Should there be some kind of oversight required?

[thecatumbrella]

That is so unbelievably sad. Unfortunately, it seems to be the way of the world. I've watched a neighbor get a Border Collie "for protection" (???) and tie it up on a 6 foot lead 24/7, 365 days a year. Or think of all the ways someone can neglect or abuse their children. The world has always been short on empathy. I don't believe in more oversight, but it's our job to be the change we want to see.

 

[FunClucks]

The underlying issue here isn't education and regulation of the folks who sell chickens, or other pets. It's that you have two types of people buying chickens - Type 1 is folks who believe that animal lives have intrinsic value regardless of how much it cost them to purchase or obtain the animal, and that animals deserve to have their needs met and to be cared for in a species appropriate way. Type 2 is folks who do not believe these things. The second type of people may believe that animals are disposable, may value them according to how much money they paid for them, or may believe that animals are only around to meet the people's needs - it really doesn't matter what this second type of people believes, because they DON'T believe what the first group of folks do.

These two types of folks come into the pet store with their views of animals already fixed. No amount of education or salesmanship (especially with the limited time and resources available in a store environment) will change the underlying beliefs of these two types of people. Type 1 people will be trying to care for their chicks the best they know how because it's the right thing to do. They may be uneducated and uninformed and impulsive, but in most cases are willing to be educated, and quickly become informed, because they care about taking care of their animals properly. Type 1 people may be impulsive purchasers of chicks, but they'll walk out with the chicks and a beginning brooder kit, food, shavings, heat lamp, etc. because the salesperson recommended it, they recognized they didn't know much if anything about caring for chickens, and they wanted to learn. They may make mistakes out of ignorance and inexperience but learn from them, and don't repeat them.

Type 2 people will do whatever they want with their animals and feel no guilt about it. No amount of education or assistance will help these people because they don't want help. They already know everything and if something messes up, it's always someone else's fault. No amount of laws and regulations are going to make Type 2 people care about the animals they abuse, because the laws never apply to them, only to other people. There is no way to regulate these type of people into being decent people. It just isn't possible. The best we can do is try to protect others from their bad choices, but doing that without stepping all over everyone's rights is extremely challenging.

With our current social norms and political structures, laws and regulations about chicken purchasing will only make life more difficult for the Type 1 people. Type 2 people will do what they want to regardless.

The underlying issue here is much larger than regulating or lack of regulations in chicken purchasing.

 

[Charlotteak]

That would work a lot better for people who live less than an hour from the nearest feed store than for those of us who don't.

True! It wouldn't work very well.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

If you can get them to post it I made a flyer for directing newbies chicken owners here. I don’t promise it will help, but I allow as it might.

 

[Tib]

When we got our first set of chicks the guy asked right away - Do you have your coop built already? (we didn't but had the plans and material to start building - we did have a setup for raising them and plenty of time to build the coop) Do you have the heat lamp, etc. (we needed the lamp, feeder and waterer - we had them in the cart before we asked for the chicks). He wasn't being pushy, generally just asked questions and for people who care that should be enough to trigger some "hmmmm" moments.

I can imagine the stress and chaos that would happen if all I had was a kiddy tub and no idea about coops. He wasn't even pushing the prefab ones, just wanted to make sure we had plans. We had that newbie look I guess.

A week later, I was in the store getting some oil for a vehicle change and heard a women tell her kid "I have an idea, lets get some chickens for free eggs" then asked for 12 chicks. I had already looked at the supply and knew they only had ducks and meat birds. Clearly said on sign - meat birds - not for eggs hand written. The sign said broilers which to me is a hint right away they aren't making garlic bread for me. I gently said read that sign before you get them and she did and then quickly changed her mind. She was grateful that I pointed it out. Saved her a headache, kid heartbreak and 12 chicks likely went to the right place. I even suggested google "Back Yard Chicken Forums" when you get home and you'll learn a ton of stuff

Many times I've been at the fish store both corporate and locally owned and they start the conversation out with what kind of tank etc. Fish are harder to start out than chickens in my opinion. So many things you can do wrong kill the whole tank and requires lots of patience and maintenance. Have been at it for 30 years and still get asked those questions when stocking.

They have a slew of pamphlets next to the chicks about every breed, how to raise them, etc.

There isn't much more they can really do to fix the hard headed uneducated people, but I still have hope for humanity when I see employees doing their part and even bystanders able to give a tip or accept one.