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Baby chickens in high demand amid COVID-19 outbreak

Baby chickens in high demand amid COVID-19 outbreak
FIRST IT WAS TOILET PAPER. NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING BANANAS FOR A GROCERY STORE ITEM THAT’S BEEN IN SHORT SUPPLY, EGGS. STOCKING UP ON THOSE ISN’T REALLY AN OPTION. SO IT SEEMS PEOPLE ARE DOING THE NEXT BEST THING, STOCKING UP ON THE SOURCE. YES, IT SEEMS IN ORLANDO THERE’S BEEN A RUN ON BABY CHICKS. JOINING US TO TALK THROUGH THIS INTERESTING SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT EGG DEMAND IS NATHAN ALLEN FROM PALMER FEED STORE IN ORLANDO. NATHAN WHEN DID THIS START? >> HELLO. THIS STARTED BEGINNING OF MARCH. UPTICK IN SALES, DOUBLE WHAT WE NORMALLY DID. THE FIRST TIME WE SOLD OUT OF CHICKENS NOT EVEN THREE WEEKS OLD, THIS MONTH. WE DEFINITELY ORDERED MORE AND THEY WENT QUICK. OH MY GOSH, THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON. WE STARTED HEARING FROM CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF EGGS. OLD FACES WE HAD NOT SEEN IN YEARS SHOWING BACKUP, READY TO START OVER AND GET CHICKENS AGAIN. JAZMIN: NATHAN, WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE BABY CHICKS -- THEY WOULD TAKE HOME TODAY WILL NOT BE LAYING EGGS ANY TIME SOON. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT TAKES FIVE MONTHS BEFORE YOU GET EGGS. YOU ARE BUYING A PET WHEN YOU GET A BABY CHICK. YOU WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THEM INDOORS FOR THE FIRST MONTH, KEEPING THEM HOT, A SPECIFIC, CERTAIN AREA. YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM LOVE. JAZMIN: YOU SEEM -- >> YOU -- YEAH. JAZMIN: YOU SEEM LIKE YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO DO THOSE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED. YOU’RE TALKING TIME BEFORE YOU START TO SEE THE PAYOFF. WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING HENS AND ROOSTERS IN THEIR BACKYARDS? >> ABSOLUTELY, THE BACKYARD IS PROBLEMATIC WITH CRITTERS. RACCOONS, COYOTES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM SECURE, 100%, SECURED BEHIND BARS, WIRE, A SHED, MOVING TRACTORS, ANYTHING THAT WILL KEEP PREDATORS OUT FOR CERTAIN. JAZMIN: NATHAN, ARE YOU WORRIED PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO? >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. WE ARE HERE FOR ADVICE AS WELL AS SELLING ANYTHING. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU ADVICE. WE HAVE MADE A TON OF SIGNS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE. ASK US ANYTHING QUESTIONS. WE SELL ALL THE GOODIES, THE WIRE TO KEEP THEM OUT, ALL YOUR ACCESSORIES FOR FOOD AND WATER FOR BABIES OR ADULTS. WE HAVE THE FULL RANGE SHOWING. INFORMATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. JAZMIN: AGREED. AWESOME TO KNOW YOU ARE THERE TO WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THIS. JUST WILD TO SEE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO NATHAN ALLEN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING
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Baby chickens in high demand amid COVID-19 outbreak
Many people in Orlando are rushing to purchase baby chickens to ensure they will have a future supply of eggs.WESH 2 News spoke with Nathan Allen, of Palmer Feed Store in Orlando, about how people are buying baby chickens and what people can expect.Allen said the uptick in sales began in the beginning of March. He said the first time they sold out of baby chickens was very recently. Customers told him they were concerned about egg shortages.Allen said that it takes about 5 to 6 months before you can expect any eggs.Related: Employees say people are buying chickens because of COVID-19

Many people in Orlando are rushing to purchase baby chickens to ensure they will have a future supply of eggs.

WESH 2 News spoke with Nathan Allen, of Palmer Feed Store in Orlando, about how people are buying baby chickens and what people can expect.

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Allen said the uptick in sales began in the beginning of March. He said the first time they sold out of baby chickens was very recently. Customers told him they were concerned about egg shortages.

Allen said that it takes about 5 to 6 months before you can expect any eggs.

Related: Employees say people are buying chickens because of COVID-19