!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!

[Murrill]

And remember, you can't save them all.

 

[ladybrasa]

I just got a “Cornish Cross” chick (aka Light Brahma) for half off and picked out the worst pasty butt. Cleaned up good as new, not even an irritated bum. They also had overflow in the back (apparently hatchery keeps sending more even though the store doesn’t have anywhere to put them) with so called Americana, CA white, buff orps, and australorps. Armed with lots of internet research, I feel confident my friend/coworker and I selected the right ones

 

[Lilokieescorter]

And remember, you can't save them all.

It sucks when we can't, but can try when needed!

 

[yakitori]

Out of the 6 chicks I got from TSC, one died the first day and another had pasty butt, which I had to clean continuously until she had more feathers. She was quite a bit smaller than the rest for the first three weeks but over the past week she had a growth spurt and caught up!

I should have been more insistent when buying the chicks about which ones I wanted to be caught, but the boy who helped me catch the chicks was reluctant in taking instruction and I'm not a very pushy person...

Honestly, I'm quite surprised that 5/6 made it thus far. They've grown into lovely teenage chicks and I look forward to seeing them grow more.

 

[Tango Charlie]

My TSC does a great job as far as caring for chicks, ducklings, turkey poults, and keets, but breed identification is frequently incorrect.

Same here. Chicks all seemed in good condition, the associate that I bought them from checked their butts and the assumption was that they'd all been sexed and were female... The TROUBLE was; they were sold as Black Sex Links. BSL *roosters* have white spots on their heads... and mine developed white spots on their heads (hmm), the *roosters* end up with a white barred pattern... MINE developed a white barred pattern! (Officially sweating at this point) I was about to warm up the stockpot when A) They started doing the squat-and-stomp, as hens do. And B) I happened back by TSC where they had a tub of "Barred Rock" chicks for sale. I'm guessing mine were mislabeled, and that's what I got.

Unless I have an egg-laying group of Black Sex Link roosters.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I have bought a few chicks at TSC over the years and they have always turned out to be healthy, productive chickens. I tend to get the grab bag bantams because I enjoy trying to figure out what the breeds are as they mature. Back in May, I purchased 11 bantams and 2 of those did not thrive and died within a week. But the other 9 have done great and those include 2 Wheaten OEG cockerels, 3 Porcelains (1 pullet, 2 cockerels), 1 Mille Fleur pullet, 1 red Cochin pullet, and a pair of Silver Penciled Cochins. All in all and after a half century of raising chickens, I continue to be amazed at how chicks manage to survive the stresses of shipment. These stresses are only exacerbated in those that are shipped to retail stores because of all the extra handling, noises, harsher ambient conditions, etc., within that environment. Chickens are truly resilient creatures.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

I have bought a few chicks at TSC over the years and they have always turned out to be healthy, productive chickens. I tend to get the grab bag bantams because I enjoy trying to figure out what the breeds are as they mature. Back in May, I purchased 11 bantams and 2 of those did not thrive and died within a week. But the other 9 have done great and those include 2 Wheaten OEG cockerels, 3 Porcelains (1 pullet, 2 cockerels), 1 Mille Fleur pullet, 1 red Cochin pullet, and a pair of Silver Penciled Cochins. All in all and after a half century of raising chickens, I continue to be amazed at how chicks manage to survive the stresses of shipment. These stresses are only exacerbated in those that are shipped to retail stores because of all the extra handling, noises, harsher ambient conditions, etc., within that environment. Chickens are truly resilient creatures.

Definitely. I got four bantams from the assorted bantam bin. I got one ISA Brown, one Buff bantam Cochin, one Barred bantam Cochin cockerel, and one gold laced bantam Cochin cockerel.

 

[donddon]

I just got a “Cornish Cross” chick (aka Light Brahma) for half off and picked out the worst pasty butt. Cleaned up good as new, not even an irritated bum. They also had overflow in the back (apparently hatchery keeps sending more even though the store doesn’t have anywhere to put them) with so called Americana, CA white, buff orps, and australorps. Armed with lots of internet research, I feel confident my friend/coworker and I selected the right ones

I have 10 Light Brahma chicks in the brooder. You made me google to see that they are not the same as Cornish Cross. They aren't the same.

 

[ladybrasa]

You made me google to see that they are not the same as Cornish Cross. They aren't the same.

Yeah I know but the Tractor Supply people didn’t. The tub of chicks were labeled as Cornish Cross and were 50% off. No sign for Light Brahmas. So me and my colleague picked out a “Cornish” each that had feathered feet ... I also know this Tractor Supply had Light Brahma pullets the week before, only because I’ve been stopping in and staring at chicks so much ...

Somewhat off on a tangent - I have a Light Brahma chick from McMurray that is mostly black, huge, with mostly black feathers coming in. The TSC Light Brahma (they cone from Hoover) is light yellow, smaller, and gray tipped feathers coming in. Such variations for the same breed!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yeah I know but the Tractor Supply people didn’t. The tub of chicks were labeled as Cornish Cross and were 50% off. No sign for Light Brahmas. So me and my colleague picked out a “Cornish” each that had feathered feet ... I also know this Tractor Supply had Light Brahma pullets the week before, only because I’ve been stopping in and staring at chicks so much ...

Somewhat off on a tangent - I have a Light Brahma chick from McMurray that is mostly black, huge, with mostly black feathers coming in. The TSC Light Brahma (they cone from Hoover) is light yellow, smaller, and gray tipped feathers coming in. Such variations for the same breed!

Can we get pictures? The McMurray one doesn't sound like a light brahma