have a bird that doesnt act right need advice

[cutlass1972]

I have a roo that seems to have some real depth perception issues. He was not always like this, it seemed to start all of a sudden. If you put food in front of his face he will peck at it and miss by inches.
I think he may have gotten pecked in one eye and gone blind, however both eyes look fine.
The girlfriend says she thinks it is getting worse, but I think it is about the same.
we also noticed that we have a couple of roos (including him) that have one toe that is turned to the side, it is not broke, it is just turned sideways.
Is this common? Could it be something neurological? Would it be ok to eat him? My worst fear is that he has some sort of parasite that has messed up his brain, and we could get it by eating him.

I really don't want to eat him as he is our most friendly roo of the bunch, but I don't want to taint the gene pool by allowing him to breed, and if he is slowly dying of a neurological or parasitic infection I don't want to prolong it.

 

[saddina]

1. What breed of chicken?

2. You WERE going to cook him to 165 checked by thermometer anyways right?

 

[cutlass1972]

he is a delaware.

I was definatly going to cook him to 170 or better, checked with my trusty digital thermomter.

 

[saddina]

Since you asked this in the meat bird section:

Eat him.


Reasoning: an injured roo is less able to defend, service his flock, do other manily duties.

If it's genetic, you for sure don't want to breed more of the same.

While you're at it eat the others with the "odd" toes (in case it's part of the same genetic issue).

From the remaining roosters, pick the one who does the job the best, and use the top 1-2 for breeding.