Injured Meaties What Caused It?

[Poultrybonkers]

I got one thats missing a chunk of its leg and this ones missing a chunk of skin by his vent. Could it be rats?

 

[Mtnmomma3]

How is your chicky doing? Have any others been injured? Sounds like raccoons. Here is another thread about it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ttacked-under-belly-ripped-open-what-can-i-do

 

[Poultrybonkers]

How is your chicky doing? Have any others been injured? Sounds like raccoons. Here is another thread about it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ttacked-under-belly-ripped-open-what-can-i-do

This one is doing fine. But the one with a hole in its leg i processed yesterday as it was getting worse had a bad deep infection. I had to process the one that couldnt walk a week or so ago. It cant be raccoons as they cant get in my shed. I think its the others doing it as they were eating the opened leg one.

 

[vsmenagerie]

If they get a sore and are bleeding, the others WILL peck at it and they won't quit :/ So it very well could be the others doing it to ones that have been injured. Hopefully no more get hurt before they are all ready to be processed. What did you do with the one with the infection? Not sure it would be good to eat?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

If they get a sore and are bleeding, the others WILL peck at it and they won't quit :/ So it very well could be the others doing it to ones that have been injured. Hopefully no more get hurt before they are all ready to be processed. What did you do with the one with the infection? Not sure it would be good to eat?

The infected one I cut off the bad part and gave the rest to my dogs the bad part an innerds go into my trap.

 

[vsmenagerie]

The infected one I cut off the bad part and gave the rest to my dogs the bad part an innerds go into my trap.

That is probably what I would have done. I don't like wasting either. I get really bummed out when they don't make it to processing age. Glad you had a way to utilize it!

 

[Poultrybonkers]

That is probably what I would have done. I don't like wasting either. I get really bummed out when they don't make it to processing age. Glad you had a way to utilize it!

If my dogs dont eat it i give it to my cats. Whatever i dont give to them goes to trap to catch other critters. I had 30 meaties my cat ate a few as chicks and other died for no reason im down to 16 left. They seem to die more from 3 weeks and on.

 

[vsmenagerie]

Where do you have them at? Do they have plenty of room and ventilation? That seems weird they keep dying :/ I know that can happen though, I think some batches are just tougher than others. I try to get mine outside by age 2 weeks. they get a heat light at night until they are fully feathered, or the lows are not constantly in the freezing temps. And I keep them active by moving their pen and limiting their feed. No free feed, they are fed 2-3 times per day. I rarely have any losses, last year the only ones I had were leg issues, that I have since learned I could have fixed.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Where do you have them at? Do they have plenty of room and ventilation? That seems weird they keep dying :/ I know that can happen though, I think some batches are just tougher than others. I try to get mine outside by age 2 weeks. they get a heat light at night until they are fully feathered, or the lows are not constantly in the freezing temps. And I keep them active by moving their pen and limiting their feed. No free feed, they are fed 2-3 times per day. I rarely have any losses, last year the only ones I had were leg issues, that I have since learned I could have fixed.

Mine get fed corn which they seem not to like as much they have access to outside there coup has two doors on each end for ventilation. They go outside to get a drink. Otherwise they just lounge around inside the coup