Cornish x ?'s

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

yeah that sucks !!!!! But after 3 weeks there is really nothing that the hatcheries will do. Just watch their feed intake and you will loose the rest that are down, but make sure that you fix the problem if there is one and hope for the best on the surviving ones.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

What sounds like is happening is you received a batch of chicks that came from pullets that are just starting to lay. The chicks develp leg problems early and have a high mortality rate. This is something that the hatchery isn't really going to know as more than likely they didn't raise the broiler breeders themselves they just bought the eggs from a producer, the eggs however will be small and noticable to the hatchery. What hatchery did you use? I've had this happen a few times with only certain hatcheries, it seems like they have a reputation for using cheap eggs from pullets going into lay.

See the eggs are still good but they don't hatch well, so the hatcheries that choose to buy them get a heck of a discount. They figure if they get a 40% hatch... they are doing great. As long as they eggs are cheap enough, the downfall is the chicks die easier, don't preform near as well.... or give you chicks like you have.

One thing that I can tell you to try and save the rest is to get some beef liver and cut them up for the birds to eat. This is high in riboflavin and will help them develop their joints and legs. One other thing that may help is to drop the protein to 18-20% to slow their growth down... feed them 12 hours straight (or just daylight). When you restrict their feed like your doing they may not be getting enough to eat, this schedule may have worked for your healthy chicks that you had previously but these chicks need the food.

Do you have any pictures of the brooder and chicks? This may help fixing the problem.

So again... beef liver... lower protein... and 12 hours of feed.

Good luck.

 

[tangotango]

you could reset the bone. Take the chicken and hold the top of the leg and pull the bottom of the leg you should hear a small snap the bone is set, take black electrical tape and wrap the leg were the fracture ocurred. Maybe you have too many in a small space and they kill for feed. At six weeks you should butcher them.

 

[pdpatch]

Chickens can only process so much proteins and minerals. If you give then to much protein and minerals without giving them a vitamin supplement you increase the unprocessed minerals in there bodies. this condition can become toxic for them, causing legs problem or death.

Last year our vet suggested using a generic vitamin supplement in there water to increase the conversion of trace minerals. Our vet had spent part of his carrier as a vet/inspector for large commercial chicken and turkey operations so I assume he gave use good advice.

We use a product called VI-TAL because that is the local what Orslens carries. But any generic brand would work. We also just use 18% starter/grower because are trying to slow there growth some.

Tom

 

[dadof4]

I went ahead and processed the ones that where down on Thursday. I did make a small reduction in feed, but I haven't had a problem since. Kids ate them today-loved them. I still think they were not as strong a bunch as the last ones from the get go.