Found my 9 week old chicken on its back gasping for air

[AmsoilJim]

I went out this morning to give my chickens water and food and found one of my 9 week old cornish rock X on the back and gasping for air. I am not sure what happened but I assume somehow she fell on her back and could not get back up due to her mass. I picked her up and flipped her back over, she did not feel very warm. She just sat down right there and fluffed up and continued to move her head back and forth as she took breaths.
As these are my first chickens I'm wondering if she will recover or become unable to be butchered and consumed.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm not an expert on meat birds, but many can die young of heart attacks or other problems, since they are meant to be butchered between 6-10 weeks old. I would probably go ahead and put her down and butcher her. Sorry about your chicken, but they can have crop impactions, suffer from respiratory problems, and alll sorts of problems, and you probably don't want to medicate her since she is for meat.

 

[blkjak]

This is my first year having cornish x chickens and more have died than all my previous chickens ever I think. I cant seem to keep them alive. They dont seem to be able to fight anything off. I had some small respiratory thing in my flock and only lost 1 other chick but lost 15 cornish x chickens. I lost a couple others I think because I was feeding too much.
I dont think I will get them again. I am picking up some Jersey Giants on Tuesday to see if they make stronger meat birds.

 

[Eggcessive]

Many people suggest letting their meat birds free range, and limiting their feeding to encourage them to move. This usually tends to reduce their weight, but may be healthier. I friend of mine raises meat birds each year, and they choose to butcher at 6 weeks, and she has lost birds even at that age. You might want to check out this page for thread about raising meat birds to get a lot of opinions: https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=raising+meat+chickens

 

[AmsoilJim]

Than you for the replys. As this is my first time with chickens and the Cornish rock x and I'm not sure if I will be getting them again. I was planning on butchering this coming weekend.