Can store-bought chicks be imprinted?
Blog reader, Tim, wrote to me:
Hello there,
Do you recommend against buying chicks from the tractor stores due to lack of imprinting? I’ve been told that they are a week to 10 days old at those stores.
Thank you,
Tim
Here’s my response:
Hi Tim,
I’m not sure how old they are at those stores, but for anyone who wants to imprint, I would recommend against it.
Most farm stores have chicks shipped to them and any time you ship chicks, you risk missing the imprinting period.
Additionally, chicks who are shipped to a store and then moved again to your home brooder go through additional stress (compared to having them shipped straight to your home.)
But to be honest, I don’t recommend having chicks shipped at all. I have a blog post on this topic if that interests you-, check out my article, Think twice about ordering chicks through the mail (the dire effects of shipping).
If at all possible, I recommend picking up chicks straight from a hatchery as early as the hatchery allows. Hatching at home is another option if you’re into that.
Best,
Bri
For more on imprinting, see my article: