TSC chicks... Bantam Assorted

[ChcknNurse]

Thanks. Do bantams grow at a slower pace, or just grow the same rate and top out sooner? I ask this because I have one that was labelled bantam that is the same size as the Barred Rock. I suspect it's not bantam, but I suppose it depends on the pattern of growth. Oh and I'm being so careful as we have some eggs coming in 2 wks for hatching.

 

[BusyBearMama]

Tsc in our area is the same way this year... They have 'assorted ducks straight run' 'assorted bantam straight run' 'assorted pullets ' & if you're lucky 'specialty chicks straight run' the pullets have been sex link reds/golden comets ... You know... They're all identical but dispite that the employees insist that they're mixed... I grabbed some specialty chicks that had just come in and we lost all but two within a few hours :-/ the remaining 2 are 2 weeks old and I have them on save a chick and I treated with medicated feed for a bit. They seem ok for the most part now. They're hatchery New Hampshire reds... They also had straight rub 'ameraucanas ' that we all know are Easter eggers... I love Easter eggers but I don't like when things are mislabeled... Or as you're saying... Unlabeled. Last week they had no water in any of the bins and the bantams had large pelleted feed and I watched them a while and they couldn't eat it :-( I told them the birds seemed like they needed various changed and another customer was getting them to give them water. The 2 week + birds were in the same 95 degree bins and didn't look well :-( my advice is to buy a day or 36 hours after they arrive if they last that long. To do what you're doing and take pictires and id the birds. Only get birds that look really well, don't just let them fill a box... My first mistake. If the bird can be sexed at all find that out in advance. On their site there is an order form and as far as mixed birds I doubt there can be anything not on the list. The bantams are listed as mixed bantams though so make a list of the ones you are interested in. And put a picture of each chick you would want on your phone or print and label and then used that guide to help you choose your birds. If you can find 6 healthy birds in a nice mix that's great! Good luck! Its so exciting to see them all there and so frustersting to not have any info on what you're getting... I mean you wouldn't buy a puppy from the mixed toy puppy bin lol they should be able to tell you the hatchery name and you can research what bantams they carry too.

 

[Rocky64]

Thanks. Do bantams grow at a slower pace, or just grow the same rate and top out sooner? I ask this because I have one that was labelled bantam that is the same size as the Barred Rock. I suspect it's not bantam, but I suppose it depends on the pattern of growth. Oh and I'm being so careful as we have some eggs coming in 2 wks for hatching.

Hmm... I don't know much about bantams( other than silkies and even then I'm not sure if silkies are considered bantams) but I know it depends on the breed, but generally I think they grow at the same rate, maturity wise, but not size wise. The barred rock might pick on the bantam in a few weeks when the barred rock is bigger than the bantam, so you might want to look for aggression.

 

[ChcknNurse]

Thank you both! Great information! That is a great idea on the pics too. I had started to make a list and adding the pics will certainly help to identify. TSC said the chicks, especially bantams aren't moving this year, with a different hatchery. Obviously, hard to feel Spring with it still snowing outside... ugh. But, not labeling even with possible breeds, makes it difficult to fill your coop with what you may not really want. The one bantam I have was the only one like it in the bin and I was there for the unpacking. I am not sure if it accidentally ended up in the bantam lot. We will see in upcoming weeks, lol. I studied feather sexing and really studied sexing Barred Rocks before I chose. But, seems a bit dominant, so we will see. I am open to any suggestions.

Regarding condition... Twice I had to gently go to an employee for a long dead chick in the bin. Last week there were so many bantams in the bin and the wood chips were soaked. I was pleased to see them split up later in the week. They are nice folks and they seem to care, at least this store.

 

[BusyBearMama]

I agree, they're all really nice there any time I have said or seen someone say something they do something. It must be hard to suddenly be responsible for so many chicks, Espescially if you don't know about chicks... Probably a but tough. They really want to sell them and it does seem to really bug them when people ask what's in the bin, I think it must be constant and the employees really don't know :-/ I'm sure tsc is getting the very best possible deal on birds doing it like this but it would be great if they just had a list up like they do with the ducks hope you're able to find your chicks soon and keep in mind there are other options. Hatcherys like Meyers have a smaller minnimim and while they ship to you and that's a bit tough depending on various things. You can select your birds and genders sometimes too

 

[ChcknNurse]

I think you're right. It's kind of kid in a candy store. We even have a breeder nearby. But, the price is much higher so I need to be super selective. I have expensive taste when I see their website and I'm drooling over the $20- $50 a piece birds. So I hold back for a bit. Plus, I have eggs coming and need to not get overrun. We have space just would need to build a second coop. Lol. BTW, I am using sav-a-chik right now. Do you all use an electrolyte soln after they are moved to the coop?

 

[BusyBearMama]

Oh you sound just like me lol. I'm building more coops this year but I have guineas, chickens, chicks, an order of chicks coming and 2 orders of eggs coming from now till end of April... ... ... I too have pleanty of space but how many coops do I NEED

Anyway I mix save a chick electrolyte & probiotic any time I have anyone that doesn't look 100% and offer it in a separate dish... It rarely comes up past chick hood but I don't think it hurts anyone, I know a lot if people use it much more than I do though and that's ok too

 

[ChcknNurse]

Okay awesome, thanks. BTW, my barred rock has been with us over a wk, 2 1/2 wks old. He/she looks healthy, strong. But, stools are still loose. They have been on the same probiotic/electrolyte mix for over a WK. Anything else I should consider?

 

[BusyBearMama]

If her she wasn't treated for coccidiosis and was possibly exposed that could be what's going on. Medicated chick starter is good for that only if the chick wasn't treated previously because it needs to be the sole source of that medicine or the chick will be left unprotected. I gave that to my tsc chicks, they needed it for a bit. They seem fine now. One is more lively than the other and they're only 2.5 weeks so time will tell... But just be sure to keep the enclosure very clean and keep an eye on the bird.

 

[ChcknNurse]

Thank you so much. Separate dish, okay.

Reviewed the local breeder and my order was 150$ for 8 birds. Ugh, maybe just one or 2 until I evaluate our predator situation with the birds already coming.