Hey all, my neighbors have started raising chickens for the first time, ad they went with 6 egg layers and 6 Cornish crosses. The Cornish were doing great, up until now. I went to look at them today, and my favorite (naturally) KJ, was flipped on his back, dead. After reading through the forums, (I myself only have egg layers) I determined that he must've had a heart attack...I know he hadn't been healthy because he was growing too fast, he was sneezing frequently and breathing heavily. The thing I'm confused about (and obviously devastated) is that his wing had broken as well. The bone was popped out of the skin and bloody. I think he must've just fallen on it, but I'm not positive. Nothing got in and attacked them, that much I do know.
Anyway, the issue now is that one of the others has an issue with its leg. I guess it had jumped from the box they were bringing them out back with, and has been limping since. I looked close at it today and figured out the joint itself had popped forward. The leg is skewed weirdly and the poor thing can hardly move. I had to hold her while she drank because she hadn't all day. I don't want to hurt her more but I want to help her! hopefully without culling too soon...but it's unfair for her to suffer...
Has this happened to anyone else? I don't know much about meat birds, so I could really use the advice as well...thank you to anyone who can help.
Anyway, the issue now is that one of the others has an issue with its leg. I guess it had jumped from the box they were bringing them out back with, and has been limping since. I looked close at it today and figured out the joint itself had popped forward. The leg is skewed weirdly and the poor thing can hardly move. I had to hold her while she drank because she hadn't all day. I don't want to hurt her more but I want to help her! hopefully without culling too soon...but it's unfair for her to suffer...
Has this happened to anyone else? I don't know much about meat birds, so I could really use the advice as well...thank you to anyone who can help.