Depressed

[ktownjeep]

Yeah im depressed everyone is telling me my chickens are meat chickens
and they wont live long. About how old do the need to be bfore you can tell exactly what kind they are. These are about 6-8 weeks old.
Thanks

 

[justusnak]

ktown......where did you get your chickens? They do look like CornishX. If thats what they are, then yes, typically they are slaughtered at 8 weeks. However....I have 4 that were born March 10th. They are huge ladies....but have a large yard...and get plenty exercise. They are doing great! They dont seem to be stressed, or overheated more than the others. I have cut back on thier feed....so as to not let them get too big, too fast. CornishX tend to grow fast, and have heart problems and leg problems. Thier little legs can not support thier weight. Do you have other chickens? Can you get a size comparison picture? Something like them next to a 5 gallon bucket? Would help on guessing thier size more.

 

[ktownjeep]

the board is 10 inches

 

[silkiechicken]

Oh yeah, those are cornish x's. Get them on a strict diet asap if you want them to live more than a few months. Feed them only during the day and let them roam. I personally have not let them get past 12 weeks because their poor bodies just don't keep up. You can try to keep them though, I know some people have gotten them to laying age, which is kind of late in life, but they won't lay much. Maybe get some layers as replacements and let these guys live as full of a life as they can have if you are not going to eat them?

 

[jaseg]

Just a question.

If they don't live very long, where does the hatcheries get the eggs to hatch them? Just curious because I have 11 about the same age.

 

[BirdBrain]

They are a hybrid cross between Cornish and Rocks--hense the name Cornish Rock.

 

[justusnak]

Hmmmmm....if that board is 10 inches high....that chick is very small for 8 weeks to be a cornish x. At 8 weeks, mine weighed between 6 and 8 pounds. Could be a White Rock. Do you kow where you got them...could you find out exactly what breed they are? They sure dont look very big at 8 weeks.

 

[ktownjeep]

These chickens might weight 1 pound

 

[spock78]

I will throw a ? at you, Ktownjeep.
Do they poop a lot? Are they eating machines?
If so, they are the Cornish X's. Even on regular chick starter, all mine do is eat & poop, but the free ranging is helping them live healthy happy lives, longer than they were bred to be.

 

[ktownjeep]

Im not for sure what alot is but i dont think they they
poop or eat alot