Hi, I have learnt a lot in the last 24hours about my little popcorn.
A friend found her on the road and gave her to me at about 1week old.
She is currently 11weeks old.
I was worried she would be a boy and I'd have to find him a new home when the time came.
But unfortunately have discovered she/he is a Cornish x.
My concerns now:
Is she going to suffer?
What signs do I look out for?
If she does break a leg/wing, I couldn't kill her myself, I'd have to go to the vet, hoping they are opened at the right time.
Because she has been fed normal food- layer crunch/pellets from young and had food available day and night almost constantly, will restrict feeding her make her upset? And hungry all the time?
Would it be a mistake/mean to change her diet at 11/12weeks old?
She has always acted like my other two chickens- dust baths, scratching for food, eating grass, bugs etc,
When she walks, she has a waddle, and her legs, although seem strong, are quite far apart.
She sits a lot. Like she is worn out.
Will she ever fit in with the other chickens?
Should I find somewhere for her to be butchered and live her purpose?
Should I just let her live her short, possibly painful life with us?
How old are non-meat chicks when they are normally big enough to move in with older chickens? I feel popcorn isn't 'mature' enough to be with the older girls yet.
When she talks, he voice has changed from the little chirp, to a deeper/ voice change, that sounds like a duck, is this her voice changing to older girl, or into a rooster?
What would you do in my situation?
She is very much my little pet, comes when called, loves to sleep in the cat carrier in the back room at night, and will wait by the toor to come inside to go to bed when she is ready!
She loves to sit up on my shoulder (still!) and have a cuddle, or on my lap, or just under my chair.
She wants to be with the others, but only when there is fence between and they can't scare/peck her.
How long do you think she will live?
What do you do with chicken bodies when they die?
Is there anyone who has been in this position? And what did you do, and what would you do differently?
So many questions!
A friend found her on the road and gave her to me at about 1week old.
She is currently 11weeks old.
I was worried she would be a boy and I'd have to find him a new home when the time came.
But unfortunately have discovered she/he is a Cornish x.
My concerns now:
Is she going to suffer?
What signs do I look out for?
If she does break a leg/wing, I couldn't kill her myself, I'd have to go to the vet, hoping they are opened at the right time.
Because she has been fed normal food- layer crunch/pellets from young and had food available day and night almost constantly, will restrict feeding her make her upset? And hungry all the time?
Would it be a mistake/mean to change her diet at 11/12weeks old?
She has always acted like my other two chickens- dust baths, scratching for food, eating grass, bugs etc,
When she walks, she has a waddle, and her legs, although seem strong, are quite far apart.
She sits a lot. Like she is worn out.
Will she ever fit in with the other chickens?
Should I find somewhere for her to be butchered and live her purpose?
Should I just let her live her short, possibly painful life with us?
How old are non-meat chicks when they are normally big enough to move in with older chickens? I feel popcorn isn't 'mature' enough to be with the older girls yet.
When she talks, he voice has changed from the little chirp, to a deeper/ voice change, that sounds like a duck, is this her voice changing to older girl, or into a rooster?
What would you do in my situation?
She is very much my little pet, comes when called, loves to sleep in the cat carrier in the back room at night, and will wait by the toor to come inside to go to bed when she is ready!
She loves to sit up on my shoulder (still!) and have a cuddle, or on my lap, or just under my chair.
She wants to be with the others, but only when there is fence between and they can't scare/peck her.
How long do you think she will live?
What do you do with chicken bodies when they die?
Is there anyone who has been in this position? And what did you do, and what would you do differently?
So many questions!
