Hello Everyone,
Please help me save my Cornish X Rock rooster. On Easter, our family purchased 6 young hens, and 1 rooster from our local Tractor&Supply market. Unfortunately, the chicks were so young that we were unable to tell what breeds I might have. The chicks were sexed, but not not labeled breed specific.
The hens are well, however, the rooster quickly became listless, with labored breathing. Soonthereafter, he stopped walking, and more or less waddled to his food and water. I went back to the Tractor&Supply store where I purchased them, and found out that the rooster they sold were probably Cornish X Rocks, and they are meat birds, meant to be slaughtered at 8 weeks. Therefore, they are bred to gain weight quickly, so quickly that their legs cannot handle the sudden weight gain to the point that the legs sometimes break. Even if he does live to walk again, he may have a heart attack due to the stress of his excessive body weight. I can't fathom slaugtering him. I'm sorry, I'm weak, he is a pet, these chickens are for eggs and enjoyment only. He is by far the most friendly rooster I've ever had. "Plucky" even closes his eyes and lets me rub his underside. After much attention to this wonderful site, I decided to take the readers advice and build a sling so that his legs can grow the muscle they need to support his weight. I also dillute baby aspirin in his water for pain (maybe it will also help clear his arteries like humans and prevent a heart attack?), and I give him electrolytes and vitamins for energy. I keep a heat lamp on him to keep him comfortable as I hear that weak chicks enjoy that, and I keep the hens separated so that they don't pick on my weak rooster. All these ideas combined have worked WONDERS! He is doing much better, even cackling when I come in to see him, trying to dust bathe himself while sitting in the sling, and eating and drinking much better. He seems to enjoy the sling, and has never once pecked at me for re-situating him in the sling or cleaning around him. Therefore, I think he is comfortable. However, I need help with his diet. I do not want to continue to feed him high proteins that will cause him to gain more muscle weight. Any ideas on low protein foods to keep my "Plucky" on a nice weight management plan so that his legs can bear his weight? I'm game for the extra work to save him.
Please help me save my Cornish X Rock rooster. On Easter, our family purchased 6 young hens, and 1 rooster from our local Tractor&Supply market. Unfortunately, the chicks were so young that we were unable to tell what breeds I might have. The chicks were sexed, but not not labeled breed specific.
The hens are well, however, the rooster quickly became listless, with labored breathing. Soonthereafter, he stopped walking, and more or less waddled to his food and water. I went back to the Tractor&Supply store where I purchased them, and found out that the rooster they sold were probably Cornish X Rocks, and they are meat birds, meant to be slaughtered at 8 weeks. Therefore, they are bred to gain weight quickly, so quickly that their legs cannot handle the sudden weight gain to the point that the legs sometimes break. Even if he does live to walk again, he may have a heart attack due to the stress of his excessive body weight. I can't fathom slaugtering him. I'm sorry, I'm weak, he is a pet, these chickens are for eggs and enjoyment only. He is by far the most friendly rooster I've ever had. "Plucky" even closes his eyes and lets me rub his underside. After much attention to this wonderful site, I decided to take the readers advice and build a sling so that his legs can grow the muscle they need to support his weight. I also dillute baby aspirin in his water for pain (maybe it will also help clear his arteries like humans and prevent a heart attack?), and I give him electrolytes and vitamins for energy. I keep a heat lamp on him to keep him comfortable as I hear that weak chicks enjoy that, and I keep the hens separated so that they don't pick on my weak rooster. All these ideas combined have worked WONDERS! He is doing much better, even cackling when I come in to see him, trying to dust bathe himself while sitting in the sling, and eating and drinking much better. He seems to enjoy the sling, and has never once pecked at me for re-situating him in the sling or cleaning around him. Therefore, I think he is comfortable. However, I need help with his diet. I do not want to continue to feed him high proteins that will cause him to gain more muscle weight. Any ideas on low protein foods to keep my "Plucky" on a nice weight management plan so that his legs can bear his weight? I'm game for the extra work to save him.