Tractor Supply Chicks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tappy4me]

Will have to keep that in mind, but a bit far to drive at the moment.

Most of the hatcheries to order chicks from seem to be a minimum order of 15 right now that I can find...

 

[SlipsWife]

So, I was looking at the special order form that TSC here has. It looks like there is a minimum order of 25 for chicks...

We really want to get some Buff Orpingtons, and I was wondering if anyone here would be interested in some of them? We only need 6 pullets. :/ They had told us the other day when we talked to them that they could order any number for us, just as long as it was a minimum of 6. We still have to confirm this in store, and will be Friday. However, if there is a larger minimum order, is there anyone near Charlottesville that would be interested in buying some of them?

You would be better off just ordering them yourself from a hatchery. That's the minimum most hatcheries have, some have as few as 15 when it gets a little warmer, Ideal has a $25 minimum but my understanding is they are low on availability right now.

If you order from a hatchery yourself and cut out the middle man, you will be able to get reimbursed for any losses, if you order pullets and it turns out you have more roosters than the 10% guarantee difference you can get credited back, you might be surprised how quickly chicks sell on Craigslist if you know their breeds and they aren't something that's offered locally. You could also order the 6 you want (there are a couple of hatcheries, Cackle I believe is one, that you have to order in multiples of 5) and then fill the order will a breed that sells well in your area, either a meat breed or good layers, or EE seem to sell well. Just make sure they look different from the breed you want so you aren't guessing at which ones are yours.

I've bought and still buy chicks from TSC but only 'for fun' if I see something that catches my eye. I ordered our layers and what I WANT this year from hatcheries, will grow them out a couple of months, pick out the ones I want and sell the extras.

 

[CGinJCMO]

The sign actually says a minimum of 6. The lady and I both tried to explain that to them. They INSISTED we were wrong. We looked at each other and I said go up the block, mom&pop feed store you what you want.

Another reason to NOT buy chicks at TSC.

Yes, I don't like the 6 chick minimum TSC has. I'd have preferred to buy just two to add to my bantam flock. I understand it the reason behind the rule, but for anyone who already has chickens, they aren't thinking "Easter Basket". For those who live in cities where you can only have 3 hens, I imagine TSC doesn't do as good a business. This particular TSC may be thinking if you buy them in set of 6, they can get rid of them faster. Never mind the people who can practice self control and limit themselves to what they need.

CG

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Makes one wonder how many of those chicks end up being throw away chicks since so many want less than the minimum.

 

[Tikkijane]

You would be better off just ordering them yourself from a hatchery.  That's the minimum most hatcheries have, some have as few as 15 when it gets a little warmer, Ideal has a $25 minimum but my understanding is they are low on availability right now.

If you order from a hatchery yourself and cut out the middle man, you will be able to get reimbursed for any losses, if you order pullets and it turns out you have more roosters than the 10% guarantee difference you can get credited back, you might be surprised how quickly chicks sell on Craigslist if you know their breeds and they aren't something that's offered locally.  You could also order the 6 you want (there are a couple of hatcheries, Cackle I believe is one, that you have to order in multiples of 5) and then fill the order will a breed that sells well in your area, either a meat breed or good layers, or EE seem to sell well.  Just make sure they look different from the breed you want so you aren't guessing at which ones are yours.

I've bought and still buy chicks from TSC but only 'for fun' if I see something that catches my eye.  I ordered our layers and what I WANT this year from hatcheries, will grow them out a couple of months, pick out the ones I want and sell the extras.

I ordered from Privett's via TSC last year. Minimum 25; breeds by 5s. Paid TSC; shipped to local PO; had communication with the hatchery who would reimburse for loss.

 

[SlipsWife]

I ordered from Privett's via TSC last year. Minimum 25; breeds by 5s. Paid TSC; shipped to local PO; had communication with the hatchery who would reimburse for loss.

That's good to know that the hatchery would still reimburse you for losses even though you paid TSC. We bought chicks from TSC last year and then ordered directly from Privett. We had a good experience with Privett. I always pick up our orders at the local post office between 6 and 10 am, depending on which truck they are on.

Do you mind me asking why you didn't order from Privett directly? Did you save by going through TSC?

 

[Tikkijane]

I don't know if I saved or not... TSC uses Mt. Healthy, Ideal, and Privett's. It just happened that Privett could fill my order the earliest. That being said, all of my chickens have come from Privett- via TSC or not. It made sense when we lived in NM (we were about an hour from the hatchery) and a really nice surprise when we moved.

I had priced my breeds through several hatcheries and honestly, I was at TSC and it was easy so I figured why not. I had to order my guineas seperately because TSC didn't offer the colors I wanted. I found most places to be comparable on price; shipping and minimum numbers seem to be the variables.

 

[jdoane]

You could order straight from the hatchery. Then you can order exactly what you want and probably get them sexed too depending on what hatchery you order through. Depending where you are Meyer Hatchery might do fewer than 15. But I also bet if you got 15 Buff Orpingtons you could sell the extras you didn't want. They're popular.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I was planning to see if I could order through TSC and I was told I had to buy a full twenty-five and it would be sent to my house instead of there. I was like, "WHy bother going through the middle man then?" You think that I could have gotten just a few of a certain breed that way but I found that it has something to do with the hatchery that mine uses. They make them buy certain numbers of each breed so I guess they just pass on the policy.

 

[1000yearoldeggs]

Makes one wonder how many of those chicks end up being throw away chicks since so many want less than the minimum.

Yeah, I wonder too. I myself have to sell 4 chicks, but luckily my dad's coworker (who already has chickens) is going to buy them. I didn't want to sell to the wrong person and just have the poor things die because they don't know what they're doing.