I have some concerns about our meat birds. I've read all through the message and links, but I want to see if anyone with more experience than us comes to the same conclusion. This year is our first time having chickens, so I'm not so confident yet!
Our jumbo cornish crosses arrived April 15. They seemed bigger than what I thought they would be, but I wrote that off to inexperience, and well, they grow amazing fast. Some had started to get pin feathers a few days later, and I began to wonder if we received 2-3 day old chicks. We lost 1 early on, but I figured that was normal, etc.
So last weekend, at what should have been about 4 weeks, I found 2 dead in the tractor. They all had been acting fine, etc, but there were 2 dead. So then last night, we found 2 more dead. There was another one that looked as if it was on its way out, but it was still alive this morning and eating.
This weekend, they should be at the 5 week mark, but they seem to be dropping like flies. We've disinfected, and we move the tractor every day, sometimes twice a day. It's been rainy and damp, but they seem to be pretty dry in their tractor. We've examined them as closely as we can, and they seem to be fine.
I keep coming back to my conclusion that we did not receive 2-3 day old chicks, but perhaps ones that were a little older. This would make them much closer to processing time of 8 weeks, and indeed, my husband plans to start processing the biggest birds tomorrow, for fear we will loose more.
I will try to post a pic from their first day at home this evening when I get home. I'm just hoping someone can offer some advice, or at least concur with our opinion that perhaps the end is near for these ladies and gents.
Anyone? Thanks so much!!
Our jumbo cornish crosses arrived April 15. They seemed bigger than what I thought they would be, but I wrote that off to inexperience, and well, they grow amazing fast. Some had started to get pin feathers a few days later, and I began to wonder if we received 2-3 day old chicks. We lost 1 early on, but I figured that was normal, etc.
So last weekend, at what should have been about 4 weeks, I found 2 dead in the tractor. They all had been acting fine, etc, but there were 2 dead. So then last night, we found 2 more dead. There was another one that looked as if it was on its way out, but it was still alive this morning and eating.
This weekend, they should be at the 5 week mark, but they seem to be dropping like flies. We've disinfected, and we move the tractor every day, sometimes twice a day. It's been rainy and damp, but they seem to be pretty dry in their tractor. We've examined them as closely as we can, and they seem to be fine.
I keep coming back to my conclusion that we did not receive 2-3 day old chicks, but perhaps ones that were a little older. This would make them much closer to processing time of 8 weeks, and indeed, my husband plans to start processing the biggest birds tomorrow, for fear we will loose more.
I will try to post a pic from their first day at home this evening when I get home. I'm just hoping someone can offer some advice, or at least concur with our opinion that perhaps the end is near for these ladies and gents.
Anyone? Thanks so much!!
