Are my California White and Barred Rock roos?

[rural mouse]

Is he a Jersey Giant?

No. He's an australorp. I had a jersey giant who was even bigger, and just as calm and sweet....if not more so. Lost him late summer before I got Hector early the next spring.

 

[paintedChix]

That day, before I had came in I had asked if they had gotten their new batch of chicks in and their response was "Unfortunately we have"... WHAT?!

There have been workers there admit that they know nothing about chicks.

When I started going to TSC's here in NC, clear back in 1997, I wasn't into chickens yet. BUT I did have ponies & some things were WAY different here in the south than out west. It was extremely NICE to deal w/ the KNOWLEDGABLE employees TSC hired back then. Most had livestock of their own...

Things started changing... not sure what year. A move to a different county about an hour north in 2004, meant a different TSC, just 20 miles from . It was OK, but I still went back to several older ones - to visit w/ longtime employees & sometimes even got better pricing. I was begged by several managers to apply/join their "teams" - but wouldn't work as too far away for me to drive.

I got REALLY tired of some of the people at the TSC in Lee County. REALLY??, you don't even own a pair of gloves, when you need to load splintery posts or metal that may have sharp edges? Geeze! You work in a store that has dozens of types of gloves across the highway from a Lowe's, that also has gloves!! So you can't load what I've purchased 'cuz you don't have gloves? OK, manager time... Or another visit when 2 employees insisted that they could not load the CP the way I wanted it due to it wouldn't be secure. They informed me that I needed to come back with a flat bed trailer. I had load straps! Trust me, I had no desire to lose my precious load!! By the time they (because one young fella couldn't go by himself) got back, I had my 2-3 panels loaded by myself & was putting on the 3rd/final strap. It was pretty simple to unload, by myself, too.

Then in April 2011, that TSC was destroyed by one of many tornados that ripped across NC. When it reopened, we already had our 1st chicks & I had gotten several old, tried & true books on how to care for chickens. Good thing, as I swear the new TSC management selected their employees by who was the dumbest at the time of hiring. Even when I was between jobs, when I thought about applying there, I then remembered who I'd be working with. No, thanks...

And now in 2024 - I swear, it's WORSE!! I see chicks mislabeled (though if a hatchery sends wrong chicks or swaps chicks in the order, not employees' fault). I've seen dead chicks, not removed from the brooder area(s), & had a manager tell me once - "oh, I can't deal with that, the chick employee will be here tomorrow afternoon & will take care of it"... No one appeared to explore reasons chicks were dead or lethargic (& there were a lot more deaths by the next afternoon - not removed from their brooder until that employee arrived).

I have other stories, but suppose that's enough... and no, I'm not perfect. Even w/ joining BYC, even with my many good chicken & livestock books, I've made mistakes that hurt my birds & I've had to deal w/ it. But I feel like TSC, at least the closest one to us, doesn't teach their employees & doesn't seem to care any more... And it seems that the younger generations of people haven't had any experience with ANY livestock (& again, don't appear TO WANT TO LEARN about them) which in no way helps them in sales or making/keeping happy customers.

'Nuff said...

 

[GlicksChicks]

When I started going to TSC's here in NC, clear back in 1997, I wasn't into chickens yet. BUT I did have ponies & some things were WAY different here in the south than out west. It was extremely NICE to deal w/ the KNOWLEDGABLE employees TSC hired back then. Most had livestock of their own...

Things started changing... not sure what year. A move to a different county about an hour north in 2004, meant a different TSC, just 20 miles from . It was OK, but I still went back to several older ones - to visit w/ longtime employees & sometimes even got better pricing. I was begged by several managers to apply/join their "teams" - but wouldn't work as too far away for me to drive.

I got REALLY tired of some of the people at the TSC in Lee County. REALLY??, you don't even own a pair of gloves, when you need to load splintery posts or metal that may have sharp edges? Geeze! You work in a store that has dozens of types of gloves across the highway from a Lowe's, that also has gloves!! So you can't load what I've purchased 'cuz you don't have gloves? OK, manager time... Or another visit when 2 employees insisted that they could not load the CP the way I wanted it due to it wouldn't be secure. They informed me that I needed to come back with a flat bed trailer. I had load straps! Trust me, I had no desire to lose my precious load!! By the time they (because one young fella couldn't go by himself) got back, I had my 2-3 panels loaded by myself & was putting on the 3rd/final strap. It was pretty simple to unload, by myself, too.

Then in April 2011, that TSC was destroyed by one of many tornados that ripped across NC. When it reopened, we already had our 1st chicks & I had gotten several old, tried & true books on how to care for chickens. Good thing, as I swear the new TSC management selected their employees by who was the dumbest at the time of hiring. Even when I was between jobs, when I thought about applying there, I then remembered who I'd be working with. No, thanks...

And now in 2024 - I swear, it's WORSE!! I see chicks mislabeled (though if a hatchery sends wrong chicks or swaps chicks in the order, not employees' fault). I've seen dead chicks, not removed from the brooder area(s), & had a manager tell me once - "oh, I can't deal with that, the chick employee will be here tomorrow afternoon & will take care of it"... No one appeared to explore reasons chicks were dead or lethargic (& there were a lot more deaths by the next afternoon - not removed from their brooder until that employee arrived).

I have other stories, but suppose that's enough... and no, I'm not perfect. Even w/ joining BYC, even with my many good chicken & livestock books, I've made mistakes that hurt my birds & I've had to deal w/ it. But I feel like TSC, at least the closest one to us, doesn't teach their employees & doesn't seem to care any more... And it seems that the younger generations of people haven't had any experience with ANY livestock (& again, don't appear TO WANT TO LEARN about them) which in no way helps them in sales or making/keeping happy customers.

'Nuff said...

It makes me tempted to apply to TSC to work with the chicks. The people at the store seem not to care about the chicks at all. When they grab the chicks, they manhandle them, and they grab them with filthy hands. They should know that chicks are delicate and very sensitive to filthy hands.

I swear sometimes that they are purposely ignorant.

I know someone who had gotten Jersey Giants from TSC and the employees said that an olive egger got "mixed in" with them and they couldn't tell which one it was so there was a chance that they could have one. How can't you tell the difference between a large chick and a normal sized one?

 

[bharris0426]

When I started going to TSC's here in NC, clear back in 1997, I wasn't into chickens yet. BUT I did have ponies & some things were WAY different here in the south than out west. It was extremely NICE to deal w/ the KNOWLEDGABLE employees TSC hired back then. Most had livestock of their own...

Things started changing... not sure what year. A move to a different county about an hour north in 2004, meant a different TSC, just 20 miles from . It was OK, but I still went back to several older ones - to visit w/ longtime employees & sometimes even got better pricing. I was begged by several managers to apply/join their "teams" - but wouldn't work as too far away for me to drive.

I got REALLY tired of some of the people at the TSC in Lee County. REALLY??, you don't even own a pair of gloves, when you need to load splintery posts or metal that may have sharp edges? Geeze! You work in a store that has dozens of types of gloves across the highway from a Lowe's, that also has gloves!! So you can't load what I've purchased 'cuz you don't have gloves? OK, manager time... Or another visit when 2 employees insisted that they could not load the CP the way I wanted it due to it wouldn't be secure. They informed me that I needed to come back with a flat bed trailer. I had load straps! Trust me, I had no desire to lose my precious load!! By the time they (because one young fella couldn't go by himself) got back, I had my 2-3 panels loaded by myself & was putting on the 3rd/final strap. It was pretty simple to unload, by myself, too.

Then in April 2011, that TSC was destroyed by one of many tornados that ripped across NC. When it reopened, we already had our 1st chicks & I had gotten several old, tried & true books on how to care for chickens. Good thing, as I swear the new TSC management selected their employees by who was the dumbest at the time of hiring. Even when I was between jobs, when I thought about applying there, I then remembered who I'd be working with. No, thanks...

And now in 2024 - I swear, it's WORSE!! I see chicks mislabeled (though if a hatchery sends wrong chicks or swaps chicks in the order, not employees' fault). I've seen dead chicks, not removed from the brooder area(s), & had a manager tell me once - "oh, I can't deal with that, the chick employee will be here tomorrow afternoon & will take care of it"... No one appeared to explore reasons chicks were dead or lethargic (& there were a lot more deaths by the next afternoon - not removed from their brooder until that employee arrived).

I have other stories, but suppose that's enough... and no, I'm not perfect. Even w/ joining BYC, even with my many good chicken & livestock books, I've made mistakes that hurt my birds & I've had to deal w/ it. But I feel like TSC, at least the closest one to us, doesn't teach their employees & doesn't seem to care any more... And it seems that the younger generations of people haven't had any experience with ANY livestock (& again, don't appear TO WANT TO LEARN about them) which in no way helps them in sales or making/keeping happy customers.

'Nuff said...

You are SO right! When I started going to TSC even 10 years ago the employees were much more knowledgeable. I will say there is ONE young girl that lives with live stock and you can tell. I try to go when she is there but I'm not that lucky. Lol. And you are correct. We all make mistakes but if you are dealing with live animals you have to care for them the "BEST" you can while they are in your care. That is why I kept buying more to get them out of their care. Lol.

 

[bharris0426]

Here is Ben this week.. California white Roo. Barred hasn't changed much. We shall see in a week or 2.

 

[bharris0426]

I am still stumped with the Barred Rock. I guess I'll have to just wait and see on this one. But what are your thoughts?

 

[TillyPeeps]

When I started going to TSC's here in NC, clear back in 1997, I wasn't into chickens yet. BUT I did have ponies & some things were WAY different here in the south than out west. It was extremely NICE to deal w/ the KNOWLEDGABLE employees TSC hired back then. Most had livestock of their own...

Things started changing... not sure what year. A move to a different county about an hour north in 2004, meant a different TSC, just 20 miles from . It was OK, but I still went back to several older ones - to visit w/ longtime employees & sometimes even got better pricing. I was begged by several managers to apply/join their "teams" - but wouldn't work as too far away for me to drive.

I got REALLY tired of some of the people at the TSC in Lee County. REALLY??, you don't even own a pair of gloves, when you need to load splintery posts or metal that may have sharp edges? Geeze! You work in a store that has dozens of types of gloves across the highway from a Lowe's, that also has gloves!! So you can't load what I've purchased 'cuz you don't have gloves? OK, manager time... Or another visit when 2 employees insisted that they could not load the CP the way I wanted it due to it wouldn't be secure. They informed me that I needed to come back with a flat bed trailer. I had load straps! Trust me, I had no desire to lose my precious load!! By the time they (because one young fella couldn't go by himself) got back, I had my 2-3 panels loaded by myself & was putting on the 3rd/final strap. It was pretty simple to unload, by myself, too.

Then in April 2011, that TSC was destroyed by one of many tornados that ripped across NC. When it reopened, we already had our 1st chicks & I had gotten several old, tried & true books on how to care for chickens. Good thing, as I swear the new TSC management selected their employees by who was the dumbest at the time of hiring. Even when I was between jobs, when I thought about applying there, I then remembered who I'd be working with. No, thanks...

And now in 2024 - I swear, it's WORSE!! I see chicks mislabeled (though if a hatchery sends wrong chicks or swaps chicks in the order, not employees' fault). I've seen dead chicks, not removed from the brooder area(s), & had a manager tell me once - "oh, I can't deal with that, the chick employee will be here tomorrow afternoon & will take care of it"... No one appeared to explore reasons chicks were dead or lethargic (& there were a lot more deaths by the next afternoon - not removed from their brooder until that employee arrived).

I have other stories, but suppose that's enough... and no, I'm not perfect. Even w/ joining BYC, even with my many good chicken & livestock books, I've made mistakes that hurt my birds & I've had to deal w/ it. But I feel like TSC, at least the closest one to us, doesn't teach their employees & doesn't seem to care any more... And it seems that the younger generations of people haven't had any experience with ANY livestock (& again, don't appear TO WANT TO LEARN about them) which in no way helps them in sales or making/keeping happy customers.

'Nuff said...

Our TSC is also very bad about chicks too. My friend got 4 EE roos out of 7 "sexed Ameraucana pullets" from them. One time I saw the ISA Brown pullet bin had half of the chicks being light yellow color, which means they are either a wrong breed or wrong gender!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That is why I kept buying more to get them out of their care. Lol.

Buying more only encourages them to sell more because they can see that the chicks are selling

 

[FrostRanger]

I've seen straight run white leghorn chicks mixed with buff orpington pullets at mine.....enough said
Anyways, as confusing as the barred rocks are I am slightly leaning towards pullet but I certainly could be wrong

 

[Tookie]

I am still stumped with the Barred Rock. I guess I'll have to just wait and see on this one. But what are your thoughts?

I say pullet.