Private Hatchery vs TSC

[Chickeninthemeadow]

Well, I've already put in my order for chicks from a private hatchery (www.sumner-byrdfarm.com) and at over 5 dollars a chick for buff orps, I worry. I hear horror stories of TSC and reading where perhaps 50% of the chicks don't make it. I'm looking for 8 chickens and ordered 8 chicks. Am I being overly hopeful that all the chicks will survive? Should I have ordered 'fodder' in case some of them die? Should I bump up the number I ordered to 12 and just bite the bullet of 20 more dollars spent on birds?

I chose a private hatchery cause I figure the chicks at TSC come from the poultry version of puppy mills.

 

[quintinp]

i would try to find some local, there are bound to be some buff orpington chicks, or chickens around you, they are a very popular breed

 

[Chickeninthemeadow]

Perhaps I should add that Sumner's is 'local', they don't ship chicks, you have to physically go to their farm to pick up your order. It is roughly an hour drive there for me and I'm pondering a way to keep them warm (but not too hot) on the way home, but I think as long as it's warm outside and we don't set them directly under the AC they'll be fine. TSC is still about 30 minutes away so either way is a bit of a drive.

 

[wsdareme]

I think you will be just fine with the chicks you've ordered. You'll know when you pick them up if they're healthy, active, and alert. And the one hour drive home is not going to be that stressful for them.

You might consider putting some "Hot Hands" in with the chicks to help keep them warm. Just make sure that if they're too warm they have room to get away from them.

 

[crtrlovr]

Quote:
Agreed -- a one hour drive should be NO problem compared to what most chicks endure in the shipping process! If you have a good old fashioned rubber hot water bottle, it can be filled with hot (not boiling, but 110 - 120 degree water like bath water) and covered with a towel. Just make sure the chicks have room to get off of it or away from it if they get too warm, like the ^ above post says. Congrats on your soon to be new babies! (and if I haven't already done so, welcome to BYC!)

 

[debid]

I ordered from a local farm, too. I figured that paying a little more for birds that I know have not been through the stress of postal service shipment and have not been handled (potentially mishandled) by a bunch of people who cannot resist their cute little fuzziness was worth it. I also believe that the breeding quality will be better. It seemed a reasonable start for first chickens that I don't intend to breed.

I would not order more chicks than you want to have hens because there is a very good chance of all of them surviving. The number of chicks that die after shipment is much, much higher than the number that die from natural causes.

ETA: remember that TSC chicks get the double whammy of being shipped AND subsequently overhandled and undermanaged... I'm sure their losses are relatively high.

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
what i was talking about why i said that is because it would be waaay cheaper, and your chicks would be farm raise chickies

 

[Fire]

While the hatchery chicks may be better the 6 chicks I got at TSC a little over a week ago are going great. In spite of me never having had chicks before. Just moved them into a bigger brooder today with a roost and they are loving it.

 

[spotstealer]

I also went to TSC to buy my chicks. I've had them just over two weeks and so far so good. I got them the morning after they were dropped off, before all the adorning fans handled them and stressed them out. The lady that was tending all the chickies was very knowlegeable and gave us some tips on observing them and making them as compfy as possible at such a young tender age.

 

[zengrrl]

I just picked up 6 silkies and 2 polish from a private farm on Friday. But those TSC chicks are still calling my name and I may be going there shortly! I also thought the postal service seemed too brutal but hey, most chicks make that well too. My son and I drove with the heat on full blast, sweating to death all the way home!