7 week CX limping

[Bubblegum85]

My kiddo got 25 broiler chicks for FFA and they are 7 weeks now. First time with meaties, there are about 4 birds that are quite a bit smaller than the other ones and they are limping. They don't walk much and will lay down to eat or drink then go back to a sunny spot and lay some more. Any vitamins I can give them to help? They have no injuries that I can see.

 

[Mosey2003]

They sound sick. I'd separate them in a warm brooder and start with a round of Corid. If that doesn't help, I'd get Nutri-Drench or Rooster Booster into them.

 

[RoosterML]

I would process them as you are getting pretty close to processing day anyways. CX are not big movers to begin with. Personally I would not give anything to meat I will eat. Process!

 

[Mosey2003]

I mean, yeah, obviously processing is an option too. But if they're small for their age, I'm one to try to get them bigger first. To each their own, of course.

 

[Parront]

It will not hurt the meat to give them some vitamins. But if they are smaller than the rest and are acting strange, I also would process them ASAP. You don't get much warning before they die. I eat little cockerels that only dress out to be 2 lbs. Cornish game hens in the store are your birds processed @ 4 weeks and weight is 18 oz. You get to pick the ones for the project for FFA, like 4-H, right? 6 in a "meat pen"?

 

[Bubblegum85]

Yes the deal was to pick the biggest nicest ones for the rodeo BUT this is our first year doing this when we got them as chicks, my teen removed the clips they had in their wings and once she told her teacher, he told her she was disqualified lol so none went to show.
We were going to process half this weekend, I'll take the ones that are having issues, I'm not to worried about having small broilers in the fridge. I just wanted them to have a happy short life. We started with 25 and still have all 25 so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Parront]

Yes the deal was to pick the biggest nicest ones for the rodeo BUT this is our first year doing this when we got them as chicks, my teen removed the clips they had in their wings and once she told her teacher, he told her she was disqualified lol so none went to show.
We were going to process half this weekend, I'll take the ones that are having issues, I'm not to worried about having small broilers in the fridge. I just wanted them to have a happy short life. We started with 25 and still have all 25 so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Sounds like you did great, in spite of being "disqualified"! Hope that the all make it -- sometimes these birds just die right as they are getting good size. It is the biggest ones that get leg problems, usually.