Craigslist Rescue Mystery Chicken

[Wingleader]

A week is normally what I do.

Awesome, then I'll probably move the those two outside within the next day or so. I've been busy in regards to life and chickens. We've got a broody mama with eggs slated to hatch any day now, and two batches of youngsters that have started being incorporated into the flock. The older ones, speckled sussex, are sweet to people and most of the adult birds, but for some reason 1 of the 2 pullets, and 2 of the 4 cockerels decided to make it their mission to try and rip any chick from the younger group (despite being similar in size) to bits. The hen won't tear at them like the boys do, so she isn't locked up, but we had to erect a temporary pen out of old goat fence and some scrap timbers to lock up the misbehaving guys until they are sold. Roosters, am I right?

Anyway! Hopefully I'll have time to snap some pictures of Sausage at some point. Not sure how well he/she is going to do once introduced to the rest of the birds, and it may not be a possibility depending on how well he/she reacts to being outside. The poor thing just can't seem to do much standing and moving around until he/she needs to flump down and take a rest.

 

[Wingleader]

Update on Sausage:

We moved him outside today with his buddy, Orange. He has been growing massively despite my best efforts at limiting the amount of food he gets. It seems like his legs just aren't keeping up and he is constantly thumping around awkwardly and taking many, many rests. I understand the nature of this breed and that they aren't meant to live very long. Grow fast to hit the tablet as soon as possible. My husband and I have come to terms with the fact that we may need to have a "mercy chicken dinner" at some point, which is really unfortunate. Still, I don't want to see the poor thing suffering because his legs are collapsing under him.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Update on Sausage:

We moved him outside today with his buddy, Orange. He has been growing massively despite my best efforts at limiting the amount of food he gets. It seems like his legs just aren't keeping up and he is constantly thumping around awkwardly and taking many, many rests. I understand the nature of this breed and that they aren't meant to live very long. Grow fast to hit the tablet as soon as possible. My husband and I have come to terms with the fact that we may need to have a "mercy chicken dinner" at some point, which is really unfortunate. Still, I don't want to see the poor thing suffering because his legs are collapsing under him.

Aww, maybe ou can search online for special diets or something

 

[WellDunnFarms]

How is Sausage doing?

 

[ashtree]

How is Sausage doing?

X2 subscribing for updates

 

[Peep_Show]

Two suggestions: (1) worm him and (2) work on his calciumhosphorus ratio. I started feeding my meat birds alfalfa leaves and it cleared up all leg weakness issues (no more sprung tendons in the flock or infant heart attacks). Be sure to provide something like pigeon grit to help prevent impacted crop.

The nature of the meaties is that they tend to rest a lot...their little hearts are supporting a lot of body. I even had them falling asleep at the feeder. Unless they're kept on clean bedding (in a factory? hah!), they very often have dirty breasts as they're top-heavy that way. Hopefully Sausage can get some exercise, which will be the secret to his longevity.

Good luck! It should be an interesting project.

 

[texaspolloloco]

Good story. How is little sausage?

 

[Stiggy]

We kept some meat birds to breed on with and out of 10 we still have 5 who are happy and healthy and they are almost 2years old, if you restrict feed and feed lots of greens and give plenty of space to move they can live good lives. Good on you for taking in this poor chick that needed a home

 

[Wingleader]

Hi everyone! Sausage seems to be doing well. He is beefing up quite a bit still, and does rest on his breast a lot. Even trying to keep his bedding clean and making sure he runs around out on the nice green grass he's still kind of mucky underneath. Poor guy. He has been getting a lot of exercise, and I will say that one of the funniest things I have ever seen is a meatie in full (what I can only call) "gallop". Just spectacularly ungainly all around. Sausage follows me around (as best he can, at least) while I'm refreshing waterers and feeders in the morning. He is getting into the bad habit of nipping at me when I get near him. He expects food, I'm assuming, and isn't doing it to be malicious, but it's still irritating and painful.

Where does one get alfalfa leaves? I'm all for trying it out. Another issue I have is that even though I lock the birds up with Sausage in his own area at night, during the day all of the birds range together. He gets along pretty well with my flock and hasn't injured anyone (especially my baby chicks) with his stomping about. My concern is his special food diet. How do only feed him and not let the other birds get it without just keeping him locked up during the day? And the other way around... how to keep him from THEIR food, since they are given all-day access to as much feed as they desire. Unfortunately, my husband and I both have day jobs, so I can't feed them in the morning and then let Sausage out an hour or so later... I'm at work by then and getting up god-awful early just... hrm... not so sure about that. I get up early enough to see to the chickens and other animals as it is. I don't want to keep him penned up while the other birds get to frolic in the fields during the day. Grit shouldn't be a problem, though.

One issue I do see is that he's a bit "snurfly" sometimes. Not all the time. Perhaps he just gorges himself on water and then gets overexcited when I'm around? Is this an issue with meaties?

Thanks for all the interest!

 

[Peep_Show]

The alfalfa I use is I'll throw a flake of my horses' feed into the meatie pen, lets them scratch about. Alfalfa is high in the omega 3's and makes for wonderfully orange yolks when you feed it to layers. (And for those of you with the non-pet chickens it makes for really pure tasting meat.) I suppose convenience could be getting alfalfa pellets (like rabbit feed) or cubes, but I'd soak those cubes as the chickens can't eat it in the present form.

Don't know if that helps, but maybe gives you some ideas about alfalfa.