How long can they live?

[kuntrygirl]

How long can a meat bird live if you don't cull it? Someone bought me 6 chickens without knowing they were meat birds. Being as though I don't cull any of my chickens, I can't seem to process the thought of culling these meat birds. I know that their life span is short based on all of the problems with them (leg problems, etc.). So, I was thinking about just keeping them around until. How long can expect them to be around? Anyone know?

 

[danielbrown]

The death rate really climbs after 12wks
90% chance they live less than a year.
I suspect they would not have a great life after 12wks anyway.
The summer heat and pulling their own heavy body's around is very hard on them.
You could find some else to process them for you.

 

[EricShane]

yeah.. I know what you mean, Im in the same dilemma. I have 4 cornish x's that were supposed to be white leghorns (thanks tsc!) and.. they are sooo big already!

anyway.. I might sell mine on craigslist when they get a little bigger.. because, I figure thier going to die anyway.. I just couldnt do it tho

 

[bheila]

I had a hen live for 6 months and then another live to 9 months. It's not a pretty site when their combs turn purple, they can't move and they can't breathe anymore. I knew what was happening before they had heartattacks so I put my girls out of their misery

 

[Kelpie]

There is someone on here who has healthy adult broilers, she put aspirin in their water while they were going through growth spurts. I think the hens name was Greta if you want to do a search and find out her secrets.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It gets so hot here in Louisiana. We are already having days that are 90 degrees. You talk about HOT ! The girls seem to do ok with the 90 degree days. I have the broiler's coop under a large pecan tree, so it' s a very shaded area that keeps them cool. There is also a dirt area where they can take a dirt bath to cool off as well. I keep PLENTY of cool water for them 24/7.

I figured that they wouldnt be around long, I was just hoping for at least 2 years but it doesn't sound like they will be alive long. I keep thinking that one will be dead on the ground as I arrive home for work but they are ok so far. When this person bought them, the feed store said that they were 6 months old but I'm sure they were 6 weeks old. I have had them since March 18 and so far everything is good.

They run side to side when they see me coming. I can tell that it's a heavy load to carry but they will lay down when they get tired. None of them are showing any signs of pain or anything like that. If so, I would have have to do the right thing and put them out of their misery. I guess I"ll just continue to monitor them and look for any problems and do the best that I can to make their life as comfortable as possible.

I will do a search and look for Greta. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks again everyone for your replies.

 

[bheila]

I know the more you free range them the better they do

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
They free range every day. Although they dont like to come out of their coop until about 5pm due to the hot temps on those days, they do free range. I take advantage of letting them free range as much as possible. Thanks for tip. That gives me more hope for my girls.

 

[bheila]

Last year we had a week or 2 of temps in the 90's and our X's didn't do so well. They looked like they wanted to die

I would just put the hose on the mist setting and leave it. They loved it

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Excellent idea!!! I will do exactly that. Thanks for that tip. With temps like that, I think i will join them in the mist. lol