assorted bantams, ducks, pullets, red pullets, Cornish rock, and featured breed (this should have a name attached with pictures of the breed). The assorted bantams, featured breed, and ducks are straight run. The Cornish rock are straight run also.

I'd say it's to early to tell right now on your chicks. Give them 4-6 weeks and post pictures. We can help.

Edited because it was supposed to be working, not quitting

 

[minihorse927]

Tractor supply policy is to not let anyone handle the chicks due to the possible spread of Salmonella and also so nobody mixed up the tanks of chicks.
if they are buying them I will let the person buying them handle the chicks once i picked them out of the tank and they are in the box. Don't be surprised if you ask to handle the chicks when you're buying them and they tell you no.

Edited for typos

 

[TERRY4]

If I couldn't handle and catch my own I'd go to another store. I cleaned my hands with their sanitizing gel they had. After that they shouldn't worry about it.

 

[chicknmania]

that is extremely stressful to the birds to be handled all the time. They are not dogs. They are so many people in there handling those birds, and nine tenths of them don't know diddly squat
about how to handle a chick. The chicks get dropped, squashed, and mishandled. They are already in a stressful, overcrowded, unnatural environment, and have been transported under the same conditions! I would never handle them, even if the store didn't care. It isn't all about the spread of Salmonella, though that's a
consideration. It's about the health and welfare of their livestock, as well Why do you need to handle them !? Once you get them home, if you must handle them, go for it. Until then,
think about the poor animals.

 

[TERRY4]

that is extremely stressful to the birds to be handled all the time. They are not dogs. They are so many people in there handling those birds, and nine tenths of them don't know diddly squat
about how to handle a chick. The chicks get dropped, squashed, and mishandled. They are already in a stressful, overcrowded, unnatural environment, and have been transported under the same conditions! I would never handle them, even if the store didn't care. It isn't all about the spread of Salmonella, though that's a
consideration. It's about the health and welfare of their livestock, as well Why do you need to handle them !? Once you get them home, if you must handle them, go for it. Until then,
think about the poor animals.

I was talking about when I was picking my own chicks, to buy! The clerk handles them at time of sale, what's wrong with me picking up my own? As long as my hands are cleaned well. I've had to remind workers to clean theirs before touching them. At least I have the good sense to do that.