Tractor Supply Employee Knowledge About Chicks

[Marietta's Hidden Chicks]

I love getting my comic relief at these stories!!!!

I'm a city girl, and I even know these things!!

 

[pontoosuc]

Quote:
I don't think that people see them as play toys at all. They see the cuties, their kids beg for them, they know nothing about how to care for them, they think of how easy pups and kittens are, they see the price (which is almost always under $3 a chick) and say "yes". It's an impulse buy out of ignorance. I like tnchickennut as an employee asking if they were adding to their flock then telling them what the chicks needs are. It would be good of all places that sell chicks to have a note up by them that says "new to chicks ask me how I can help you" and a handout with the basics.

This is the big problem with people not being educated in how to take care of animals: yes chicks are cute, as are pups and kittens but they all grow up. they ned to be fed, watered, sheltered, visits to the vets, pups and kittens need to be spayed and neutered, vaccinated, etc. etc. This is why so many animals end up in shelters and being euthanized because there are just too many! people spend more time and energy picking out a refrigerator to bring into their lives/homes than they do living/breathing creatures. kudos to all who take the time to help educate people when it comes to animals.

 

[woodmort]

tnchickenut welcome to the world of dealing with the great American consumer. They don't want to read that stuff and what you tell them goes in one ear and out the other. Of course there are those that will but, by and large, they will know that before the enter the store. Your local TSC is lucky to have someone like you that knows and cares about these types of things, our local one only hires for the ability to move heavy stock.

 

[wsdareme]

I've witnessed this "impulse buying" problem at a larger scale.

We used to have a livestock auction barn in our town (thank goodness it's gone now). More than once, I was at the local feed store getting horse feed when someone would come in and say, "I just just bought a horse/pony at the auction. What do I need to take care of it?" Can you imagine? Buying a horse or pony with no way to get it home, no fencing, no barn, no knowledge of how to take care of it. The employees at the feed store would do their best, but I saw them roll their eyes on more than one occasion!

At least with chicks you can send someone home with enough supplies to take care of them for at least a month! I still feel sorry for the chicks...

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
Well, we have those types too. I must say... my particular store is well rounded. We got the horse expert, the cattle expert, some guys good for lifting, ect ect.

I realize people don't want to be told what to do or that something they have done for the last X many Easters was wrong. But I keep trying anyways. lol

 

[eastercreek]

Quote:
I would hope my car dealer could tell the difference between a Ford and a Toyota

I dont think this is an apples to apples argument. Chicks are live animals....and because they are 2.00 and not 20k, you have a lot of folks buying them that probably dont put much thought into the decision and rely on at least a little expertise from the store employee. Seriously...all I ask is that you tell me whether I have to cull these birds at 12 weeks or if they will lay eggs for me. Broilers serve one purpose and since in my opinion most folks who go to TSC to get chicks dont want their chicks for that purpose...the employees need to tell the consumer what a broiler is. They look so similar to other laying breeds as chicks...only the employees who know what was shipped can tell the consumer. DOnt just put pullets on the sign...put "pullets you have to eat in 12 weeks because they will have a heart attack or cant stand up" or "pullets who will lay eggs for your enjoyment".

Seriously-this is my biggest beef with the TSC. Consumers can research how to care for and be provided with posters, etc on necessary equipment...but the one thing the store employee should know is what type of bird they are selling. The minimum wage argument is bogus...even McDonalds employees know if they are selling a Big Mac or a Fish Filet

Ok...stepping down now.

 

[write2caroline]

Well, I have also heard a few words of advice - my brother in law stated that I need to be careful in case I got a rooster or else I would have unplanned chicks all over the yard....(we eat the eggs.)

A co worker stated that the reason I have so many eggs is because my roosters are so fertile that it makes the hens lay more eggs (I have 26 hens and I get 21 eggs a day on average so even with the 8 roosters the girls are not producing more eggs)

And let us not forget the chicken experts on Survivor who create chicken traps to trap the loose chickens in the day time rather than waiting until night time to scoop them up - or the guy who left the rooster and ate the hen and complained the rooster wasn't laying any eggs!

Caroline

 

[Moe Biscuits]

I think I was fortunate with the TSC here. The asst. mgr. who was filling in for the store mgr. all but admitted he didn't know much about chickens. However, he did know exactly where all the books and magazines on chickens were, and which ones seemed to be the most popular. We bought a few mags, and I did as much research as possible (thank you BYC!). A couple of days later, when we bought our chicks, the same asst. mgr. was there, and at least knew enough to tell us which were the red pullets and which were Cornish.

The info I've gotten off of here in just the last few weeks has helped greatly. At least now we know that the two big chicks are gonna be food in a couple of months.

 

[chevgrl]

Welcome Moe!!! :grow its nice to have you joint BYC!

 

[schellie69]

I buy my chicks at Orschelns they seem to really know their stuff, at least mine does they were helping a family pick out their chicks and the little boy picked out a Cornish x and the lady helping made sure to ask dad if they wanted the meat bird the boy just wanted a big chick he asked me to help him then and i help him pick out a cute chick from the pullet bin. I won't buy from tsc every time I go in there they don't know anything and don't really help the customers I will buy my chicks from Orschelns.