Leghorn or Cornish Rock? (Or something else??)

[poopindahcoop]

Approximately two months ago we purchased 8 chicks from TSC.... 4 were to be Rhode Island Reds and 4 were to be Leghorns. We wanted chickens strictly for eggs and these seem to be a good choice of breeds. However, the chicks are now 9 weeks old and we are not too sure that they are Leghorns. They are huge birds and grew so much faster than the Reds. They eat constantly (currently high protein chick feed) and aren't very active. They lay down so often it seems as though they are losing feathers on their bellies. They walk "funny".... more of a waddle. (Also, one seems to be a rooster and not a hen.) PLEASE HELP US! If they are in fact Cornish hens then we must prepare to slaughter them.... not looking forward to it. If a video is needed to see how they walk I can upload one tomorrow... just let me know! Thanks in advance!

 

[Cyan Night]

I'm thinking that they probably are cornish rocks. They look pretty big for their age and their behavior matches for that breed. Maybe you can sell them to someone who's willing to slaughter and eat them? I know it can be hard for those we wanted to be pets

 

[Basskids08]

Here is my Cornish x to compare/ 13 weeks old! The combs on some of your look like leghorns though

 

[Whittni]

They do look like meat chickens.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They're broilers.

This is no one, single, common white broiler. Many companies with many strains are making them and selling through TSC. They are not all precisely the same "formula". But similar enough to say that these are intended for processing around 9 weeks and sometimes a bit sooner.


Leghorns at 8 weeks would be skinny little things. The chicks get mixed up at TSC, so this happens often.

 

[BantamLover21]

They look like broiler chickens to me.

 

[donrae]

Sorry you got the wrong birds, those are meant for meat, not eggs. And some definite roosters there! I'd say sooner for slaughter rather than later, they're already at a very good size and you'll just be pouring feed into them from here on out, plus the increased risk the bird has of heart/lung/leg issues. We have a great meat bird section here with lots of threads on butchering your own birds.

Just an fyi--in the second pic, your red hens aren't Rhode Island Reds, they're red sex links. Great layers, friendly, nice birds.

 

[poopindahcoop]

What a bummer! Thanks for the input! Luckily a friend of ours will help us process these birds.

 

[Andy Tomberlin]

Those are def Cornish rocks Sorry.

 

[Crazy Mama]

It just happened to me with 4 that I got and was suppose to be Leghorns, and I really didn't know what Leghorns looked like very young, so please, everyone be wary of what you buy from TSC. Just a heads up. Because they weren't even going to take them back. And I absolutely did not want more Cornish