It has been a long while since I have had chickens, so it is like starting over. Here is the quick story:
We picked up some red pullets from Tractor Supply, and I let my son pick a few others as "his" chicks. We also got some Bantams for pest control since we have a huge garden and yard. They were out of the others we had gone for so we ordered from our local feed store. We live in a small town in Kansas, and only needed a few so he added some to an order he had placed for someone else. It was going to be 2 weeks until they were in so there was time for the reds to feather out and be moved to the coop.
They came in and we went to pick them out, but the lady who had ordered hers first had already picked hers up, leaving us 5 very fluffy yellow chicks. I had asked for Cornish, but these seemed like larger than normal, extremely fluffy chicks. The feed store owner said they were Cornish Reds. I put them in with the bantams we are still keeping inside under the lamp, since they aren't feathered out yet and since we ended up with a couple runts... anyway, on nice days, the entire lot gets to go outside and hang out with the red pullets. Inside they are kept in an old playpen with the heat lamp aimed for one corner, should they want it. We use the wood shavings for bedding and I change it every 2 or 3 days as needed. They are eating the medicated feed.
I started noticing the "Cornish Reds" wings are feathering out, and their fluff is giving way to almost bare skin. They are at least 4 times or more the size they were when we got them 2 weeks ago, dwarfing the bantams, have caught up in size to the red pullets, and almost seem obese.
I went through the forums trying to find information on Cornish Reds, to see if this was normal and can't find anything. Just recently, the larger of the 5 has decided not to walk much anymore. All 5 of them seem extremely hot to the touch when held (can chickens run a fever?) and the largest one falls asleep and gasps fighting to breathe, then wakes up and shakes her head to clear her nostrils. Falls back asleep and the cycle starts again.
Their eyes are normal, I can't see any swelling anywhere (besides their whole body, but it seems proportioned to their legs and feet) and they are eating and drinking fine. I am extremely worried about the largest one and am curious about their size and high body heat. She is large enough to take over the feed and water as desired, and she does, although she is a gentle giant.She eats and drinks laying down.
As I said, we live in a small town and the local vet specializes in cats, dogs and large stock animals with minimal knowledge of chickens, so I am seeking help from the forum. What could this be, what should I do, and anyone who knows anything about Cornish Reds, please let me know if this is a normal size for this age. I am curious if a growth hormone could have been used...
We picked up some red pullets from Tractor Supply, and I let my son pick a few others as "his" chicks. We also got some Bantams for pest control since we have a huge garden and yard. They were out of the others we had gone for so we ordered from our local feed store. We live in a small town in Kansas, and only needed a few so he added some to an order he had placed for someone else. It was going to be 2 weeks until they were in so there was time for the reds to feather out and be moved to the coop.
They came in and we went to pick them out, but the lady who had ordered hers first had already picked hers up, leaving us 5 very fluffy yellow chicks. I had asked for Cornish, but these seemed like larger than normal, extremely fluffy chicks. The feed store owner said they were Cornish Reds. I put them in with the bantams we are still keeping inside under the lamp, since they aren't feathered out yet and since we ended up with a couple runts... anyway, on nice days, the entire lot gets to go outside and hang out with the red pullets. Inside they are kept in an old playpen with the heat lamp aimed for one corner, should they want it. We use the wood shavings for bedding and I change it every 2 or 3 days as needed. They are eating the medicated feed.
I started noticing the "Cornish Reds" wings are feathering out, and their fluff is giving way to almost bare skin. They are at least 4 times or more the size they were when we got them 2 weeks ago, dwarfing the bantams, have caught up in size to the red pullets, and almost seem obese.
I went through the forums trying to find information on Cornish Reds, to see if this was normal and can't find anything. Just recently, the larger of the 5 has decided not to walk much anymore. All 5 of them seem extremely hot to the touch when held (can chickens run a fever?) and the largest one falls asleep and gasps fighting to breathe, then wakes up and shakes her head to clear her nostrils. Falls back asleep and the cycle starts again.
Their eyes are normal, I can't see any swelling anywhere (besides their whole body, but it seems proportioned to their legs and feet) and they are eating and drinking fine. I am extremely worried about the largest one and am curious about their size and high body heat. She is large enough to take over the feed and water as desired, and she does, although she is a gentle giant.She eats and drinks laying down.
As I said, we live in a small town and the local vet specializes in cats, dogs and large stock animals with minimal knowledge of chickens, so I am seeking help from the forum. What could this be, what should I do, and anyone who knows anything about Cornish Reds, please let me know if this is a normal size for this age. I am curious if a growth hormone could have been used...
