The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Exhibiting & Promoting

Hardware Store chicks

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Don:
The Hardware store chicks are beginning to show up now.  So be aware when you see folks buying chicks.  We know that the lot labeled as Ameraucanas/Araucanas are not true AMs.  Most of the sales clerks don't know the difference, and i expect don't care either.  "That's what the hatchery told us they were" is all that they know to say.  Be Kind.  Most folks don't really care until they start to show and that's usually when the good judges will point out their errors.   

Also, a friend decided to get RIR pullets from TSC a few years back.  After he had fed them for about 5 months, he asked me to come help him decide which were male and female.  He had a 8 chicks and they were growing into nice big males.  Mistake perhaps?   

Cesar “CJ”:
After being bombarded by AM breeders from various social media outlets. TSC sent me and others a message stating that they are aware of the differences between Easter Egger and true Ameraucanas. The request for new signs saying "Easter Egger" have been approved for printing and a should be on the way to their stores.

If that will happen this chick season, who knows.

Don:
Ceasar,  I have not been to their stores this month to see what they are offering.  I don't know who they order chicks from but hope they have corrected their information.  Any effort such as the correct signage and maybe a bit of employee education will go a long ways to help lead the new poultry owner in a more informed direction.  And they do usually offer a variety of commercial layers.  And that is all most folks really are interested in keeping anyway until they realize the difference between the commercial stock and a true breed stock.  Then often they want to investigate further and pursue good quality birds and they eventually find stock from a breeder.  Some of the best breeders have been down a similar path.  I just like to have others take an easier route.     

Susan Mouw:

--- Quote from: Cesar V. on March 05, 2016, 10:21:27 PM ---After being bombarded by AM breeders from various social media outlets. TSC sent me and others a message stating that they are aware of the differences between Easter Egger and true Ameraucanas. The request for new signs saying "Easter Egger" have been approved for printing and a should be on the way to their stores.

If that will happen this chick season, who knows.

--- End quote ---

Wow!  Cesar, if that happens, you have done more to educate the unsuspecting public about hatchery/commercial birds than many others who have tried.

Good job!

Ernie Haire:
I agree that many people who are purchasing chicks at TSC and other outlets are only wanting chickens to produce eggs, something to entertain their children, or a trip down memory lane. As an educator, I see too many students purchasing chicks at TSC and other outlets as projects. If their project is to raise a set of meat chicks or egg layers, it is all good. For those people, I am happy that they have their backyard flock and are pleased with them.

If they plan on showing their chickens at a Poultry Show, it is not all good. I teach Agricultural Science and have for years. I teach Advanced Animal Science in High School. My students are competitive in showing breeding heifers, market steers, breeding gilts, market hogs, breeding goats, market goats, breeding lambs, market lambs, broilers, roasters, and breeding poultry. Some of my students are limited as to what they can raise and show due to finances, space, and/or residential restrictions. I think that chickens are great projects for any student, but especially the ones with limitations.

Because I breed and show chickens, my students have access to anything that I breed. I also have made many friends on the show road that are always ready and willing to share their genetics with my students. I don't claim to have the best of everything or to know everything, but I have connections in the poultry world that are always ready and willing to help in anyway that they can.

The sad thing is that the only poultry class we had in college was limited to one semester. In that one semester we learned about eggs, hatching, brooding, and slaughtering poultry. Everything that I do know about showing poultry and different breed standards was learned at the poultry shows from other breeders and exhibitors. Many of the Agricultural Science teachers in the classrooms have no experience. Their students are getting the experience of raising chickens from chicks, probably gathering eggs, keeping records on their expenses and income, and maybe getting the experience of traveling to and competing in a poultry show. Many of their show experiences are not good ones. Not because they did not work hard and not because they did not do everything that they were supposed to, but because the bird that they entered in the show does not come close to meeting the Breed Standard. Many of those students are heart broken and/or discouraged when they are disqualified.

I try to visit with junior exhibitors, their Ag. teachers, and/or 4H leaders at the shows. Many times, I find out that they bought their chicks at the local retail store and believed that they were buying the breed that was on the sign. Why would they believe anything different? The Ag. teacher or 4H leader saw the bird and believed it was what the sign said it was when they bought it.

I try to visit with other Ag teachers at our State Teachers' Conference every year and educate them on the fact that "a chicken is not just a chicken". I try to speak at as many 4H meetings as I am invited to in different areas. I ask that if you have time, you try to visit with your local Ag. teacher and/or 4H leader. We are always searching for outside speakers to help with educating our students and/or members. I think that you will find it a blessing to work with some of these young people and may be able to mentor someone how has nobody to work with at home.

Just Saying,
Ernie Haire
Poultry 2XL

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