I stopped by TSC yesterday evening since I was in the area...and since I hadn't been stopped by in a few days. They claimed they were getting three shipments of chicks this week. Anyway. I was absolutely disgusted by the conditions the chicks were living in! There were so many chicks in the bin that they could hardly move. The wood shavings at the bottom of the bin were soaked and most of the chicks had matted bellies, I assumed their bellies were matted from rubbing on the wet/dirty shavings. They didn't even have any food in their feeder! This is the second time that we've gone in and the chicks didn't have any food. My DH took it upon himself to feed the chicks, they were SO excited to get food! The bins were so filthy and smelled so badly that I was tempted to ask if I could do the chick shuffle (there was one empty bin) and clean the bins out myself!! They had a few ducks left too and the poor ducks weren't any better off than the chickens as far as the wood shavings. They also had matted feathers, but at least there wasn't a whole lot of them so they weren't packed in like sardines.
Several of the chicks had scabs on them, I assume because they were pecking at each other since they were so cramped. I picked up one chick that traumatized me it looked so bad. Seriously, I've never seen such a thing and don't know what would cause it. The poor little chick's eyes were bugging out of its head. Literally, she had black beady eyes popping right out of her little head.
I wasn't sure what to do. I felt bad just leaving without complaining and making sure the cages were going to be cleaned. I did make comments to the employees and one even saw DH feeding the chicks. None of the employees said anything though, maybe they didn't think it was strange since we're in there so often. Which makes me wonder if they would have cared if I offered to clean the cages, probably not! So it looks like I've maxed out on my TSC chicks.....might just have to order more later. I told DH yesterday that he needs to build a new bigger...much bigger...chicken coop. These dang chickens are like some sort of feathered drug! I'm an addict!!! ....Hello, my name is Kristen and I'm a chicken addict.
Several of the chicks had scabs on them, I assume because they were pecking at each other since they were so cramped. I picked up one chick that traumatized me it looked so bad. Seriously, I've never seen such a thing and don't know what would cause it. The poor little chick's eyes were bugging out of its head. Literally, she had black beady eyes popping right out of her little head.
I wasn't sure what to do. I felt bad just leaving without complaining and making sure the cages were going to be cleaned. I did make comments to the employees and one even saw DH feeding the chicks. None of the employees said anything though, maybe they didn't think it was strange since we're in there so often. Which makes me wonder if they would have cared if I offered to clean the cages, probably not! So it looks like I've maxed out on my TSC chicks.....might just have to order more later. I told DH yesterday that he needs to build a new bigger...much bigger...chicken coop. These dang chickens are like some sort of feathered drug! I'm an addict!!! ....Hello, my name is Kristen and I'm a chicken addict.
