Cornish Cross Culling Question

[Oregon Blues]

It sounds a lot like heart failure to me and the one who died in the cone would have been because he couldn't breathe after he was turned upside down.

However, there are also a lot of chicken respiratory diseases. Chickens are very susceptible to respiratory issues. All breeds of chicken, not just Cornish Cross. Keep a close eye on the rest of them in case your flock has some sort of contagious sniffle.

 

[Beekissed]

I didn't have an ounce of problems with mine, but I didn't raise mine like is commonly recommended. All 20 of mine progressed normally, gained weight accordingly and finished off in wonderful health. I got mine from TSC.

 

[machoman]

Beekissed,

Can you share you how you raised yours please?

 

[Beekissed]

I sure can! Here's a link to a thread where I documented the whole process from day one to the processed product:

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

Feel free to add to the thread if you choose to raise yours in this manner...I think all the info that one can give of this nature is of value so that people don't get the idea that these birds are expensive or difficult to raise.

 

[MetalSmitten]

it is odd to hear the whole batch went awry, they do tend to have health issues but it's not usually THAT severe (or else they wouldn't make a very economical product).

what were you feeding them? were you keeping them on wood shavings at any point?

 

[machoman]

I fed them a feed we purchased from a local breeder. I'm not sure of the protein content, but he uses it for all his chicks / layers and they've done well. We use it here on all our birds without it issue. Looks like the Tractor Supply feed. We used pine shavings while they were in the brooder.

Beekissed, thank you!

 

[MetalSmitten]

i'm always antsy about using wood shavings for meat birds, because i always worry that they'll eat the shavings. is it possible that they were doing this, and either could have impacted their crops and/or starved themselves (be it totally, or partially) ? i've only done two batches of meat birds, but i kept both on straw, and we had no problems.

 

[machoman]

Beekissed :

Thank You!!! This is a wonderful idea and it makes sense. All critters do better with a mommy.

If I have a broody hen next spring I will absolutely try cornish x again. The difference in not only the appearance and weight of your birds, but simply their free-ranging is astounding. They looked beautiful and happy. A happy bird is very important to me. Even if mine weighed as much as yours, if we continued to have the same problems, I would not do it again. Thank you so much for showing me that thread. I see some light at the end of the tunnel now.

I know we're going to eat 'em, but we want them healthy and happy too.

 

[Beekissed]

It was an experiment I wanted to try because I just couldn't bear to raise a chicken under the advised methods...confinement, overfeeding, etc. I just wanted to see if it could be done in a more humane, more healthy manner~for the birds also. Who wants to eat meat that is raised just like the store bought meat?

I think you will be surprised as to the flavor of the chickens raised in this manner also....the meat was more flavorful and had more texture than the typical mass produced broiler.

 

[machoman]

After culling 4 more I've noticed some distinctive things about this batch. The last four had fluid in the cavity, ie congestive heart failure. I've also noticed that most of the cornish I've processed also have spraddle-ish legs. Their legs are thick and strong, but many of them have definite outward bended legs. I had two that were completely spraddle legged and they had to be culled very, very early on. These last four all weighed about 3-3.5 lbs dressed at 9.5 weeks. The legs look pretty painful to me. No wonder they sit down all the time. I really do believe something was off with this batch. I've got another batch of meat birds who have been raised the exact same way, same food...everything, and they're beautiful and thriving.