TSC chicks :(

[Fred's Hens]

TSC is merely the middle man for the hatcheries. Thousands, likely 10's of thousands of folks here buy their chicks from TSC with great success.
Perhaps you could adjust how you are brooding them, raising, feeding, housing and so forth. There are great resources right here on BYC. There is a page with Raising Chickens 101 beginners course.

I'm very sorry for your losses, but this just isn't likely the result of TSC doing anything wrong or selling inferior chicks.

 

[chicmom]

Are you using a heated brooder? You can literally use a large plastic storage bin, and a heat lamp. You hang that lamp in one corner of the brooder, and raise/lower it until the temp is appx 98 degrees. Chicks will die in a heartbeat if they get too cold.

I never use medicated feed, get my chicks from TSC, and they're all fine.

Use pine shavings as a base. That works great too, and you just stir it up and it freshens for up to a week.

Don't move them outside until they are fully feathered (no more fuzz).

And they can't handle any drafts, so don't put them in a drafty place.

I'll bet you'll do just fine. TSC has a thermometer, which is metal, and it has the temps right on it that you need for chicks, ducks, and turkeys.....EASY! Then every week, you lift that lamp higher so the temp drops by five degrees. This way, they don't get shocked.

YOU CAN DO IT!

 

[bluemini]

Quote:
Yes thats what I keep then in is those tubs,they dont have drafts and I use aspen wood shavings . They have feed and water and a heat lamp ,I kept the temp. right and everything so I have no idea what happened . And thanks,im going to try one more time .

 

[BeetleChick]

I watched the chicks run around before picking my 12. One had poop on it's rear end, I asked the TSC lady to put that one back. We kept ours in our garage attic (it was early April in nc), with a heat lamp and we kept checking them every couple of hours even at night. They were in a plastic tub and had blankets wrapped around the tub as well as a radiator heater a few nights. We moved them into a little tykes play house downstairs at 2 weeks, then outside in their tractor coop at 4 weeks where they stayed until 20 weeks.

 

[WalkerH]

We bought about 35 or so chicks this year from TSC. Some meat birds, who fared a bit better then the others. I lost two of the ten two natural causes as far as I can tell and one to the dog. I believe I lost three, very young, layers and then lost another to the dog. I bought mine in March or so, so it was still very cold here. But I had an old wooden box and added some insulation to make sure it stayed high. I was very pleased with the results from TSC though. Considering a lady said she bought 6 and all but one died. At six weeks they were moved out to the coop and their medicated feed was mixed with non-medicated, until the non-medicated was what they were eating. I don't believe I lost any to Cocci though, I believe it was just failure to thrive since the ones who died naturally died within two days of getting them.

 

[NovaAman]

Well, first I'd like to say WELCOME TO BYC! Second, I'd like to say that now you are here, you will probably have much better success with chicks. This is my first year with chickens too, and I am lucky and happy to say that I did a lot of reading a looking and learning before I got them. THEN I joined this totally awesome forum a few months ago and I am so happy I found it. I am guessing you will find this place just as useful. Be sure to join the thread for whatever state you live in.

As a previous poster said, make sure to use medicated... I used medicated feed for my first set of chicks (5 silkies, 2 leggerns) till they were near 2.5 months old. I got my Wyandottes and they were old enough to go straight to grower finisher. When I got my mutts, I put them on medicated for one bag then to grower finisher also. I must say that I have been lucky my first time around. I think thats why though. I used the medicated right away. Didn't leave anything to chance.

 

[new2chickens2011]

Stupid Newbie Question: what is TSC....?

 

[dirtsaver]

Quote:
Not stupid,just new and uninformed! TSC is short for Tractor Supply Corp. a farm and home store chain in many states now. It, along with Southern States Coop, Orschleins and several other independent and chain stores are where many of us get our baby chicks,chicken feed, medication and poultry supplies.

And by the way....

 

[new2chickens2011]

Ohhh okay We don't have it here. Thank you!!!

 

[bluemini]

Thanks everyone !!!!!