WTH is wrong with TSC? Chick purchasing nightmare.

[Gypsy07]

We don't have stores that sell chicks over here, but I've read through this whole thread with interest.

Generally, I'm all for anything that improves animal welfare and I can't believe that stores would actually keep chicks in open bins that allow kids access to them. Any pet shops over here that sell animals (mice, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, budgies etc) keep them in locked cages that no-one except the employees have access to. Almost all of the cages have perspex fronts instead of wire mesh so you couldn't even poke a finger in if you wanted to. As far as I have seen in every pet shop I've been in, you can always specify which critter/s you want, but you're never allowed to pick them up yourself, they're always picked out for you by an employee. It's the exact same in small independent shops and big chain stores like PetsAtHome.

I can't imagine why anyone sensible could possibly have a problem with that.

Apart from animal welfare, look at it this way: When you have a brooder with your chicks in it at home, do you allow all the neighbours' kids and all their friends unsupervised access to it? Would you be happy with your chicks being roughly handled by people with no common sense, compassion or good hygiene procedures? I'm guessing the answer to that is going to be 100% NO from everyone here. So why on earth would anyone be happy with it happening to chicks that they could potentially be buying and taking home with them.

Rudeness on the part of staff and/or customers is of course a separate matter entirely.

Good manners cost nothing but are worth everything.

 

[eddie w]

i'm in florida and pick out and grabbed all my chicks and didn;t have to sign any book and the lady was very nice and helpful

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Pops says in Mishicot you just go find someone down the way, so he never goes in the feed stores.

Here, we have an Orscheln which lets the cages be more horrific than you can imagine, with dead birds lying in there all day...you can smell the brooders before you get in the store. Then we have the TSC which has immaculate brooders, even for ducks, and they care immensely about the chicks and pay close attention.

It just depends on the management, and I'm aghast that some of them are as apathetic as they are.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Almost no hatchery allows visitors. The reasoning is both animal bio-security, but also because in their day-to-day operations, try as they might, there simply is loss and death. They certainly do not wish this to be seen by those who cannot handle that reality. Just as no one wishes to see the inevitable disposal of million and millions of roo chicks.

With sensitivity running higher toward animal welfare, retail outlets will grow reticent to show their chicks in stock, going forward. Only the very brave, with very strong staffing will be displaying chicks, even behind glass or wire, but even they will forbid the public's hands from messing with them. The poorer run operations will also hide their stock pens even from the prying eyes of the public. Just some musings of where things seem headed.

 

[wawasmama]

I know which store you're talking about. I was just in there yesterday buying chicken feed and all they had left were a few dozen ducklings. Anyway, the cashiers are always either rude or weirdos, so it doesn't surprise me that you had such an experience. Oh well - at least you get your babies!

 

[wistlindixie]

I, too, have been VERY frustrated with TSC over their chick days this year. EVERY time (except ONCE) when I went in they were all gone. I had even called a hour before going and they told me they had both chicks and ducklings only to arrive to empty bins. The last time I went in, they two brooders were surrounded by a gate. Good grief! I can understand the whole "kid" thing but how about.....raise the brooders off the floor to adult height? I want to TOUCH the chicks I buy myself. The only time I found any chicks in the TSC, there were a total of 7, yes SEVEN chicks of unidentified breed.

 

[OHGrandma]

Fred's Hens :

Almost no hatchery allows visitors. The reasoning is both animal bio-security, but also because in their day-to-day operations, try as they might, there simply is loss and death. They certainly do not wish this to be seen by those who cannot handle that reality. Just as no one wishes to see the inevitable disposal of million and millions of roo chicks.

With sensitivity running higher toward animal welfare, retail outlets will grow reticent to show their chicks in stock, going forward. Only the very brave, with very strong staffing will be displaying chicks, even behind glass or wire, but even they will forbid the public's hands from messing with them. The poorer run operations will also hide their stock pens even from the prying eyes of the public. Just some musings of where things seem headed.

I agree with Fred & also Gypsy's post. And while I'm not sure I would give my name and adress, what if there was a disease problem that popped up after the chicks went home? Would you want to be notified?​

 

[chicklovers]

Ga. and my TSC sold me one breed and i got another... I also had to sign the sheet... Hoping maybe by signing, i qualify for farmers tax breaks! LOL Dont like TSC for chicks. Going somewhere else for now on!

 

[featherz]

Never have bought chicks at TSC but I am there all the time and have to look when I walk by. We too have the big gates now, but there is an employee standing there with the chicks at all times (they have a podium). All the chicks appear to have food and water and to be in reasonably good health (few pasty butts but nothing more serious that I could see). I actually think the gates are a good idea - last time I was there I saw WAY too many kids handling the chicks when the chick person wasn't looking. If I were to buy chicks I'd definitely ask to pick my own, however - even if the employee has to retrieve them.

It's nice to know that the chicks should be in the right bins and haven't been handled or dropped or squished, etc. My TSC only has Cornish X, production reds and bantams this week and I've got a brooder full of chicks so I'm not even tempted.

 

[weimarmama]

My mother & I went to the TSC about 40 mins away from us today to get some supplies. I remembered this thread, so I made sure to look & the brooders had gates around them. They had several stock tanks set up but only one had chicks in it. The employee that was stationed at them had no clue what they were & just said they were some kind of "weird named chickens". They were Cornish Rocks so we didn't get any.

We did ask why they had them gated off & he said that it had something to do with a lawsuit & a child. Neither one of us got to ask him anything else about it because we had both standard poodles with us. One of them is only a few months old, it was his first big trip anywhere & he was not liking it. The gates around them are a good idea, though; anything is as long as it keeps the chicks protected from overzealous hands.