Cornish X Leg Problem?

[suensmitty]

I have a nine week old Cornish X rooster and hen. They are our pets (they are sweet things!). The rooster is pretty large and he has big legs and feet. Just recently one of his legs will give out. He doesn't seem to be uncomfortable. Could this be the start of leg problems that I've been reading about? We restrict their food-12 hours on 12 hours off and give them Broiler Booster. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[itsmyaddiction]

Unfortunately these birds are cross bred for size to eat, not pets. Their leg issues make it very difficult for them to live past 2 months old, yes it has been done and people keep them as pets but they aren't meant to live long. I believe what you are seeing is the leg problems cornish are known to develop. I had 8 of them and at least half developed leg issues before they were two months old.

 

[HollyTree]

Sorry, I agree with itsmyaddiction. When I went to buy some Rhode Island Red chicks from this nice farmer (older gent) he showed me his X Rocks. Considering this breed myself, he told me a lot about them. They do not live long and are bred stricktly to turn out meat in 8-10 weeks of age. They are beautiful little birds, but " man made " along with man made problems.
It's so easy to love chickens, may I suggest RIR's or Cinnamon Queens. My Queens are the easiest to pick up & lovey birds I have ever seen!!! My Cinnamon Queen named Penny follows me for treats and loves to be held. My RIR's are so easy going and loving too. I guess you could make home made splints with duct tape or cart the little chicky around until it's natural death. Or butcher if your up to it. Best wishes!

 

[cassie]

The kindest thing you can do is to give your Cornish X to someone who will butcher them humanely. You are doing neither them nor yourself any favors by trying to keep them. Then get yourself some chickens more suitable as pets. Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas or Cochins are three that come to mind.

 

[Zahboo]

Cornish outgrow their legs sadly. If you really can't butcher, maybe try making a splint to help support his weight. If they are having problems at 9 weeks, it will only get worse.

 

[Hosscat]

My cornish X hen is doing the same thing, shes about 6 months old, maybe a little older. She suddenly can't stand up. I don't agree with people saying you should let someone butcher the bird... after all if it's a pet it's different than other chickens. You wouldn't want someone to kill your dog or cat, cut them up so you couldn't bury them. Give them some time, they might pull through.

 

[suensmitty]

Thank you for your replies. He's hanging in there and he doesn't seem to be in any pain-his leg just gives out once in a while. We will give him the best life until it's his time to go.

 

[itsmyaddiction]

Quote:
That's all fine and dandy but you purchased a MEAT bird and made it your pet. Do some research or talk to someone who has had the Cornish, they will tell you the same thing. Chickens were food LONG before they were pets!

 

[carolina chicky]

I have a 20 week old Cornish X rooster named Clucky that I also keep as a pet. I can see how it would be hard to just kill him. I have 18 chickens total and Clucky is my favorite. He is a great protector of my hens. Don't give up on yours, Clucky went through a rough spot at 8-9 weeks. I cut back on his feed and put him with the others and the change in him has been amazing. He used to gobble down all the food he could get and now I can set feed down and he doesn't seem as interested. He grazes with the others in the grass, chases bugs, and has now developed a fondness for the ladies, lol. These birds are usually raised in commercial farms to 9 weeks old then they are hauled to the processing plant. If you can get them past that 9 week old hump, I believe you can make more progress with them.

You can read my story about Clucky here is you would like:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2579174#p2579174

I love my Clucky

 

[acorniv]

I'm in the same boat, and a pox on those who only look at an animal as meat. One can be a farmer and still be humane, and one should. Any of us who have a Cornish X with leg problems, have them because of inhumane practices in the meat industry, and those of us who are above the practices that put our birds in this predicament aren't looking to be told to butcher it. Although we may eventually need to consider putting our rooster down, we'll do it in a way that gives him the dignity that subhumans robbed him of in his life. Butchering is not up for discussion with me. Besides, I can't. I'm fostering mine for the Humane Society, and have their wishes to consider as well as mine and my rooster's.

I've tried some things and am considering some others, that might work for some of you and I'd like to brainstorm and share resources with those of you who are interested.

Bibby came to us in February as a 10 pound pullet. He was always ravenous then. However, once he got his last growth spurt ( between 15 and 20 pounds) he stopped eating, beyond what he needed. He is now down to 13 pounds, and we are actually adding parrot mix to his feed to encourage him to eat, because he's loosing too much weight!

I was surprised then, when he, like the experts all warn, lost his ability to walk. This happened within the last month - he should be about 7 months old now. He still tries, but can no longer get up on his legs for more than a few seconds. He is at the stage where this frustrates him and he flaps around with his wings, trying to get up. I hope he eventually accepts his iability to walk or stand, and also that we are able to find ways to give him some mobility, and most of all, a comfortable way to sit on his legs.

Carolina Chicky, kudos to your for getting an early handle on the weight, but keep a watch out for the possibility Clucky will have a set back later, because he's still fairly young, and would you please keep us updated? You may have hit on a winning combination and if so I know Cornish X rescuers everywhere will be interested. I'd appreciate hearing what feed you are using (we've got something that is said to aid with development made by Southern States Poultry for 'specialty birds'.) Also, what else are you adding?

I do not believe the leg problem is solely due to weight gain, because our rooster has not become fat. There is some other cause for this, that is no doubt due to the same severe inbreeding that makes them gain weight, but it is not the weight gain alone. I suspect their bodies are less able to assimilate calcium than some breeds. This is based on what I know about rehabbing squirrels, who will 'go down' in their legs if given a diet too rich in phosphorus (ie nuts). I suspect it is diet, combined with genetics, that causes this, and that they may need vitamin d3 as well as plenty of calcium in their diet. Does anyone here know much about diet and fowl? I mean, is there an actual fowl nutritionist on board here who knows if this problem has been studied? The large farm supply place where I get my feed and the small local one know absolutely nothing about chickens and their needs. They've got the raise em fast and get em on the plate mentality.

Have any of you also had beak problems? A calcium or other mineral deficiency could cause that too. Mine has a terrible side bite, and I have been filing it down to even it out in order to help him eat. He is great about this - letting me use a dremel while he simply sits and looks at me.

What we have done about mobility - I took a second hand baby walker, set it on it's highest setting, and fixed it so it can't collapse. Then I removed the tray and replaced it with one I cut from wood that better suits our needs. I then made him a seat out of a velour blanket, with holes for feet and his vent. I bolted the seat to the tray with nuts so it can be removed and washed. I also bolted down a feeding tray that holds dishes for food and water. The seat height is set so he can only barely sit his feet on the ground. This way he can enjoy the sensation of standing without his legs giving out.

I completed this last week. It has worked to some extent, but so far he will only stay in it for a few minutes at a time. We are putting him in it for 10 minutes each day, sometimes twice a day. Someone has to stay with him. He likes to have something to roost on, so I cut styrofoam insulation pipes that he can grip, or rest his feet on. He can't decide about those. One advantage to this seat is it is really easy to keep him clean - always a problem before.

For anyone who wonders why I would have such a breed in the first place, my rooster was found by staff from the Humane Society on the median of I75 and I20 where he had fallen off a truck on the way to market. Initially we thought his injuries came from the fall, but actually, all that gave him was a bit of road rash. His true injuries came from being horribly abused by staff at the farm he originated from. My orders were to simply take him home and give him a place to die in dignity, but this bird had no intention of doing such a thing. He had been raised in filth, and so had advanced bumblefoot. He had been beaten with a stick so that both eyes were swollen shut and his ear drum had burst, and one wing was broken - that could have been from either being shoved in a tiny cage for transport or his accident, but the eye and ear injuries were caused by a subhuman with a stick. This is standard practice on some farms.

That was back in February, and Bibby has made it long past the vet's predictions that he'd be dead in a day. He lives in a baby crib in my living room, because his legs never did get strong enough to be independent. We take him down to our garden some days, but it's tougher now that he can't even stand. He's got some favorite activities though, He loves music ( classical, especially) and he loves soaking in a warm bath. It seems to help his legs. He now clucks and crows and meows like the kittens we foster ( and which he delights in). He is gentle and affectionate and interested in tv and the goings on of the humans and cats in his world. It's far from a perfect life, but it's better than 99% of his kind get, and for this he seems grateful.

For those of you who aren't sure whether to keep trying to help your Cornish X or put them down, a wise vet once taught me that animals will tell us when they are ready to let go and if we follow their lead (as to when to euthanize), their passing will be easier for everyone to bear. That advice has held me in good stead through decades of helping animals, and having them as pets. So long as Bibby is game to live, we are pledged try to help him. When he wants to stop trying, we'll be there for him then too.

I mostly want to find some way to make him more comfortable. Have any of you found the perfect nest for taking weight off legs ( even sitting or collapsed, those bodies put weight on them) ?


Laurel