Tractor supply chick disclaimer

[chickens really]

Most people say to never purchase Chicks from a store...Buy from reputable hatchery....I do and have success...Also if buying from breeder local to you look how they keep the conditions?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Lol now I want to buy from tractor supply and simply say "surprise me".

 

[adrikeen]

There is also no consistency in the conditions from store to store. I have 3 TSC relatively close to me (across 2 states) and one is immaculate with very knowledgeable staff. I go routinely and usually refer other people to that store. The second one, while equally immaculate has no knowledgeable staff....I was buying bantams and was told by an employee working the chicks that "you know these are bantams...they don't lay eggs". And the third store you just want to report to a local animal protection agency. Overcrowded, no water like another user noted, filth, obviously sick and dead chicks in with the healthier ones....so sad.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There is also no consistency in the conditions from store to store. I have 3 TSC relatively close to me (across 2 states) and one is immaculate with very knowledgeable staff. I go routinely and usually refer other people to that store. The second one, while equally immaculate has no knowledgeable staff....I was buying bantams and was told by an employee working the chicks that "you know these are bantams...they don't lay eggs". And the third store you just want to report to a local animal protection agency. Overcrowded, no water like another user noted, filth, obviously sick and dead chicks in with the healthier ones....so sad.

The statement about bantams I can see being a poor communication rather than an actual "look how stupid they are" sort of thing -- many people are looking for egg layers and find the idea of the small stature of bantams appealing not realizing they are more of a decorative type than a production type. The employee's words could have been better formulated, but the underlying message was not all that inaccurate.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have seen similar to the last description no water, dead and dying in with stronger, new chicks with no heat source at a store near me. It is not a tractor supply store.

Very very sad conditions.

 

[lazy gardener]

After my last experience dealing with a feed store purchase (pre ordered from a Not a TSC store) I vowed I would NEVER NEVER NEVER buy from a feed store again. Chicks not provided enough heat, and several of them comatose from shipping stress and lack of heat. A gal checked a straight run PBR bin at a TSC south of me, and came away shaking her head b/c they were ALL MALES.

There is only one store within decent driving range of me (also not a TSC) that I would recommend to anyone for chick purchase.

 

[Folly's place]

I visit two fairly nearby TSC's; one store does a good job, the other, not so much. It's a management issue, IMO; if nobody cares at the top, there's no time or training, or incentive, for staff to do well. Then, the hatcheries supplying the chicks don't bother to have the sexing done right, or at all, and yet those chicks are often sold as pullets.
Costumers are at fault here too; ignorance is NOT bliss, and not a good excuse!
I would report bad conditions to management, then the local humane society, and the state veterinarian's office. Mary

 

[Sparrowsong98]

The head poof on a Polish should be visible even in chick down.

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.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

After my last experience dealing with a feed store purchase (pre ordered from a Not a TSC store) I vowed I would NEVER NEVER NEVER buy from a feed store again. Chicks not provided enough heat, and several of them comatose from shipping stress and lack of heat. A gal checked a straight run PBR bin at a TSC south of me, and came away shaking her head b/c they were ALL MALES.

There is only one store within decent driving range of me (also not a TSC) that I would recommend to anyone for chick purchase.

I have found that The local stores (Those little ones, no chains, no second loacation) seem to know chickens/ research how to take care of them before getting them. My feed store`s chicks are always healthy, no problems with heat, sickness, any of that.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

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.