Lethargic 7 week old meatie. Should I harvest her?

[Engteacher]

Just today I noticed one of my cornish cross hens is hunkered down next to the food and water. She can get up on her legs, but flops back down after two steps. I'm wondering if she is in pain, but can't say. She pants but it's only 74 outside and none of the rest seem to be panting. I know joint issues come up as they get to be a certain size, but she's smaller than the rest of the flock. I'm wondering if we should just harvest her now. Should she just be culled?

This is our first time raising meat birds, so we don't know how far afield this is from "normal."

What would you do?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

butcher now.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Agreed.

 

[Dogfish]

Cull and enjoy

 

[Winsor Woods]

I had this happen a few times with my last batch. Harvest her ASAP! I noticed that all of the ones that I harvested that exhibited these symptoms had fluid inside the pericardium. (Between the heart and the membrane surrounding the heart.

This is one aspect to Cornish Crosses that's hard to deal with. Their internal organs just don't keep up with their muscle/body growth.

I'd be interested if you post your harvest report with respect to the internal organs.

Dan

 

[Engteacher]

I dispatched her this morning before breakfast. Her organs looked normal, although the bag around her heart did seem bigger and looser than normal.

Thanks for all the good advice, everyone!

 

[Winsor Woods]

Thanks for the harvest report.

Dan