Tractor supply chick disclaimer

[debid]

I'd be reluctant to buy chicks from T/S, but I did purchase 20 chicks from a local farm co-op that were advertised as pullets, simply because they had the breed I needed and I didn't know where else locally to get them. I assumed (based on past experience of buying off of Craigslist) that 40% or so would be cockerels (that I would get rid of), but no, was I ever surprised. They were all pullets. And they have been excellent chickens, even though I'm now swamped with more than I wanted.

The co-op surely ordered from a hatchery. My local co-op always orders pullets unless they're meat birds because they know that's what most of their customers want! And normally, if you get pullets from a hatchery, they are actually pullets.

Most of the TSC issues are probably because they order a lot of straight run and then do a terrible job labeling.

The problem with buying off of Craigslist is identifying the dishonest sellers. Well, that and a bunch of You Tube videos on sexing chicks that make people think they know how.

 

[debid]

Precisely why I say polish. But... I have no idea if we have bantams or not. I think they are standard, but again, not sure until they are full grown. If htey are bantams, we shall have to sell them. But... I hope they are not.

If they're silver laced, they're standards. I don't think any of the hatcheries have bantams in colors/patterns other than black with white poofs.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

If they're silver laced, they're standards. I don't think any of the hatcheries have bantams in colors/patterns other than black with white poofs.

Phew... I was starting to like those things, and my leghorns have been bantam killers since infancy (no, they only got to try once. The hatchery shipped a bantam "surprise chick". Said chick made it about 3 weeks)

 

[Sparrowsong98]

The co-op surely ordered from a hatchery. My local co-op always orders pullets unless they're meat birds because they know that's what most of their customers want! And normally, if you get pullets from a hatchery, they are actually pullets.

Most of the TSC issues are probably because they order a lot of straight run and then do a terrible job labeling.

The problem with buying off of Craigslist is identifying the dishonest sellers. Well, that and a bunch of You Tube videos on sexing chicks that make people think they know how.

Our TSC orders a lot of pullets, but friends of mine had a hassle with some straight run black stars. This lady insisted on giving them a cockerel, when they knew it was a cockerel and said no. Eventually they got out with 6 pullets though. I think we made it out with five pullets. We lost a polish. It was smaller and weaker, and under a week old. After examining it and the other chicks and finding no illness (except pasty butt in two, neither being the dead one) on them, I decided it was because the chick was probably recovering from the shock of the first shipment, then that second travel and environment change was too much for its weaker body and killed it.