How are your local feed/animal supply/chick stores doing?

[HobbyHoarder]

My godson called me yesterday after he left his local tractor supply and witnessed an employee having a fairly spectacular (but probably deserved from the sound of it) meltdown on a customer and then quitting on the spot. He said his cashier said this was one of the worst chick seasons they've ever had between selling out almost immediately after every shipment, and then having fewer shipments than normally. He was curious if my local stores have been having a hard time too, and I do know the Big R near me said they were suffering the first week they were expecting chicks because they didn't start getting them in until four days later than they expected the first batch and selling out within hours. I also know I had a harder time this year getting pullets than I have in the past, but I also normally just order mine from a hatchery, this is the first year I've ever got any from a local place so this could be normal for all I know.

So out of curiosity, how are your local stores doing? Did they have a harder time this year (I'm presuming due to the egg shortages) or is it just Colorado that has apparently lost its mind on tractor supply and big r?

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

I personally have not seen a single chick in the stores. Lots of empty brooders, but chicks are a hot commodity.

 

[Cmp211]

I’m in upstate New York. Getting chicken was crazy. I finally landed 18 chicks. (I’m a bit impulsive ) From two different places , 2 weeks apart. I was calling all the surrounding feed stores pretty much daily. Finally had luck at two different tractor supply’s. The tractor supply in my town had gotten chicks only a few times. Lots of ducks lol but chicks are very hard to come by this year, once they’re at the store I think they’re sold out with in a few hours

 

[PioneerChicks]

Chicks in the CAL Ranch stores near me are going fast! Earlier this week I went in and asked the employees for details.

They get chicks once a week, and they are sold out in a day and a half. Of everything. I estimate that they get around 200 chicks each week. Possibly more, like 250. I'm not really sure. They have at least 3+ stores within an hour of me and it's the same for all of them.

All sorts of varieties, and even some other species like turkeys. I think they get ducklings sometimes too. Lots of Cornish X too. Prices ranged from $4-8, with Blue Laced Red Wyandottes for $11. All sold out in a day and a half.

(By the way, you guys should be proud of me! I browsed their chicks, and even saw Chocolate Orpingtons, but didn't buy! Discipline at its finest! )

Dunlap Hatchery, my formerly local hatchery, is sold out of big orders on their chicks. You can call and make smaller orders or pick up in their store, but you can't just order most breeds now. Even "assorted females."

I'm curious guys, right now would you say having a flock of adult backyard hens is cheaper than buying eggs from the store?

 

[HobbyHoarder]

I personally have not seen a single chick in the stores. Lots of empty brooders, but chicks are a hot commodity.

I’m in upstate New York. Getting chicken was crazy. I finally landed 18 chicks. (I’m a bit impulsive ) From two different places , 2 weeks apart. I was calling all the surrounding feed stores pretty much daily. Finally had luck at two different tractor supply’s. The tractor supply in my town had gotten chicks only a few times. Lots of ducks lol but chicks are very hard to come by this year, once they’re at the store I think they’re sold out with in a few hours

I only personally saw chicks and ducklings when we got ours. That was Mar. 4 at tractor supply, and we got some of our ducklings the day after at Big R (some are from a local farm.) Since then, I've seen turkeys at big R, once, but nothing anywhere else. So it seems like it's like this basically across the U.S. this year.

All sorts of varieties, and even some other species like turkeys. I think they get ducklings sometimes too. Lots of Cornish X too. Prices ranged from $4-8, with Blue Laced Red Wyandottes for $11. All sold out in a day and a half.

The first week we went we had good luck with variety, but yeah, I haven't seen anything other than turkeys since. Wish my store had had Wyandottes this year though! That was one of the specific breeds we were hoping for!

I'm curious guys, right now would you say having a flock of adult backyard hens is cheaper than buying eggs from the store?

Lmao, no, not even a little cheaper in my opinion. I honestly think my chickens and their care are way more expensive than just buying eggs in store. We're rebuilding our runs and shelters to try to make them into Fort Clucks and Quackatraz to keep the flock safe so I have no repeats of my previous flock massacre. So between the flocks initial cost + various supplies + construction materials, its way more than I'd have spent on eggs for the next few months. The difference is just that I enjoy the process of raising and caring for my ladies, and personally I think the eggs I get have more flavor/taste better than what I get in store. If I'm having to spend that much for eggs anyways, I'd rather spend a little more to get eggs that taste better and come with a rainbow of feathered gals that bring me joy.