3 week old Cornish-Bulging Rear Ends

[Tumbleweed Farm]

My 3 week old Cornish all eat and drink heartily but have sparse feathers, I have one that looks burned he's so bare. But, my main concern is that they all have bulging rear ends, it's big and looks like a fluid sack almost. Is this normal? Can you help?

 

[becky3086]

How hot is it where you are?

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Mid 80's, lots of shade. Would that be a factor as to what is going on?

 

[jaketheeggman]

No problem. That is just the way they are mine are the same way.

 

[SteveH]

The "junk in the trunk" is perfectly normal, as is the sparce feathering at this stage. In fact, I look for the pushy rears in the self-sustainable meat birds I'm trying to develope, as those with this characteristic almost always turns out to be more meaty ones later. I have also noticed some of my purebreds are being very slow to feather this year, and I think this may be a natural reaction to abnormally hot temps we're having.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thank you soo much Jake and Steve. They look so awful I don't feel like I want to eat them, LOL. My first time doing meaties--not sure I'll do it again. They act like piranas when feeding, but then again I'm doing this because I've never eaten anything but a store bought chicken!!

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Jake, your response "junk in the trunk: was hilarious and a perfect description!!!

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
I hear ya. This is our first time with CX and they are so ugly, weird, smelly, and dull... On the other hand ours are only coming up on 7 weeks and I just weighed a cockerel at 7.5 pounds! We'll see what the meat quality is like before making a decision, but right now we are thinking maybe an extra 4 weeks wouldn't be a bad trade for birds that get out and forage around a little more. You know, like chickens!

The bulging, naked butts never completely go away, and some of these birds are still not really what you'd call fully-feathered, even though they are about to go into the freezer. They have a hell of a time walking with that enormous breast in the way. What strange creatures they are!

 

[Beekissed]

My CX experience was vastly different than what you are describing. Mine had those junk in the trunk builds when they were young but were fully feathered and foraging before long. They were free ranged along with my laying flock and didn't have all the ugliness and health problems that seem to plague that breed. I fed once a day and they ate the same feed as my layers.

You can check out their pics on my thread in this section. I did progressive pics of their growth, their life, their processing if you are interested in raising the CX in just a little different way to get optimal results that don't freak you out.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=325493

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thank you BeeKissed and Albion for your input. I'm having a hard time looking at these birds. Wish mine went like yours BeeKissed. Albion, let me know how yours turn out, ok?

Regards, Kathy