Should feed stores etc... even sell chicks????

[Lynette]

Our local tractor supply stores have put fencing around the chicks for that reason. Too many little kids getting grabby. Before they did that, I noticed, I don't know how many times, parents bringing their kids in there just to maul the chicks and ducklings. I am glad they put up the fence! And I think they should ask people certain questions just to be sure that the babies will be cared for properly.

 

[WalkerH]

Quote:
The only issue with that is the people who work there are usually to incompetent to know the questions to ask, and if given a list wouldn't know the correct answer themselves.

 

[cmtigger]

Do you realize that if you legislate more and more, eventually it's going to come back to bite you in the butt? We all think "oh but I'm not one of them." Until it actually does affect us. How many of us got our first chicks at a feed store of some sort- whether it was a large chain like TSC or a mom and pop store? How many of us have continued to pick up a few chicks each year at one of those stores?

 

[cmtigger]

Quote:
The only issue with that is the people who work there are usually to incompetent to know the questions to ask, and if given a list wouldn't know the correct answer themselves.

Depends on the store, the person they put in charge of the chicks at the store near where I work actually raises chickens herself, and I seem to remember a few TSC employees posting on this board too.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
I didn't realize my Gucci bag made me an incompetent chicken owner.

 

[what's kickin' chicken]

Quote:
x2

if you keep wanting to choose who gets to do what sooner or later you will be on here venting that someone kept you from doing something.....imo

 

[F106A]

I have to say I spent a week planning the whole process out. I went in knowing what I needed, and had even "recon'd" the TSCs in my area before I made the purchase. (Abilene, Eastland, and Sweetwater, TX) I picked up the brochures, surfed the "interwebitube" (especially this site!), called TSC to check on their chick inventory the day I bought 'em, and felt I was prepared. I went into the Sweetwater TSC for my six chicks (assorted pullets, or "little yellow furballs"), and specifically told the saleswoman, "I need the entire setup." She was very knowledgeable, and helped me out. She let my twins pick out the chicks they wanted, and talked them through that. I think my timing was great, as no one else was in the store at the time looking for chicks. My next stop was the Wal-Mart next door for a 45 gallon rubbermaid-like tub. I then drove to the Abilene TSC, and walked out with a "case" (6) of Doms. Nothing else. If anyone saw me doing that I suppose they could have thought the same thing you did.

Two days after I got the 12 chicks I had my brooder plan sketched out, and priced everthing I needed for it at the Home Depot next to the Abilene TSC. Four days later it was done. Two days after that I bought my pre-built, 8' x 6', outdoor shed from Lowe's for use as the coop, and it will be delivered next Monday. (Lot's of work to do on that, I tell you what!!)

In between all that, I have been learning SO MUCH from all you great folks here on BYC! One of the key things I've learned is to stop estimating the chicks growing milestones in one week time periods! They really do grow faster than weeds!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

Mark

 

[corvidae]

I'm torn on this--on the one hand, when I first got chickens, I didn't know one could get them anywhere BUT a feed store (how's that for chicken naive??). I took my boys with me and we picked out Welsummers and love them dearly. We had read bunches on chickens and keeping chickens and it would appear that isn't always the case, but it is very much the same as getting cats, dogs, rabbits, lizards, etc. Folks tend to think they want something until the shine wears off, then a certain portion of them are either going to give them away/sell them, or not take care of them properly. Doesn't seem to much matter what kind of animal it is, as witnessed by the masses of poor critters in the animal shelters and rescues.

My concern tends to creep in more in the actual feedstores' handling of the chicks. When we went to get chickens originally, my two older boys ended up spending half their time chasing down chicks who had managed to escape from the brooders so they could rescue them before they got hurt. My eldest son was nearly in tears over the fact that the employees didn't seem at all concerned or caring about this and actually seemed annoyed at my boys for catching these chicks and bringing them to the employees to take care of. Additionally, we saw an enormous number of the chicks with what appears to be pasty butt and several chicks who were in the brooders dead. This was at an IFA, which, in these parts, is apparently a reasonably reputable feed store with otherwise very nice and usually helpful employees. We found the whole setup fairly disturbing.

Now, of course, we incubate eggs from good sources rather than buying them at the feed store and, considering I just lost an entire batch of much-wanted eggs to a beserk incubator, I can't honestly say which is worse.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I work at TSC... I'm in charge of the chicks at our store, and I almost cried when I saw the gates go up around those chicks, I was so happy about it. There are many times I'd just like nothing more than to tell people to just go home and actually do some research on what they're getting into, but I can't. It's honestly VERY frustrating for me and I'll be glad when chick days is over. We do our best to give them the proper materials to raise healthy chicks, and I will even write down this website and give it to them. I had a lady come in the other day asking about caring for the chicks... I told her that it's not hard, but it requires time and attention. They need to be looked after not just forgotten about. She said if they need nearly the amount of attention as a cat they weren't for her. I replied that since she's getting fresh eggs from a friend, I thought that might be the best route for her then

I think she was glad I was honest with her, and I would do the same thing again in that situation. We get a lot of "I know nothing" people, but we also get a lot of people who are gonna give those chicks and ducks an absolutely wonderful life... I try to keep those people in my mind. Tonight for example, a dad brought his 2 little girls in to pick out 6 gold comet pullets. Just looking at them you would've thought they knew nothing. On the contrary, they bought 6 comets 3 years ago, all of which have names that they "answer" to, and are well taken care of

They even said they'd helped the one who'd gotten egg bound last year! I commended them on that since I know that can be a difficult thing to help sometimes. The chicks they picked out are some of the luckiest little things ever! Basically, what I'm saying is, you can't always judge a book by it's cover.

 

[arohli]

I agree that there should be some sort of instructions included with chick purchases. The "chick crate" I brought mine home in had a list of the basic necessities, which is somewhat helpful. Of course, I had already done all my research, and had the brooder all warmed up and had food and water already available before I even brought mine home.

While I was at the feed store, 2 ladies had purchased a few chicks each and were heading out the door with their chick boxes. On their way out, one of them asked an employee if it was ok to leave the chicks in the car for a few hours while they ran other errands and went to Starbucks. It was a very cold day, too. The employee told them it would be best to take them straight home and put them in the brooder before running errands....they both said, "What's a brooder?". I almost died. It really saddened me that these poor little chicks were almost certainly heading for certain death. Why in the world would anyone buy an animal of any kind without knowing how to take care of it? I'm sure many of the feed store chicks die because of ignorant, impulsive people. Makes me sad...and mad.