Accidenlty got a meat bird?

[Klsullivan99]

Hi- We have six chicks from tractor supply. 2 are production reds and the other 4 are either white rocks or rhode island whites (mixed in the bin so not sure what we got) They are about 2-3 weeks old. We noticed the one white bird literally doubled in size almost overnight and is rather fat. If it continues to expand, should I rehome it? We got the chicks for fun and the hopes of eggs, and they are definitely the kids pets. Would keeping a super fat chicken be a bad idea with the others? We have started to noticed the chick sits by the food most of the time???

 

[DobieLover]

It sounds like you have a Cornish Cross meat bird. They were not bred to live very long and are prone to health problems if not butchered at their slaughter weight (usually around 30 - 45 days).
There are no Rhode Island whites, just reds. It's possible the other white chicks are leghorns.

 

[Klsullivan99]

Thank you for the info..so what do I do if it is a meat bird? ..we are rather attached to the chicks..will it harm the others? I assume if it continues to double in size i'll know for sure by the weekend..

 

[DobieLover]

It certainly won't harm the others. It will get too big to move very fast. These birds don't free range well either. They are slow due to their size.
You might want to consider the fact that it will be kinder to have this bird processed when it reaches butcher weight. As I said, these birds tend to develop pretty serious health issues, including sudden death, when they are kept past butcher weight. You can try to keep it's weight down by controlling how much it is fed but with it being kept with layer chicks, that is next to impossible.
I'm really sorry you ended up with what sounds like a meat bird and have gotten attached to it.

 

[RodNTN]

You could be humane and let him live to his butcher weight, or you could try and prolong his life by putting him on a restricted diet and making sure he gets plenty of exercise. Most live to be a year or so

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

 

[Klsullivan99]

I'm hoping she doesn't continue to double in size and just had a sudden overnight growth spurt! ..and are we sure they Rhode Island Whites don't exist? Google tells me otherwise, but I'm totally brand new to chicks!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Hoover's and Cackle sell Rhode Island Whites
Cackle Hatchery makes their Red sex-links Cinnamon Queen by crossing a Rhode Island Red Rooster with a Rhode Island White.

Interesting tidbit; Hoover's Hatchery makes their Cinnamon Queen with a Rhode Island Red Rooster and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. GC

 

[mc79]

Tractor Supply is terrific with selling chicken supplies, but absolutely terrible with actual chickens. Last year we got 4 babies from there (all listed as pullets). 3 out of the 4 turned out to be roosters, and only one of them was the breed that was listed on the bin.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

It sounds like you have a Cornish Cross meat bird. They were not bred to live very long and are prone to health problems if not butchered at their slaughter weight (usually around 30 - 45 days).
There are no Rhode Island whites, just reds. It's possible the other white chicks are leghorns.

There are such things as RIW