So we were all set to head over to our feed store Friday to pick out and bring home 4 newly arrived Astralorps. ( They arrive that morning). But I just read that one should wait a day or two to let the chicks recover from their shipping to the store. It also helps wean out those that may not survive or got sick in transport. The problem is that very few stores in are area are listing Astralorps for sale, and since they wont hold any, we thought we needed to get there the day of their arrival. How important is this advice to wait 24-48 hours to pick out your chicks after they arrive at the store? Thanks.
If you want to get chicks, I'd plan on getting there just as soon as possible after they arrive. Your risk of loss may be just a bit higher. But, IMO the risk of getting there to have them all sold out would be greater.
If they won't hold them and your heart is set on a specific breed, plan to be there as soon as you can. I'm very fortunate in that my store will do some limited holding of birds so I can do the wait and let the weaker chicks cull out before I pick them up thing, but not everyone can.
I agree with the above posters. When I picked up my chicks from our local feed store, I figured I'd get there as soon as possible, just in case. The first day they got chicks in I arrived only an hour and a half after opening and they had completely sold out of the RIR chicks! They had a hundred of them come in too and not one was left. Also, as a side note, all of my chicks that I got that first day are doing great so far!
I'd go ahead and get there as soon as possible. Even if you wait 24-48 hours after arrival at the feed store, it's no guarantee every bird is going to make it. Might as well get the ones you want while they still have them (and maybe pick up 1 or 2 extras).
