- Apr 17, 2011
- 167
- 13
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Hi. I have three broiler chicks that I adopted from my son's school when they were a day old. They are now almost two months old. They seem to have trouble walking because the bodies of these girls are enormous! I've noticed they are very greedy eaters when I put the feed out for them, not aggressive though and they lay down to eat, even when grazing in their large fence. My four year old son helps take care of them. I really like their laid back nature and I've never had chickens before. These hens are my first experience and I'm very happy I have been able to successfully care for and raise them. I do not wish to eat them but I have heard bad things about keeping them. Things such as, "they will die around 9 months old from heart failure because they are such heavy birds" and "they will have deformed legs because the bones cannot grow fast enough to keep up with the meat". Is there any truth to these rumors or can I keep them on for many more years as pets? My sons (age 4 and 6) really like them as pets and I don't know how to explain eating his eggsxperiment from school! Could someone please give me more information on broiler chickens and what I should do for their happiness in the future? Thanks!