Yes - Mystery TSC Ducklings! Breed Guesses?

[FoodFreedomNow]

It's just money an really not that much but I guess it adds up since it seems chick days start so much earlier now. Someone has to be making money or they wouldn't do it.

Too bad the care TSC has on line doesn't go over to their employees. Maybe we should complain send them emails on the places that don't meet up with good care standards and give kudos to those that do? Might make a difference.

At least TSC only has chicks/ducklings during "Chick Days" - I think Rural King actually has them year-round now. The TSCs near me seem to care for them adequately (as far as what I've seen), unlike Rural King. I'd complain in a heartbeat to TSC if I saw neglect. RK seems to either be clueless or just uncaring, but I still complain to them - and post about it here.

I figure that BYC people probably care about animal welfare and will take these kinds of complaints into consideration when making decisions about where to acquire their poultry and waterfowl. I have to say that TSC managers (here, at least) are much more accessible than RK's, too, and actually try to provide good customer service. No RK poultry or waterfowl for me until they clean up their act (and I'm not holding my breath)!

 

[Texag87]

It's just money an really not that much but I guess it adds up since it seems chick days start so much earlier now. Someone has to be making money or they wouldn't do it.

Too bad the care TSC has on line doesn't go over to their employees. Maybe we should complain send them emails on the places that don't meet up with good care standards and give kudos to those that do? Might make a difference.

I think it depends on the individual store. The only one I have complaints about is in College Station. I have been to TSC in Sealy, Navasota, Caldwell, and Giddings with no complaints.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It's just money an really not that much but I guess it adds up since it seems chick days start so much earlier now. Someone has to be making money or they wouldn't do it.

Too bad the care TSC has on line doesn't go over to their employees. Maybe we should complain send them emails on the places that don't meet up with good care standards and give kudos to those that do? Might make a difference.

I found myself at Rural King today (after going to Tractor Supply right before that) and was, once again, appalled at the conditions in the live animal area: chicks with severe pasty butts, dirty water full of shavings, customers unabashedly reaching into stock tanks and grabbing chicks - with no employees monitoring the area. One little chick had a poopy crust hanging off its butt that was enormous - clearly, the condition had been going on for at least a couple of days.

I was so taken aback that, when I got home, I contacted their Customer Service department via chat and unloaded about the conditions (one of the nice aspects of using the chat function is that you're sent a transcript of your conversation with the rep). The rep advised me that she started a ticket. I figured, whatever - that would probably be the end of it. You know, until I had to send an email to Corporate to complain, too.

Imagine my surprise when just a few minutes later, I received an email from the manager of the store about which I had complained. He apologized for the experience and informed me that they would address the issues immediately. He also provided me with his direct phone number. In my response, I thanked him for getting back to me quickly and reiterated that I hoped that they would help those poor chicks right away. I also sent information about how to prevent and treat pasty butt because I'm not confident that many of the employees there are knowledgeable about raising poultry and waterfowl. I will definitely be in contact with him, directly, if I see similar conditions in the future. I wasn't going to shop there anymore, but I may have to go back just to "secret shop" the live animal area.

So, it might actually be worthwhile to send an email (RK: [email protected]) or chat message (via the company's website) to farm supply companies when we see conditions for the animals that are unacceptable. And totally agree about giving kudos where warranted, too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was awesome! Kudos to you for being proactive ! Why not train employees if they are going to sell live poultry?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thanks! To be perfectly honest, I thought my complaint would just go into the "void", but I was so dismayed by what I saw, someone there was going to hear about it.

Agree - many of the people working there probably don't even have poultry or waterfowl, so train them (and randomly audit them) for crying out loud.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe you can bring some of these things up to the manager maybe have a few who do nothing but care for these poor wee ones. Train them and saves some lives. You have the door open now ! I can’t remeber who it was but some years back a member actually volunteered to teach new poultry owners some basics on keeping their new babies safe and healthy.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

It's been a couple of weeks and duckling group #2 has been growing. It's also become clear that there are a couple of ducklings that I originally thought might be fawn and white Runners that aren't - and I now think they're actually Buff (Orpington) ducks. They don't have the upright carriage of the Runners, their eyes are set differently in their heads, and they have pinkish/mauve bills. So...3 Runners, 2 Buffs, and a Mallard.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Beautiful flock and nice assortment.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Beautiful flock and nice assortment.

Thanks! They're all seriously charming, but those Runners.... Not long until yours arrive, right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Right and I am excited. Don't you just love them? I have Buffs too