TSC Chicks

[Dee-Dee]

Does anyone have advice on picking/raising chicks from TSC? I am going tomorrow morning in hopes of buying my first-ever chicks. I have a lot of the supplies already (heating plate, chick food, chick grit, a large plastic container, to name a few), but know I probably need other things, too. I live on a double lot in a very small village that allows hens, but no roosters. Does TSC sex the chicks for you? Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated. I have so many questions but will leave it here for now.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

It depends on the breed of chicken that you are getting, some are sexed, some are not. I find the bantams are not usually sexed. If you want good laying hens, I'd pick Leghorns(if your climate is not too cold), Orpingtons, Wyandottes, or Rhode Island Reds.

 

[nuthatched]

Chick ordered don't typically arrive in Monday. Call ahead and ask when their orders are delivered.
Feed Stores are distributors for the hatchery. Chicks are sexed at the hatchery, within 90% accuracy.
The feed store uses whatever paperwork comes in the chick shipment.

 

[Dee-Dee]

Thanks, nuthatched, for your response. I called last week, and they told me they get their new chicks come in on Monday mornings for our local TSC store. I hope they told me correctly, but I guess I will find out one way or another. Fingers crossed!

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Yayyy! Good luck!

 

[Dee-Dee]

It depends on the breed of chicken that you are getting, some are sexed, some are not. I find the bantams are not usually sexed. If you want good laying hens, I'd pick Leghorns(if your climate is not too cold), Orpingtons, Wyandottes, or Rhode Island Reds.

Thanks, Chicken_Obsesser, for your response! I will write down these breeds and take the list with me! LOL

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

LOL I've done that before as well.

 

[Iluveggers]

They will be labeled “pullets” or “straight run”. If you want girls, go with pullets only: No guarantees but they *should* be females.

If you have time, and the breed is listed, google and see if it matches the description of what a chick of that breed should look like.

Don’t get Cornish Cross or Cornish X, those are meat birds and will need to be processed for meat by 10 weeks.

Good luck!

 

[Sally PB]

@Dee-Dee, where are you located? Just the state is fine. That will give us an idea of your climate, which is really important. What works for me in Michigan is totally different than someone in Maine or Florida.

I got my Black Australorp at TSC 5 years ago. They are very nice, quiet birds. They're past their prime laying season, but they still lay a couple eggs a week.

Oh, and

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks, nuthatched, for your response. I called last week, and they told me they get their new chicks come in on Monday mornings for our local TSC store. I hope they told me correctly, but I guess I will find out one way or another. Fingers crossed!

You must be pretty close to a hatchery then, to get them within a day of shipping, that's great.
Pick any birds you like.