Gifted meat bird

[katharbour]

A school program gifted our community farm with 11 laying chicks and 1 (what appears to be meat bird) Bird has huge feet and sleeps a lot. We do not want to slaughter this bird and would like to know if there is any way to rehab this bird, either thru diet modification or more physical activity? We realize this bird will not lay eggs for us but we can't bear the thought of slaughter. Any ideas would be appreciated! Thinking its about 12-16 wks.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

First of all.. Welcome to BYC! That's an awesome gift.
Can you post pics of the chicken in question? It would help folks here to assess the bird. Most meat breeds don't do well after a certain age due to their fast growth and typically have issues with walking. I'm not sure if rehabbing will be a possibility. However this is a wonderful family here with a world of knowledge and experience so I'm sure someone will be able to help you find any options available.

 

[blackandtan]

Just give him a good life; before long he probably won't be able to stand, often they just die suddenly...but you never know

 

[Ridgerunner]

It would help a lot to know what kind of chicken it is. Photos could help depending on age. A close-up of the head showing the comb and wattles if it is old enough. Definitely a profile showing the legs and general posture. If there is any difference in size with the pullets a photo showing that comparison could help.

Heavy legs does not automatically mean it's a neat bird. Heavy legs are a sign of a male. Depending on age there should be a large difference in body size between a meat bird and your pullets. Tell us what you know about age.

You might chat with the people that gave them to you, they may know something.

As a side note, just because it is a meat bird does not mean it is a male. Half the meat birds that hatch are female.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where are my manners, welcome to the forum. Glad you joined.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Some meat birds may be easier to rehab than others. For instance I would expect Red Rangers would be easier to keep active and healthy than Cornish cross, but some people do manage to extend the life of the latter by limiting food and making them walk a good distance between food and water. The younger they are when you put them on a diet and exercise program, the more chance you have to keep them healthier for longer. If it is a meat bird and it is 12-16 weeks it may be a bit late to start a diet, but perhaps you are mistaken about the age or breeding of the bird.... a photo will definitely help. That said a lone meat bird in a flock of layers is always going to be a bit of a "billy no mates" because they will struggle to keep up with the lighter, more agile birds. If it is female, it may go on to lay the odd egg if you are able to keep it healthy.
What do you plan to do with the other cockerels in the hatch.... there are bound to be at least 4 or 5, but more like 6 or 7, probably 8 if you have my luck. Keeping all those young males does not make for a happy flock once they hit adolescence.
I know how easy it is to be soft hearted and want to give every animal that is raised a wonderful long life, but it is not practical in reality and keeping them with the pullets can make their lives a misery.
If you eat chicken, then you should be prepared to cull the excess cockerels for food in my opinion or provide a bachelor pad for them, so that they are not constantly "raping and pillaging" the pullets when their hormones kick in.
If you post photos of them all, we should be able to help identify the boys for you.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[katharbour]

Good morning all. I am so sorry I am delayed in getting pictures but here they are. Hope this helps. Thanks for all of your replies.

 

[lomine]

I'm by no means an expert but that doesn't look like the meat (Cornish Cross/CX) birds I've raised. Looks like it's fully feathered and it's body looks more like a 'traditional' layer or dual purpose breed. It doesn't have the super sized CX breasts. Maybe it is old or sick and that's why it sleeps a lot. It's feathers don't look that great. It could also be molting.

I would try giving it some poultry electrolytes or Nutri Drench to see if it perks up.

 

[jjb1953]

HI there,
Last May I had what I thought was a leghorn chick but turned out to be a Cornish X.
She is now 7 months a going strong.

Here is my exp so far:
At around 6 weeks or so was laying down when she ate and huffing and puffing. Eventually figured out it was because she was a meat bird.
Many advised to not keep as she would likely die.

I made her a separate brooder box. I placed two ramps and platforms. One for water and one for food. I limited food. I alternated and put a different chick in with her each day. Within a week or so she stopped with the huffing and puffing and regained the ability to run around.

Once moved to the big coop, I made a separate pen within the coop with a low roost. Beside heart attacks, broken legs are another risk. I made her another ramp. The chickens have a very large run and all get lots of exercise including meat bird (aka lucky goose).
She runs regularly and keeps up with the other girls.

Her food is somewhat limited still. What I do is fill the feeder AT NIGHT so the rest of the girls have access first thing in morning without Lucky gorging. Late morning I let Lucky out of her pen to eat with others .. The flock will not let her gorge so she keeps moving.

Lucky is huge, healthy (looking) and very active. Everyone loves her. Every eve she jumps up to the highest roost ( and every eve I carry her down and put her in her pen). She shares her roost with our geriatric golden comet who no longer roosts high. The two are quite a site.

I don't expect her to live past a year or two .... But as long as she continues to be healthy looking and not in any visible pain, she is more than welcome to remain with her flock.

n

A school program gifted our community farm with 11 laying chicks and 1 (what appears to be meat bird) Bird has huge feet and sleeps a lot. We do not want to slaughter this bird and would like to know if there is any way to rehab this bird, either thru diet modification or more physical activity? We realize this bird will not lay eggs for us but we can't bear the thought of slaughter. Any ideas would be appreciated! Thinking its about 12-16 wks.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us I'm uncertain, but don't think this one is a CX. Just for curiosity can you ask the school about its breed and where they got it? Until you know more I'd keep it on a limited grower diet and encourage exercise. It may turn out that its a DP bird.