Rescue chics from feed store?

[AnnieMike]

A feed store near me is looking for someone to rescue sickly or returned baby chicks. They do get their baby chicks vaccinated. I already have an established flock. How risky would this be if I would take them in? Would any of you all do it? I am sure they would need to be quarantine. Just trying to make up my mind on whether it would be a terrible idea. My heart sometimes takes over my brain.

 

[Brooks_]

Definitely not sickly. Maybe simple returns with proper quarantining and such. But even then those could have been exposed to the sick. So, no.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How old are the chicks you're talking about?

All our feed store does is replace any chicks that die with free chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

"Sickly" sounds like a good way to break your heart over and over - even if they don't die some will probably need to be culled due to quality of life.

 

[AnnieMike]

They are chicks right from the hatchery. So a few days old. The whole ordeal of being shipped sometimes stress them out, etc. pasty butt is a problem they mentioned. The chicks that seem sickly they move to an area in the back of the store. I guess they don’t have the resources to take care of them.

 

[Folly's place]

Very sad, but not a good idea, for the sake of your existing flock. I wouldn't do it here. Store management is trying to pass the buck, and make you feel guilty, when these chicks are the responsibility of the store staff.
If you didn't already have birds, maybe.
Chicks who are sick and don't improve with warmth and feeding are poor prospects for long term survival.
Mary

 

[gtaus]

I have my brooder setup completely separate from my backyard flock. If the store is giving away the chicks for free, I think I would give it a go, knowing that they might not survive. But, I have had to nurse a chick or two through those first days and most of them survived. If you can stand losing the chicks if they die, if you can raise them separately from the main flock, and you don't have to pay for them, I think I'd try it.

Having said that, I think chicks should be strong enough to survive those first days or maybe they are not good stock to carry. Other than providing heat, food, and water, I don't think I would go to extremes to care for them other than the usual pasty butt type issues.

Last year our local Fleet store got a shipment of weak chicks and many died. I think they just got over stressed in the shipping. Anyway, the store was throwing the dead chicks in a 5 gallon bucket by the display and did not bother to put a top on the bucket. So I asked the manager if he thought that was a good idea because so many little children go there to look at the baby chicks in the store. Also, who wants to buy a chick from them if they have a bucket half full of dead chicks sitting in front of the display? They quickly moved the bucket out of sight and put a lid on it. Too bad they did not have someone there to think of that themselves.

 

[AnnieMike]

Very sad, but not a good idea, for the sake of your existing flock. I wouldn't do it here. Store management is trying to pass the buck, and make you feel guilty, when these chicks are the responsibility of the store staff.
If you didn't already have birds, maybe.
Chicks who are sick and don't improve with warmth and feeding are poor prospects for long term survival.
Mary

Thank you for everyone’s input. I do appreciate it.

 

[AnnieMike]

I have my brooder setup completely separate from my backyard flock. If the store is giving away the chicks for free, I think I would give it a go, knowing that they might not survive. But, I have had to nurse a chick or two through those first days and most of them survived. If you can stand losing the chicks if they die, if you can raise them separately from the main flock, and you don't have to pay for them, I think I'd try it.

Having said that, I think chicks should be strong enough to survive those first days or maybe they are not good stock to carry. Other than providing heat, food, and water, I don't think I would go to extremes to care for them other than the usual pasty butt type issues.

Last year our local Fleet store got a shipment of weak chicks and many died. I think they just got over stressed in the shipping. Anyway, the store was throwing the dead chicks in a 5 gallon bucket by the display and did not bother to put a top on the bucket. So I asked the manager if he thought that was a good idea because so many little children go there to look at the baby chicks in the store. Also, who wants to buy a chick from them if they have a bucket half full of dead chicks sitting in front of the display? They quickly moved the bucket out of sight and put a lid on it. Too bad they did not have someone there to think of that themselves.

That is terrible about the bucket! Yes, they would be free.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

A few years back, during the spring season when i was buying many chick breeds to put under my broodies, the store manager offered to give me any and all weak chicks that arrived. I declined due to didnt have any excess energy to try and save them. I still feel bad i declined, but it was the right decision for me. I understand the manager was trying to give the chance to live and appreciate him for caring, but wish he hadnt put that decision on me. Now that You have been offered the same choice, u have to decide which is best decision forYou. Will u feel better not accepting the offer, so u dont have your efforts mostly be in vain because most of the weak chicks will likely die anyway? Or will u feel better that you at least tried and gave them your best efforts? I do feel for u either way, & STILL wish the feed store manager hadnt offered me the weak chicks. Let us know what you decide.