What do you think of Tractor Supply’s new chick bins?

[CheriK]

I've never purchased chicks at TS. Rarely go at all, but our order from the local Stromberg was canceled (the breeds we wanted weren't hatched locally & their shipment arrived mostly dead - I think it's been a terrible year for these poor babies all around). None of our local independent feed stores have been getting chicks in reliably, between the USPS delays & the big storms, so it was TS or nobody.

I'd only heard about the big feed tubs of chicks at TS & assumed that's what I'd see, so was surprised by these bins. My initial response isn't positive - don't like the flooring on tiny feet, all the bantam babies seemed distressed, the very knowledgeable employee helping us struggled to extract any specific chicks & noted his concerns about them running out onto the floor. I've used a heat plate in my brooder the past three years (Brinsea) & am quite happy with it, but it needs to be adjustable, especially if they're hoping to use the same bins for bantams, regular sized chicks, and ducks/geese/turkeys! These bins need some work if they were hoping for something to be idiot-proof.

We lost one of our Polish bantams this afternoon - seemed okay after we got it home yesterday, but was weak by mid-day today & died an hour later. The rest seem fine, so I'm hoping it was transport stress & cold. I certainly won't make TS my preferred source of chicks.

 

[333113]

Just so you know, I also posted my complaints on the TSC website. No response yet, but it is the weekend, and we all know that corporations don't even breathe on the weekends!

 

[Brooks_]

Was in today for feed and flake. Looked at the brooders and some chicks were huddled under the plate, but overall all seemed fine. Food was a little low but still accessible. Don't like the mesh for their little feet. The EE's were hard to resist. Do they keep the fluffy cheeks into adulthood? The brooders do seem to allow for more selection.

TSC #537 Newberry, FL

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Was in today for feed and flake. Looked at the brooders and some chicks were huddled under the plate, but overall all seemed fine. Food was a little low but still accessible. Don't like the mesh for their little feet. The EE's were hard to resist. Do they keep the fluffy cheeks into adulthood? The brooders do seem to allow for more selection.

TSC #537 Newberry, FL

Yes, EEs keep the muffs


I don't consider them EEs since they're not unknown blue egg laying mixes, but here are a few examples of mixed adults I have that had muffs as babies (if you're curious about any in particular, I can tell you what exactly made them)

 

[Brooks_]

Yes, EEs keep the muffs

After my subtraction period, it will be time for addition.

 

[333113]

Just so you know, I also posted my complaints on the TSC website. No response yet, but it is the weekend, and we all know that corporations don't even breathe on the weekends!

I got email a few minutes ago from Tractor Supply with another survey, asking how I liked my experience with their customer service staff. I told them no one had replied yet, and repeated my comments in my original survey response.

The second survey timed out while I looked for the link to my comment, above. This tells me they don't want the detailed feedback ("three sentences or more") that they are asking for. But I started it over and got it posted.

TSC corporate office probably looks at the low profit margin on chicks and ignores this. They don't realize that healthy chicks bring customers back regularly for feed, accessories and other shopping. Sadly, it seems like humane treatment of chicks is probably not even a part of those equations.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They only had one bin with chicks tester and they were only labeled st run. No breed or anythibg, most were black or black and white/yellow and one all yellow. Like half had extra toes! St run or not, if there's some after school I'm snagging some. I gotta see what they are

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The chicks did seem happy in the box thpugh, but we have people a bit more farmerlike here that work there

 

[father0fnine]

Wow, 14 pages. Teach me to not follow a conversation from the beginning. I just thought I'd add a report, of sorts. I had been looking for brooders something like this. I've seen a metal one where the little chicks poke their heads out to eat or drink. So, when I saw the home version (TSC has... 5 levels (I believe) that are all one piece. The home version is one level but individually stackable and no wheels). I jumped on it and got it. This was even before I saw that TSC was switching to the their new towers.

I put it together (very easy to do) and noticed a few things right away.

1) the sides will be easy to get out for washing after each batch
2) the feed and water has guards to protect the little heads from my cats
3) the heating element being used is the same one I used in my brooder bins already

I was a little concerned about the heat issue and, sure enough, I only measured 87 degrees in the center of the unit with the heater on high. When I brought that up to the manager of the TSC, he couldn't say much except that TSCs back east (I'm in Arizona) have been using the units for years. TSC can't have half their chick orders die each year so if it works for them, I can give it a try. I purchased 18 chicks of various breeds from various TSC stores. I also had 4 chicks hatch the day before and 2 week old silkies that I added to the bunch for 26 chicks.

It's been three weeks and, so far, I had 2 of the hatched chicks and 1 of the TSC chicks die. I expected the hatch-chick deaths as the two birds were iffy when I put them in. The TSC was unfortunate but was the only one of 18. The silkies were already past the danger zone so I didn't expect any problems there. All the deaths happened within the first three days and nothing has gone wrong since. Never have I had such a great outcome of purchased chicks.

I was so happy with the brooder, I purchased the other one (our TSC got in 2 this season) for the ducks I had shipped in and I had a surprise hatching of 15 (out of 18) eggs a few days after the ducks so they both went into the 2nd brooder a week ago and everybody is surviving happy and sassy. I know I probably shouldn't mix the two breeds so I've got a third brooder ordered and already shipped. Just waiting for TSC to call to pick it up.

One thing, I noticed people complaining about the wire mesh and cleaning the floor and how difficult it is with birds in there. It seems to me that the droppings are passing through the mesh just fine. It will have to be cleaned, yea, but after three weeks it doesn't look dirty enough to warrant doing it before the birds graduate to the grow-out pen. Now the tray underneath... yuck.

D

 

[Finnie]

They don't realize that healthy chicks bring customers back regularly for feed, accessories and other shopping.

This is exactly why TSC even bothers to sell chicks at all. They do not make money from chick sales. Their prices are too low for that. They make new long term customers of chicken feed and supplies from chick sales.