My Deal of the Week: Chick Days

By ERIN TURNER

I always like to look back over my week and determine my best deal.   This gives me motivation to seek an even better deal in the coming week or just to revel in the glory of how much I saved.  This week I had to share my best deal with you.  It’s a deal I didn’t anticipate, plan for or expect, but the end result was hands down the best deal in town!

My boys love animals and we are lucky enough to have the space to accommodate most of their desires.  So, when we entered the feed store yesterday and saw ducks and geese, my boys’ hearts melted and soon they reverted to preschool tactics of begging.    I can stand pretty firm on saying no to toys or other items, but when it comes to animals and I see the softer side of my boys come to life when they hold and cuddle with the fuzzy little critters, I am clay in their hands.

So, here I was faced with each boy holding a yellow, fuzzy sweet bird and saying, “Pleeease Mom?  They are sooo cute, and we’ve wanted ducks and geese forever!  Please????”  If the boys’ sweet faces weren’t enough, I had these birds looking at me with sad, pouty eyes and little chirps which I’m sure were saying, “Pleeease buy me!  Take me home.”

Now, this is where my deal of the week came in…feed stores have had their annual “Chick Days” for the last month.  They are ready to wrap things up and move on to the next season.  They are tired of changing bedding, feeding and watering, so they are ready to make some great deals.  And that folks, was the final clincher for me.  If I wasn’t already vulnerable with boys, ducks and geese begging me, I then had to contend with the sales staff who upon seeing the weakness in my eyes, approached and went in for the kill! “I’ll sell you the ducks for 60% off”  and “the geese are 2 for 1 today.”  Really?  They had to go there? Yup, I caved…complete putty!

So, my oldest son picked out his geese–2 of one variety and 2 of the other variety.   Only problem?  We left one goose all by himself by taking 2 of the 3.  So, the salesman says, “Oh, we don’t want him to be by himself. I’ll throw him in for free.”  They found ALL my weak points: boys, animals, good deals AND freebies!

Well, we left with the items for which we originally entered the store AND 11 ducks and geese.  Since we already raise poultry there aren’t a lot of additional costs for us so for us this score was a really good deal!  When I texted my husband that we had a surprise for him, he responded back “No donkeys.”  Guess he knows us pretty well.

60% off was a great deal and I’m really happy about it, but the savings was the least important part of why it became my Deal of the Week.  The real reason is the joy these animals bring to my boys and the responsibility the boys learn while caring for them.  It was a priceless afternoon watching my oldest son engineer a brooder house for them out of an old rabbit cage.  Meanwhile, my other two sons were lying in the grass giggling while the birds climbed over them and eventually the boys brought out big toy trucks and were giving the birds rides around the yard.  Who can put a value on such great entertainment?

So, while I saved 60% yesterday, the reward of watching the boys and knowing they are developing good life skills while caring for these birds far exceeds the money I saved.  I have no regrets that I was weak and caved on an unexpected purchase.   Totally worth it.

Be sure to check out the local feed stores (Axmen, Murdochs or Cenex) for great deals on poultry this week.  They are anxious to wrap up Chick Days and are willing to give some awesome deals. I promise you, it is an investment worth making!

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