Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Arielle]

Quote: Thanks Ron-- my ability to use Facebook is like a cave woman using a phone-- totally foreign to me. lol

 

[KrazyChromatics]

I got mine at TSC... during chick days, actually. It worked very well for us, they cost $2 per bird, but I knew I was getting lively little buggers and I was able to get just 10 at a time with about 8 or 10 days in between so I could stagger my butcher days. They are shipped to the feed mills and Tractor Supply stores in crates by the hundreds, often special shipped since they are such large deliveries, so they stay warm and are probably handled a bit more animal friendly. Not to knock the local mailman, but general carriers can sometimes be hard on shipped animals. Check the source your local feed mills and TSC use and then check online for info about their supplier, if they are online, or ask other folks in your area if they have gotten from that supplier.

Where you are at Sally I would ask Wing who she has used and how much luck she's had with her birds. She does a lot of processing and has gotten from a number of different sources, so she would be a good reference in your area.

TSC receives their birds via the PO just like everyone else, we are lucky that our mail guy likes delivering our chicks to us so we dont have to go to the PO ourselves to get them... but we wisk them right to the back room and take care of them... we get shipments once or twice, sometimes 3 times a week esp in the beginning, and usually we get a box of 100 and a box of 25... unless we get the CX, and something like production reds, then we can get 200/225 ...ah chick days, soon again they will be upon us

 

[BCMaraniac]

I got mine at TSC... during chick days, actually. It worked very well for us, they cost $2 per bird, but I knew I was getting lively little buggers and I was able to get just 10 at a time with about 8 or 10 days in between so I could stagger my butcher days. They are shipped to the feed mills and Tractor Supply stores in crates by the hundreds, often special shipped since they are such large deliveries, so they stay warm and are probably handled a bit more animal friendly. Not to knock the local mailman, but general carriers can sometimes be hard on shipped animals. Check the source your local feed mills and TSC use and then check online for info about their supplier, if they are online, or ask other folks in your area if they have gotten from that supplier.

Where you are at Sally I would ask Wing who she has used and how much luck she's had with her birds. She does a lot of processing and has gotten from a number of different sources, so she would be a good reference in your area.

I like the fact that if I get them when they are 2-3 days old, then the shipping casualties have already occurred, so you know the chicks are hardy. I lost a total of two CX from TSC....one had something fall on it, so that one is on me. Another had to be emergently processed due to heart failure.

 

[fisherlady]

I like the fact that if I get them when they are 2-3 days old, then the shipping casualties have already occurred, so you know the chicks are hardy. I lost a total of two CX from TSC....one had something fall on it, so that one is on me. Another had to be emergently processed due to heart failure.

This is exactly why I like picking up chicks myself, be it from TSC or a breeder or feed mill... I know chicks are shipped every day without incident, but I have also heard the horror stories on bad shipping experiences. It is up to the individual based on proximity to local sources, work schedule vs hatchery/supplier hours and pricing and even reputation of shipper. If you are getting larger quantities and/or splitting a large order among a couple of other people then it would be hard to beat some of the hatchery deals even with shipping costs, I would even do that if I had anyone close who would split an order with me... but I have been lucky in that my work schedule has allowed me to pick them up in person.

 

[Tomtommom]

I got all mine from TSC. Didn't lose a single chick. It's nice to be able to see what you're getting. They were as kind to let me take a look at the babies and pick out the ones I wanted.

They're pretty inbred looking though

But hey, they produce just fine. Lots of wrong combs, uneven wattles.. didn't have any with crooked beaks atleast, did have one with funky toes.

I'm probably insane, but I actually don't care much for chicks. I know a lot of folks are crazy for the little squeekers, but I like adult birds better than chicks. Same way with humans though... I don't like little babies.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Sorry! Meant to have a different pic progression on that but then I didn't bother to change it. Someone else noted what clean feet the bird had...and I had never even noticed!

My first thought was what HUGE feet that bird had!

 

[annie82005]

My meaties are here!

 

[Arielle]

LEt us know how it works out-- 25 is a looooot of mouths to feed!! lol

 

[Sally Sunshine]

My meaties are here!

YA!!!! how did they ship?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I know, my thoughts were no wonder people eat the feet, entire person in themselves lol