Please help me make a point to TSC.

[ams3651]

as long as they seem healthy and taken care of I dont think there is much of a basis for asking them to change. I know some of the stores dont do very well at that but when I was in the local store recently there was a young guy picking some up and asking the guy there some questions, mostly on what kind they were. The man working the store seemed knowledgeable, I made sure to stay nearby to see what he had to say. I talked with him a bit and told him what I thought they were. They were just labled layers and surely looked like sex links and the straight run were RIR. This guy at least seemed to know his stuff. I also talked to the young man on his way out just to be sure he knew what to do and the man at the store certainly told him correctly.

 

[thechickenchick]

We do not have TSC in our area. We buy our birds at Big R, also a feed store. I find the minimum subject interesting. This must vary by state? Does anyone know. Either our state does not have that law or this store does not enforce it. I have bought a single chick more than once because it had pasty butt or was being picked on, just to give it a chance at life. I realize they have hundreds of "babies" to watch out for, but if I see it I have to help. I agree with the posters who say, bottom line, $ is what drives these places, humane or not.

 

[BethieofVA]

Just left the TSC in Gloucester, VA. It was very clean, nice, no overcrowding and what seemed very happy and healthy chicks. VA does have a six chick minimum and this TSC enforces it. The bantams were especially adorable!

 

[pulletkeeper]

Yesterday, I went to TSC in Bloomington, IL to pick up a few things for the chickens and they had 2 troughs with maybe 20 chicks in both of them. At least 15 of them had pasty butt. I called the girl over and asked her what they were going to do with their dying chickens. She looked at me like a space cadette.

I informed her the chicks were basically constipated and if they didn't do something they would probably die. She walked away from me without saying a word so I went up front to the manager and asked him. He said they didn't know what to do about it. I informed him of all the useful tips I have read on this forum and he said they would work on it. YEAH, RIGHT!!

It was all I could do not to buy every one of them and take them home.

I will be writing a complaint to TSC as soon as I am done here.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

I've posted on the TSC threads before and I'm sure you're all sick of me saying the same thing each and every time. I'm a former employee of TSC. Chick/duckling orders were suspended during the time I worked for TSC due to the Bird Flu scare. While I can't speak to actual internal policy regarding the selling of poultry I do have a good understanding about how the TSC sytem works.

I do believe in free commerce. They have the right to sell them. We have the right to buy them. People, we don't want to lose any more rights - do we??? They sell the chicks as a loss leader to get the consumer into the store to buy the chicks and everything else it takes to care for them properly. As the chicks change so do their needs...which drives additional sales. It is the way the system works.

I think the issue is the way that some stores care and maintain the chicks and duckings. It is a matter of training and internal policy. You need to start at the top - I'm not talking about the manager of your local stores. You need to contact TSC at the home office in TN. Contact them, spell out the issues and ask them to contact you about how the problems have been addressed/solved. Send letters, e-mails or call - then follow up on the local level.

Without a doubt they have issues. The TSC "Brand" is all that they care about. Bad PR is going to cost them in the long run and they know that. This is a problem that has to be addressed from the very top in order to bring about comprehensive changes to the way they handle the care of chicks and ducklings they sell. Keep in mind many of the employees are now generations away from being farm raised themselves or even familiar with farming and/or poultry. Add in the huge emplyee turn over that TSC seems to suffer (an entire topic for another time) and you have the potential for serious mistakes to be made.


The home office is in Brentwood, TN. - I'm sure if you Google TSC the contact info will pop right up.

Anyone that has made a contribution to this thread - should contact them. Let them know your concerns. Be polite but be firm.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Quote:
I believe this may be just a TSC policy. I live in PA and my local feed store (where I prefer to buy my birds) I can buy one or as many as they are getting in. No minimum or maximum. However, the TSC that is about 30 miles away has a minimum of 6 to buy any there and minimum of 2 ducks.

 

[ChickenTender63]

I have the benefit of having both a tsc and a locally owned feed and
Garden center close by that bith have chicks this time of year. The
Dufference is that tsc receives chicks each week for about 6 weeks,
And the local feed store is on a preorder system.

I must say that I do prefer tsc's method much better. I think it must
Be an issue of your store if you see issues because my store does a
Fantastic job other than not knowing what breeds they have.

The local feed store charges nearly 3 times what tsc charges for a
Chick because they do not purchase near as many chicks, and it seems
As tho they always take much longer to be picked up than what tsc's
Chicks do.

There is usually a line at my tsc on wednesdays waiting for the manager
To come back from the post office with the chicks, and they are often sold
Right out of the shipping box because people are there waiting on them.
In no way are they being treated inhumane, and I can not join you in trying
To get their methods changed. I for one really hope they continue to do it as
They have been doing it because it works well.

I am also a firm supporter of PETA also and wish more folks in the country
Would join me in this very supportive group. My local group tho believes
That we should change the meaning of the name tho too:

P - people
E - eating
T - tasty
A - animals

Y'all have a nice day now

CT

 

[tnchickenut]

My local TSC (Athens, TN - there I said it) SUCKS! They are rude and uneducated about chicks and chickens. They most recently had NO water for the chicks. So we said something to the girl upfront (no one else was around)... she literally just ignored us and turned away!!!!! So we got on our cell and called the store, asked for the manager, and told her about the chicks and the employee. I haven't been back since. I switched the chicks I have to a different feed from a different place. They probrably lost my buisness for good, and I keep 100+ chickens and goats and ducks to boot. I spend at least 3/4 my income on animals (and I like it that way)... so they are losing a repeat three digit customer.

Previously, they had dead chicks in the bins and when the man standing near was told... he (without looking up) said, "yeah, I know. They die every hour." which was replied with, "yes, but you have some that need to be picked up now." He eventually come over and picked up one dead one out of 10 or so. The ducks had dead ones too... best I can tell, they aren't supplimenting water with niacin for them either... so unless the buyer does, they will have leg problems from a lack of niacin.

Sigh.

 

[ellieroo]

tnchicknut, with luck if enough suggest politely that in some stores things could be improved this would help a lot.As suggested on earlier threads reach and offer help to TSC either as an individual or groups.

Think Under Cover Boss how many of these CEOs had no clue and after seeing what "really" went on were only too glad to change and improve!

For starting this I thank you if we can not speak up for those who have no voice we committ a big wrong!

 

[jdc03270]

Quote:
I believe this may be just a TSC policy. I live in PA and my local feed store (where I prefer to buy my birds) I can buy one or as many as they are getting in. No minimum or maximum. However, the TSC that is about 30 miles away has a minimum of 6 to buy any there and minimum of 2 ducks.

At the TSC in Littleton, NH you have to buy a minimum of 12.