Found Chicken

[Settin'_Pretty]

Nurse it back to health and butcher it.

It isn't going to live a lot longer anyway, it's an Xrock

 

[DDRanch]

Bless your heart for your rescue and your concern. What a lucky chicken to have found you!!! I bet he will turn out to be a blessing in your life......prayers with you both for a healthy outcome.
Anne

 

[silkiechicken]

It's a cornish x. "Cornish" game hens you buy are exactly what you are holding there, except they butcher those at 4 weeks old instead of 8 weeks old. Yours is in the 8 week old range.

These birds are raised in warehouses and it can't stand well because of it's fast growth and weight for it's age. I free range mine, and if I did not force them to stand to eat while they are growing, they would rather sit all day long... if the tendons in it's legs are not broken yet, there is chance that he may get up to stand more often. I find raising a few layers with cornish x's keep the cornish on their feet a bit more, and keep the layers calmer... however, this is done on the short term before the broilers get butchered at 8 weeks or so.

I'm not sure what percent protein duck feed has in it, but I would try to get chicken feed if you want to keep it as it's protein should be in the 16-20 range.

 

[jjthink]

Normal butchering at 4 weeks old - wow - what a sad and short life. 4 weeks, 8 weeks - barely a moment on the planet. I didn't realize they were 'done in' quite that young.....
JJ

 

[SpottedCrow]

And to think that egg hens are only around for a year or two before THEY become chicken byproducts.

 

[Ga Chicken Mom]

Better that they are killed sooner rather than later since they lead such miserable lives. Silkie Chicken, I think you have the right idea raising your own meat birds as I'm sure their lives are so much better than the factory farmed birds. We have a processing plant in town and it is so sad to see the birds crammed into the semi trucks on their way to slaughter. Whatever happens to the rescued chicken, I hope he has a little good time on this earth.

 

[silkiechicken]

Even the ones I raise drag them selves around but they do drag themselves over for treats. I'm happy mine at least get fresh air and to run in the dirt... as they turn it to dirt in no time. The fastest growing strains are "ready" in 42 days.

Best of luck with the bird, be it dinner or a pet. If it looks like it is suffering though, do what you think is best.

 

[jjthink]

How's she doing after a few days of probably the only peace on earth she's ever known?
JJ

 

[hooligan]

Sent you an email SirHC

 

[Norman]

Chicken update: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=79819