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

[Finnie]

The troughs look nice and they do stay clean, but the design is poor. They are wide and shallow, so as the levels go down, food and water don't flow toward the chicks. It's especially bad for the food because once they eat what they can reach, a perfect chick-sized gap opens up and they can crawl right out, either to be stuck in the trough or manage to jump out of the top of it and onto the floor.

These are very good points.

 

[Cecisflock]

I know a guy at TSC corporate I'm going to give him a call...

 

[Finnie]

I was in my TSC a couple days ago, and they have switched back to the feed tubs!! My friend who is a manager there told me it was a decision from corporate. So it sounds like they paid attention to the issues surrounding these bins and put them on hold. My friend said they just have the towers stored in back until they are directed as to what to do with them. I told her, if corporate tells them to sell them, I would take one. She said she will call me if they do. She agreed with me that the system would work better for an individual then it does in the store setting.

 

[father0fnine]

I was in my TSC a couple days ago, and they have switched back to the feed tubs!! My friend who is a manager there told me it was a decision from corporate. So it sounds like they paid attention to the issues surrounding these bins and put them on hold. My friend said they just have the towers stored in back until they are directed as to what to do with them. I told her, if corporate tells them to sell them, I would take one. She said she will call me if they do. She agreed with me that the system would work better for an individual then it does in the store setting.

I noticed that at my TSC but the manager told me it was because they had put the tower away for the end of the chicks event and then got a surprise order in.

 

[viggo63]

I noticed that at my TSC but the manager told me it was because they had put the tower away for the end of the chicks event and then got a surprise order in.

Well, that's a made-up excuse.

She agreed with me that the system would work better for an individual then it does in the store setting.

Exactly.

 

[Finnie]

I noticed that at my TSC but the manager told me it was because they had put the tower away for the end of the chicks event and then got a surprise order in.

Yeah, Chick Days aren’t over yet. My friend said that they are going to continue through September. It will be interesting if your TSC keeps getting “surprise” shipments until then. But it doesn’t make sense for a manager to be untruthful. A newbie floor clerk, sure, but not the manager. I wonder if he honestly thought chick days were over.

 

[father0fnine]

Yeah, Chick Days aren’t over yet. My friend said that they are going to continue through September. It will be interesting if your TSC keeps getting “surprise” shipments until then. But it doesn’t make sense for a manager to be untruthful. A newbie floor clerk, sure, but not the manager. I wonder if he honestly thought chick days were over.

Well, the "chick days" outside sign is down and the chick-centric displays in the main floor of the store are gone. I've always wondered about this manager or maybe the district manager for the area. It really seems like this guy has no control over what his store sells, but listening to other people on this and other "farming" forums, other TSC managers can choose what to order/carry -- at least from what TSC carrys online. This guy, he's said more than once that he doesn't know what the next truck will bring.

D

 

[father0fnine]

She agreed with me that the system would work better for an individual then it does in the store setting.

I forgot that I was going to say something to this part. Fool that I am, I actually purchased three of there stackable units when they first came out, so it's sorta like I have a small version of their system that I've been using all season -- about 8 hatches so far. I had to take the heating elements out and replace them with, essentially, the same element but on feet to get the element closer to the baby chicks. I would loose chicks if I didn't really crowd them in. I'm going to make them work because I already spent the money but I don't know if I'd say the system works for an individual any better than the store. I'm even thinking of taking one of them and installing a light fixture so I can use old fashioned heat lamp-type bulbs. I just have to find a good light guard that's small enough to fit but will still keep little wings safe.

 

[Finnie]

. I had to take the heating elements out and replace them with, essentially, the same element but on feet

Oh, see I thought someone had said earlier that they had taken their heat element off and put it down closer to the chicks. I think what I would do is to put an MHP in, or make an MHP out of the element.

I would think if the heat element attaches and detaches, then there must be a way to attach some kind of homemade spacer, to lower the heat element. That’s the kind of tinkering a private owner could do that store employees are not allowed to. I would also devise a mesh guard that would allow the chicks to reach their food, but not get into the food space and fall to the floor.

I think you are lucky to have found the one-level units in the store! Apparently they were in very limited supply, and only in random stores.

 

[Brooks_]

Was in today. They had gone back to tanks. I asked if it was because issues or chick volume (today was zero). He got vague and replied "in between".

Still won't buy a chick there. Really because I just don't trust them to be labeled correctly.