3 week old overweight Cornish Rock - I believe has broken leg(s)

[enola]

Several posters on this thread, including me, have raised cornishx past the age of 12 weeks to have a normal healthy weight. In my case my hen was used for breeding. She laid 5+ eggs every week. I hatched her eggs and sold the chicks when they were 10 to 16 weeks old for roasters. After breeding her for a season I butchered her and ate her.

Sure, you have to monitor her diet pretty closely, but she was healthy and happy right up to the end of her life.

 

[enola]

Well was it a "Cornish" or a "Cornish cross"? there's a difference.

I know my hen was a Cornish X (also known as a broiler chick at time of purchase). If you looked at all of the posts you saw the pictures of the chicks foot. I doubt seriously if the problem is even in her leg, it appears the foot was injured.

 

[enola]

Missmissi how is your chick today?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Where do you get that funny hitting your head against a brick wall icon? I love it and I need it for when I'm on the phone with my mother!

 

[missmissi]

Missmissi how is your chick today?

She's doing great Enola, thanks! We went out to the temporary run for 2 hours this afternoon. Willow flew on top of an up side down laundry basket and climbed on the small branches DH strategically placed as a poultry jungle gym, just like all the other 'littles'

I barely noticed her limp at all today. Still improving, obviously. She's the sweetest little thing, I mean like, really, really. I chose her because they told me Cornish are very friendly. She flutters around, keeps up with the others and they all like to cuddle with her, I guess because she's a bit fluffy I guess it wouldn't be right if I had a new bunch without one who needed a little extra care.

Our first 4 chicks included one that must have been sick/weak at the store, then got trampled in the box on the way home - this year I took a folded paper towel for the floor of the box for them to have traction. She way nearly dead, no moving, shallow breathing, barely would open her eyes. I got online and searched for answers, one by one, of each of her symptoms and ailments. And she just turned 2 in February. Her name is Babe. Some people told me to end her life, there was no use, I was prolonging the inevitable etc etc. I slept with her in a red bandana wrapped around my neck, I hand fed her 7 times a day (mind you I owned my own business then), I protected her from the others when she was weak. I walked her and hummed to her.

Babe was attacked by a hawk on January 1st this year. It looked bad, I was certain this was the end for her. Terrible injuries, concussion, contusion etc. But she kept holding on, and I rocked her in my arms until I was too tired to do it any more. We took her to the vet for attention to her damaged eye, then we bought a crate for a Great Dane and made her an indoor coop. We nursed her, cleaned up her messes and loved her as much as she would let us. At 4 weeks to the day Babe let me know she was ready to go out, literally jumping up and down. I watched her, because now her vision is seriously compromised, and she's doing great. I supplement her diet a little when she feels a little skinny. She's still the prettiest girl out there!

I've had to make hard decisions for a few, but when they've got a lot of fight left in them I'm going to give it my best. Sometimes they've found motivation in our strength If I was in a car crash, 2 broken arms, 2 broken legs and a crack in my skull, too weak to feed myself, needing medicine, therapy and someone to bathe me .. I hope someone will take care of me until I'm strong again, not assume that I won't get better; give up. Healing is painful, and when we're 'all better' we continue with our lives. Every one of my 'kids' gets treated to this same philosophy, even the humble chicken

 

[CMV]

BarnChickyOO- This is not our bird. Those of us that have experience with this breed may not necessarily agree with what missmissi is trying to do, but she is trying to the best of her ability to work with what she has been given. I applaud her for that. I may not necessarily have chosen the same path, but I can appreciate what she is trying to do. The bird may not have the quality of life that an average bird has, but this bird knows no other life than what it has. Let missmissi try to do some magic and give this bird a good life. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

And for anyone else who would criticize- missmissi has made the decision to save this bird. Your opinions don't matter because this is not your decision, and the decision has already been made. Stop trying to convince her that she is wrong because we do not know if she is wrong or not. All we are doing is assuming (based on our experiences) that she's wrong. Let time be the true test.

I am happy to hear she is improving. Good luck, missmissi.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I know how important it is to be optimistic when you're taking on a challenge like this, even though you might not yourself be sure of a positive outcome. And there's lots of us out here that want to hear about her progress, for good or bad, in order to learn from your experience. Maybe, to avoid inspiring any more negative outbursts (not sure why this subject seems to exercise people so) you could start a new thread, Willows progress or something, that doesn't mention her humble Cornish origins?

 

[enola]

I think her humble cornish origins are a very important part of this subject.

 

[ten chicks]

I personally think what you are doing is amazing,and think any information you can learn/share with others through your journey with your girl, will be extremely helpful. Perhaps there is more to this breed than previously given credit for,and all animals deserve a chance!!!

Best of luck with you sweet girl!

 

[missmissi]

Well was it a "Cornish" or a "Cornish cross"? there's a difference.
I'm not doubting it's possible, but at this point, I think that this particular bird has been through enough.

If you read the whole post you would see that this issue lasted for less than a week, because of advice based on experiences of other readers, I was able to prevent a temporary injury from becoming a permanent disability. I try to educate myself about a subject before putting my foot in my mouth - We are a rescue for abused and neglected animals here, I put a lot of energy into creating a Club Med for farm animals, and yes I do know when 'enough is enough'. We are not selfish here, we are attentive. I read about people gassing or drowning their sick animals, THAT to me is cruelty and abuse. Love and support are not.

I started this thread asking for help. I do not need another person ignorant about our situation telling me I should kill one of God's precious creatures that only needed rehab.