Why Do People Buy Live Chicks From Breeders and Farm Stores‭?

[roosterhavoc]

Never mind good luck with your book!

 

[Shadrach]

What kind of chickens do you raise? What’s the book going to be about?

I started off with Marans and bantams. I've got one group (tribe) of related Maran crosses, anothe group (tribe) of bantams and two realted tribes of mixed. the groups or tribes are formed by genetically linked individuals.
The book is about the lives of the chickens here and what I've learnt about chickens living in this arrangement.
You really should read some of my articles It would save a lot of questions.

 

[Chickassan]

The purchase of live chicks this year to supplement my flock was not a choice made lightly at all. I first checked local breeders but their standards of keeping were not on par with my own so they were not a viable option. I chose my hatchery based on distance from my home firstly, so the babes would have as little time in the postal system as possible then researched my choice's quality and mortality rate. When I was ready to chance it a time when the temerature would favor the chicks was chosen and I began putting the order together, only a very small one in case luck just was not there. I then took a step a lot of people do not. I called and had a very long telephone conversation with the hatchery to answer any unanswered and ensure the birds got the best possible chance at safe arrival. This proved very wise, my birds were in the postal system less than 24 hours and I didn't even have to fetch them myself from the post office they were brought to my door. Once arrived I opened the package to find four still hatch drunk balls of fluff nestled in timothy hay. So far all is well with them, it is still only four months in though so problems could still be lurking. @Shadrach, this was one of the most nerve wracking experiences iv'e been through in quite some time. Ordering babes through the post is not worry free in the least bit. The process put just as many grays in my hair as hatching myself or dealing with a broody ever has.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I started off with Marans and bantams. I've got one group (tribe) of related Maran crosses, anothe group (tribe) of bantams and two realted tribes of mixed. the groups or tribes are formed by genetically linked individuals.
The book is about the lives of the chickens here and what I've learnt about chickens living in this arrangement.
You really should read some of my articles It would save a lot of questions.

If you really want my opinion you can pm me. I’ve been warned.
Good luck!!!

 

[Shadrach]

The purchase of live chicks this year to supplement my flock was not a choice made lightly at all. I first checked local breeders but their standards of keeping were not on par with my own so they were not a viable option. I chose my hatchery based on distance from my home firstly, so the babes would have as little time in the postal system as possible then researched my choice's quality and mortality rate. When I was ready to chance it a time when the temerature would favor the chicks was chosen and I began putting the order together, only a very small one in case luck just was not there. I then took a step a lot of people do not. I called and had a very long telephone conversation with the hatchery to answer any unanswered and ensure the birds got the best possible chance at safe arrival. This proved very wise, my birds were in the postal system less than 24 hours and I didn't even have to fetch them myself from the post office they were brought to my door. Once arrived I opened the package to find four still hatch drunk balls of fluff nestled in timothy hay. So far all is well with them, it is still only four months in though so problems could still be lurking. @Shadrach, this was one of the most nerve wracking experiences iv'e been through in quite some time. Ordering babes through the post is not worry free in the least bit. The process put just as many grays in my hair as hatching myself or dealing with a broody ever has.

The purchase of live chicks this year to supplement my flock was not a choice made lightly at all. I first checked local breeders but their standards of keeping were not on par with my own so they were not a viable option. I chose my hatchery based on distance from my home firstly, so the babes would have as little time in the postal system as possible then researched my choice's quality and mortality rate. When I was ready to chance it a time when the temerature would favor the chicks was chosen and I began putting the order together, only a very small one in case luck just was not there. I then took a step a lot of people do not. I called and had a very long telephone conversation with the hatchery to answer any unanswered and ensure the birds got the best possible chance at safe arrival. This proved very wise, my birds were in the postal system less than 24 hours and I didn't even have to fetch them myself from the post office they were brought to my door. Once arrived I opened the package to find four still hatch drunk balls of fluff nestled in timothy hay. So far all is well with them, it is still only four months in though so problems could still be lurking. @Shadrach, this was one of the most nerve wracking experiences iv'e been through in quite some time. Ordering babes through the post is not worry free in the least bit. The process put just as many grays in my hair as hatching myself or dealing with a broody ever has.

I read most of your posts Chickassan. You have a great deal of wisdom and far better manners than I’ll ever have.
I don’t doubt you took every possible step to ensure the welfare of the chicks.

There are always exceptionally caring people and if they don’t have any real alternatives but to buy live chicks then I have no issue.

 

[Ghosty]

I have serious doubts about this. Federal regs are always the bare minimum required for survival. Currently, in California, we have a proposition on the ballot to require farmers to provide a minimum of one square foot of cage space per bird. This is supposed to be an improvement on current federal regulations. I don't think anyone on this site thinks that is a good quality of life. The box I carried my chickens home from purchase in was bigger than that. Lots of us raise our own chickens because the factory farms are unacceptable conditions to us.
The numbers you post are helpful to put things into perspective, however.

I'm not really equating company broilers with backyard birds. I'm only trying to give some perspective.

 

[Chickassan]

Iv'e never been accused of having manners before, i'll smile about that all day.

I read most of your posts Chickassan. You have a great deal of wisdom and far better manners than I’ll ever have.
I don’t doubt you took every possible step to ensure the welfare of the chicks.

There are always exceptionally caring people and if they don’t have any real alternatives but to buy live chicks then I have no issue.

 

[Kiki]

Do you include your time?

I can't put a dollar amount on my time, so no I don't.

I am a professional multi tasker so I can't really separate a specific amount of time it takes me to tend to my chickens only.

I can tell you it doesn't take but a few minutes each day though.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Seriously. I agree with the majority of what you’re saying. You’re never going to convince people to do things your way though. Space and time may not allow for it.
I have no idea what you call a “tribe” is other than a group of chickens.
The fact is some people just want chickens. They don’t particularly want to do all the work or find all of the extra work of hatching and raising their own chicks enjoyable.
I believe 90% of people’s problems with roosters are their own fault.
I personally think its utterly ridiculous to lock up a bunch of chickens in a run and coop. IMO they do best loose on the yard at least part of the time. It’s not my place to tell anyone different though. I don’t think you should treat chickens for half the stuff that people do. Once again not many people are going to change their minds based on my opinion.

To each their own. And some (like me) just have to learn the hard way. No way was someone gonna tell me what to do or NOT do with my Roo’s. They were right I was wrong. I learned a lesson...to consider what others have to say.

 

[Shadrach]

To each their own. And some (like me) just have to learn the hard way. No way was someone gonna tell me what to do or NOT do with my Roo’s. They were right I was wrong. I learned a lesson...to consider what others have to say.

I tend to listen to what people tell me. I don’t necessarily believe what I’m told. I try to match what I learn through listening to other people with the reality I live in. I learnt a lot about chickens from the locals here.
I learnt about the chickens call sign from a local. I thought she was mad when she told me. I watched the chickens here and now knowing what I was supposed to be listening for, discovered she was right.