People collect things: shoes, cars, arrowheads, dragons, concert memorabilia. They may not even be looking for their "thing", but somehow it finds them. That is what happened today. I was working on the list -- the list that states what needs to be done, what should be done, what could be done. On the list was picking up chicken feed. Off to Tractor Supply. And there they were. "CHICK DAYS". Really cute, little, downy chicks, peeping adorably at me. I "ooohed" and "aaahed" back at them, and walked away. I walked to the feed aisle and picked up a 100 pounds of pellets and 50 pounds of scratch. And then I picked up starter feed for baby chicks. I am hooked. I ordered up 6 golden comet pullets. They put in 7. And home I went, to set up the brooder. They say, to admit you have a problem, is the first step.
I fear I am still in denial--I bought some chicks this year, too. I figure I will " replace" a few of my old hens and maybe raise some pullets for sale. I hear there are actually some people who don't enjoy raising chicks and might rather buy hens. I hope so because I might have to enlarge my coop. Chicken Luv
I try to stay out of my favorite feed store on Chick Delivery Day. Y'see, the breeds I would want are sold out within two days, chicks are delivered on Thursdays, so if I go on the weekend in the late afternoon or any day up to but not including Thursday, I am relatively safe. Relatively. As Chick Season continues, that won't work as well. There will eventually be some breeds I want left - a whole week old! - and those really call to me. Already past the early "die off" stage, so they're survivors and perfect for me to take home. I mean. well..... for somebody who appreciates chicks for more than just being adorable puff balls. That's the dangerous time for me. Week old chicks. Most customers then pick the babies and the older chicks are left behind. That's when my heartstrings ping at the peeps.
It is very hard to resist. I've made it this years chick season but came *this* close to buying more. It is so hard. Who new it would be when you started out??? I would read threads on BYC long ago and think, "I can resist that easily, how hard is it really?" I was wrong. It's soo hard.
well I have not been to a chick day yet. But I adopted a hen that was setting. I made her a shelter and gave her food. Last week I saw the baby chicks. Yesterday I went to put out food and the hen came running to me. She was so close I wanted to touch her but I didnt want to scare her off.. Im enjoying this so much I want my own chicks to raise..
I like to go and just look...the temptation is definitely there. Fortunatly for me my current circumstances make it so that I cant have any more chickens, so its fun to just watch I do know that by the end of it all at TSC when they have just a few left over they'll sell them for even less just to get rid of them. We did that once with the ducks they had there
That's so cute. Good for you for adopting her. Why don't you get some fertile eggs for her to sit on in a little bit? Give her a break and some extra tasty nutrient rich food, sounds like she already loves you! If you handle it gently, she'll let you take them to your brooder- then you can give her more eggs. She'll probably take em right away, or get an incubator-- it's so much fun!
We don't have shops selling chicks here, thankfully. I'll have 100's of chicks by now if we did! I cannot resist the little things, am completely addicted. I'm just wondering: what happens to the chicks at the shops you're talking about when they don't sell? You know, when they get older and lose their initial new born appeal.
well at the time I was doing good just to be close to her. Now she only has 1 chick. But we went to the feed and see today and the chicks will be in next week. So I will post pics when I get them.
