Legally have to buy 6 chicks at a time in NY???!!

[Sasham]

I just went to buy a couple silkies to add to our flock just for fun and was told legally they can't sell me less than 6 at a time because the state only approves the sale of poultry for agricultural purpose and they believe if they sell you less that 6 at a time you might take them home and keep them as pets... Heaven forbid someone want a chicken as a pet. Has anyone ever heard of this? I wonder if it's like that in other states also

 

[cavemanrich]

Try a different store. or from an individual. Laws don't always make common sense.

 

[Rainekitty]

The Tractor Supply and Southern States stores here in MD have the same rules. It's not that it's illegal to sell only a few chicks, but the farm stores are only licensed (is that the right word?) to sell for agricultural purposes, hence the minimum.

 

[Blooie]

Yep, that's the word I got from TSC and from Shipton's Big R, too. The need for that came from so many people buying an Easter chick or duckling for kids who were fascinated for a whole day, then went on to other things while the birds suffer for it. So they were ruled as "agricultural" to keep people from doing that. It's a good rule, for the most part. I confess that as a child my mom got me a cute little pink chick for Easter. I was thrilled. In two days it was dead from a combination of ignorance and neglect, and maybe even a little loneliness, I'm ashamed to say. So chalk it up to another case of the bad making it hard on the good. It does seem unfair when you just need to buy a couple of chicks to round out a flock, but when people can't police themselves.......