Tractor Supply Straight Run

[ChickChic1403]

I just called my local Tractor Supply and asked about their chick stock. They told me that they will carry Buff Orpingtons which is awesome, since that is the breed I want. My concern now is that they sell straight run chicks. Has anyone bought from Tractor Supply and will they let me sex the chicks before purchase?? The last thing I want as a beginner is 5 roosters!

Thanks!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I'm not sure about your local TSC, but mine has cattle panels up around the chick bins and nobody is allowed to touch the chicks unless you are a store employee. Your particular Tractor Supply may be different though.

Welcome to BYC! And good luck wih your new arrivals!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Simple word of strong advice. If you cannot have cockerels, please do not buy straight run chicks, regardless of how attractive the impulse might be.

 

[Adam7]

Just wondering how you were going to try to sex these chicks?

 

[ChickChic1403]

Buying straight run was not my intention from day 1. I have been looking into other hatcheries, specifically Meyer, for buying my chicks. But I thought it was at least worth a shot to inquire into somewhere local.

 

[ChickChic1403]

Just wondering how you were going to try to sex these chicks?

I was going to attempt it by looking at their feathers. I was told this only works in the first few days so it was just a thought.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm wincing. Feather checking is sketchy as the parent stock has to be bred specifically for that feature. This is double breeding. Breeding the males line for short feathering, let's say, and the female line for long feathering, let's say.

Without knowing that the hatchery used this method to make these chicks? It'd be a total guess. Lots and lots of folks get a whole bunch of unwanted cockerels that way. Even with vent sexing, still, one chick in 10 will still be marked incorrectly.

 

[ChickChic1403]

I'm wincing. Feather checking is sketchy as the parent stock has to be bred specifically for that feature. This is double breeding. Breeding the males line for short feathering, let's say, and the female line for long feathering, let's say.

Without knowing that the hatchery used this method to make these chicks? It'd be a total guess. Lots and lots of folks get a whole bunch of unwanted cockerels that way. Even with vent sexing, still, one chick in 10 will still be marked incorrectly.

Ok thank you for the advice. As I said, I was just trying to explore all options being a newbie. We have a hatchery about an hour drive from our house that sells pullets which is also an option. I really wanted to raise the chicks myself though.

 

[mjanderson437]

How odd...our TSC BOs are pullets, not straight run. I asked a store employee to help me pick 2 pullets and one cockerel when my TSC had straight run gold laced wyandottes and he did. He might not have been supposed to, but he was very nice to even try.

 

[tadpole98]

do they sell any already sexed?
you might want to try those first, especially if you are looking to get layers (i dont know what you are looking for), buff orpingtons are poor layers.

i would get red sex links, black and cinnamon queens if they have them!