Cornish Cross or Leghorns?

[ellchr3]

In February we ordered white leghorn chicks through tractor supply. They came directly from the hatchery though. Fast forward about 11 weeks and I swear they’re Cornish Cross. They’re huge! Starting to see mobility problems that don’t appear to be anything other than weight and that’s with having limited food intake for a few weeks. Has anyone ever been sent the wrong breed like this? Interested to hear your experience. I’ll see if I can get a decent picture of them tomorrow.

 

[LTAY1946]

I have quite a few fully mature cornish but not the fastest growing strain. One hen is a pet now. She wants me to pick her up but no one else to touch her. She's a real daddy's girl. 4 giant roosters that are like small turkeys. We will breed 4-5 of these big boys to some of the off spring of the cornish girls the way broad breasted turkeys are. I did loose 2 of the roosters to heart attacks but no others. I didn't feed them just because they were hungry. My pet hen must weigh 12-14 lbs and now I only pick her up to eye level in a game we have played since she was about 4lbs called riding the elevator. She still likes it but now when gets one ride. Have here is like going to the gym.

 

[FunClucks]

Hope you're not terribly attached to these chickens. Since they are so large and starting to experience decreased quality of life, processing them is (IMO) the humane thing to do. Or you can wait for them to die of natural causes, but heart attacks at any age are common, also leg problems (their legs stop working to hold up their bodies), and if they fall on their backs, sometimes they can't get up. Also, ascites is another common complaint with these guys. With feed restrictions and lots of exercise, some live for about a year, maybe 1.5 yrs. But since yours are already so big, there is a high likelihood they will die in the next few months if you don't process them now. They are also intolerant of cold and heat, so if it gets really hot where you live this summer, that can also cause them to die. The hens may lay eggs, if they live that long, maybe 150/yr, but the CX roosters are usually too large/fat to fertilize them. They're only bred to live to processing age at around 8 wks.

So sorry you expected leghorns and got CX. That really sucks! Definitely contact the folks you bought from and get your money back!

Leghorns are no more than about 4-5 lbs full grown. They're pretty streamlined, not chunky at all like CX.

If you have to process them yourself, check out the Meat Bird Forum on this site for lots of helpful info on how to do it.

 

[ellchr3]

Processing your own birds isn't for everyone, but it is certainly rewarding, and I am glad I learned how to do it.

I don't have a problem processing them. My wife is a different story

 

[BastyPutt]

I don't have a problem processing them. My wife is a different story

This is how mine was.

These birds are going to die. Either slowly and painfully if allowed to grow out, and the hands of a stranger OR by you, humanely. Mine as well be you.

This is what amazingly she said in the end.

 

[FunClucks]

Agreed. I'm already seeing a couple that are having trouble moving around. I've already contacted Tractor Supply and should at the least be sent replacement chicks. The bad thing is I've already spent so much time and feed for something I wasn't expecting. One of the first clues I had was how much these ate. I filled up a 10lb feeder one day and it was all gone the next. They likely ate that much because it wasn't the higher protein that meat birds need.

For your wife, maybe explain it this way. These birds had the best life you could possibly give them. They had a much better life than any meat bird in any factory setting, and have enjoyed every moment of it. Unfortunately their bodies are not physically capable of sustaining life much longer because of how they are bred. They are just not designed to live more than 8 wks. Most grocery store roasting chickens, (like the rotisserie chickens at Walmart) live maybe 3-4 weeks. So 4 months of outdoor/outside happiness is phenomenal for CX.

The goal for many of us raising backyard meat birds is to give them the best life possible while they are with us, and one bad day. One very short bad moment, with a minimum of pain and stress as possible. If you don't process them, they will slowly live in pain and eventually linger and die. Chickens hide their pain, so they will never show you that they are not doing well until they are really, really bad.

In my case, I am grateful for their lives and honor their sacrifice by eating and using every bit of their body that I can.

If your wife wants to hang onto one hen or something, I could see that. There's usually at least one bird that gets your heart. But the eventual outcome is a foregone conclusion. I'm so sorry.

 

[ellchr3]

Just went out and weighed a couple. First one I picked up was over 12 pounds and the second was over 14. Definitely meat birds. I've also reached to Tractor Supply. They came from Hoovers by way of TSC.

 

[SourRoses]

Yep, those are not Leghorns

But I'm sorry for your trouble What a pain now that you've raised these to slaughter age.

 

[ellchr3]

Hope you're not terribly attached to these chickens. Since they are so large and starting to experience decreased quality of life, processing them is (IMO) the humane thing to do. Or you can wait for them to die of natural causes, but heart attacks at any age are common, also leg problems (their legs stop working to hold up their bodies), and if they fall on their backs, sometimes they can't get up. Also, ascites is another common complaint with these guys. With feed restrictions and lots of exercise, some live for about a year, maybe 1.5 yrs. But since yours are already so big, there is a high likelihood they will die in the next few months if you don't process them now. They are also intolerant of cold and heat, so if it gets really hot where you live this summer, that can also cause them to die. The hens may lay eggs, if they live that long, maybe 150/yr, but the CX roosters are usually too large/fat to fertilize them. They're only bred to live to processing age at around 8 wks.

So sorry you expected leghorns and got CX. That really sucks! Definitely contact the folks you bought from and get your money back!

Leghorns are no more than about 4-5 lbs full grown. They're pretty streamlined, not chunky at all like CX.

If you have to process them yourself, check out the Meat Bird Forum on this site for lots of helpful info on how to do it.

Agreed. I'm already seeing a couple that are having trouble moving around. I've already contacted Tractor Supply and should at the least be sent replacement chicks. The bad thing is I've already spent so much time and feed for something I wasn't expecting. One of the first clues I had was how much these ate. I filled up a 10lb feeder one day and it was all gone the next. They likely ate that much because it wasn't the higher protein that meat birds need.

 

[FunClucks]

Got some pictures for reference guys .

Totally CX. There might be one hen, kinda hard to tell.