Tractor Supply Chicks?

[LTygress]

I called several times and inquired about what types they were getting and when they would arrive and the answer I always got was "We don't know".

They usually don't know. One lady explained it to me once before. They don't know what chicks each store is getting until those chicks actually arrive, UNLESS someone has placed a special order. Once they arrive, the chicks are marked with breed and straight run or pullet - which is what determines the price. All straight runs are one price, all pullets another. Bantams are the same price as pullets, but always in straight runs.

And the arrival date isn't always obvious either. Right now here in Georgia everyone has an ESTIMATE of an arrival date - but last week's ice storm may throw things off. And they are warning customers about that, too.

Once they get that first set of chicks in though, subsequent deliveries are anyone's guess. It's pretty much "they'll get here when they get here". I knew one store manager who finally found out what day the next ones were coming in after making about 5 phone calls. Then, just to help me, on that day he called the stores ahead of his on the delivery route, and found out THROUGH THEM that the driver had issues and wouldn't be bringing the rest until the FOLLOWING WEEK. The delivery driver himself made no attempts to tell the store about those "issues" - or even the upcoming delivery!

 

[calliepax]

I'm thinking of my own golden laced wyandotte and she has always been kind of bossy and dominant. To females and males. I don't know if it is just her personality or a breed trait.
You are right to separate them until the wounded one heals. You didn't say how old they are but it could be the wyandotte establishing her place (on Top) of the pecking order and it just got out of hand. Once they draw blood they won't stop. Check with your local farm stores or online and see if you can find an anti-pick lotion called 'Rooster Booster'. Apply it liberally to the wounded one. When miss bossy goes to attack her again she will get a very nasty taste of it. It won't hurt either of them but it stops the pecking.

They are only 3 - 4 weeks old and the wyandottes are smaller that the ameraucanas. The other chicks don't peck at her, just the one and she pecks at both of the ameraucanas but not the other wyandotte, which I find odd. I haven't heard of the "Rooster Booster",but I will be searching for that now! Thank you for the information!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I have to say I'm not sure. My Americana mixes are hard to tell sex. They come in so many different colors. I have a 3 week old that is completely silver and grey with no head spots. But I can tell by the way that she eats that it's female... scratch the floor, take 2 bites...scratch the floor, take 2 bites... It goes on this way the entire time she's eating. Males may scratch occasionally but not continuously like a hen does.
The black stripe going up onto the head sounds female but you would have to put that together with her actions to draw an educated guess!

I have Ameraucana hens and one roo and they don't all fit that pattern. Some of my hens do but not all and the roo has eating habits that seem to change from time to time so it may not be one of those across the board ways to tell gender.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

They usually don't know. One lady explained it to me once before. They don't know what chicks each store is getting until those chicks actually arrive, UNLESS someone has placed a special order. Once they arrive, the chicks are marked with breed and straight run or pullet - which is what determines the price. All straight runs are one price, all pullets another. Bantams are the same price as pullets, but always in straight runs.

And the arrival date isn't always obvious either. Right now here in Georgia everyone has an ESTIMATE of an arrival date - but last week's ice storm may throw things off. And they are warning customers about that, too.

Once they get that first set of chicks in though, subsequent deliveries are anyone's guess. It's pretty much "they'll get here when they get here". I knew one store manager who finally found out what day the next ones were coming in after making about 5 phone calls. Then, just to help me, on that day he called the stores ahead of his on the delivery route, and found out THROUGH THEM that the driver had issues and wouldn't be bringing the rest until the FOLLOWING WEEK. The delivery driver himself made no attempts to tell the store about those "issues" - or even the upcoming delivery!

Oh, I'm not doubting that TSC didn't know. My point is that there are other stores that DO know. As I stated, I purchased my chicks from a regional farm store that had a list of breeds they would be getting and the dates they would arrive on their website weeks before the first chicks were to arrive.

The regional store may be purchasing from a different hatchery or have a different arrangement with the hatchery. Whatever the reason, if a regional store can make arrangements to have this information in advance, there's really no reason that TSC can't do so as well. It obviously can be done as other places are doing it.

I had an option of dealing with TSC who couldn't give me any information vs. dealing with a different farm store that had all the info on their website well in advance and the info was accurate. The listed breeds arrived on the listed date. Don't know what this regional farm store is doing different from TSC but I think TSC might want to take some lessons from them.

 

[Silkiehen]

I'm ready! The light and water I haven't put in yet! I hope they come in tomorrow! It's bigger than it looks, will be putting newspaper over the puppy pads. Any suggestions welcome!

 

[Debs55]

Looks good! but I would not use newspaper. It tends to get slippery when it gets wet. Try paper towels instead and post pics when you get them!!

 

[Melinda48]

We have learned a great deal from the employees at the TS here. Very grateful to them for our positive experience with our girls!

 

[Silkiehen]

Looks good! but I would not use newspaper. It tends to get slippery when it gets wet. Try paper towels instead and post pics when you get them!!

Ok, I hoping they will be in tomorrow!

 

[sled483]

I ordered 5 bantams from MPC back in November. They are due to ship the first week in April. The wait is killing me! I'm trying to keep myself from going to TSC when the get their chicks in. I don't know if I have the will power though.

 

[Debs55]

Just talked to the 2 tractor supplies closests to me and chicks will be here today or tomorrow