Do I need to cull her?

[RJSchaefer]

I have 6 Cornish Rocks that are ~4 weeks old. Four of them are growing at a nice, steady pace. They stay in with my 6 black sex-links, so they aren't growing quite as fast as they "should" be. Those four are also very nicely feathered, aside from the naked butt.

Well, 2 of them have lopsided breasts. The one isn't quite as fat as the other four, but is still plump. One side of her breast is significantly larger than the other. She has feather issues.

The one we're seriously considering culling looks to have a tumor as her one breast is the only place she gains fat. The rest of her is emaciated, despite me making sure she gets food. I've often seen her pushed out of the flock. At first I figured she was just the runt, but she isn't growing and she's pretty spotty with the feathers.

As much as it breaks my heart, I think we need to cull her. Any tips or advice?

 

[PoultryGirly]

Are you sure it isn't her crop? The crop is a bag-like thing in chickens' chests that stores their food before it is digested. After the chicken eats, the crop will expand. The crop is usually on the right side.

 

[RJSchaefer]

I thought that at first, and it may be that. I'm not sure. It's very much more pronounced in this bird than the others. We spent about half an hour feeling up the other chicks (giggity) to compare the differences.

Combined with the fact that she will not gain weight...I'm just not sure what to do. I don't want to off her if she's healthy, but she's less than half the size of the others and they're all from the same run. Just very sickly looking all around.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Cull. Prepare for the kitchen, if you can see fit. I can't see watching a bird that won't amount to its potential and will not give a good feed/meat ratio. There is probably something wrong. I helped a friend slaughter a rooster a week ago because of jaundice. Its never pleasant, but sometimes you gotta do it. By tomorrow I'll probably be culling a special needs chick because it doesn't seem to be able to stand on its feet. Now that I hate doing.

 

[isidro]

Maybe she has worms, if she dont your best option is to cull her

 

[Birddog1148]

This one could not stand up or use its legs and I culled it tonight. Been a hunter over 30 years but never did anything like this without a gun or bow. Wasn't too bad, but I raised these for meat.