my broilers are having trouble walking

[grnthmb]

I bought some chicks from feed store and now they are eating size but are developing trouble walking. They seem healthy otherwise. Dont know what breed but are solid white and long legged. Could it be the breed? Maybe they are commercial breed and have this trait.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

It is time to cull them. They are meat birds and they are genetically predisposed to become large at a young age. If you go much more than about 10 weeks your will have broken legs, wings and dislocated joints. Cull them, get your friends together to help you and put them in the freezer.

This breed is called the cornish x white rock cross. If you have pics of your birds, put them up so we all can tell you for absolute sure I am telling you correctly.

 

[MissPrissy]

It is time to harvest your meat birds. Once they get down and can't move you're in trouble and you will loose your investment in them.

They grow faster than their body can physically support their weight. It happens to most commercially bred meat birds.

The next sign if you are slow on the harvest is them dying one after the other due to heart attacks and stress.

 

[grnthmb]

I think you all are right. I remember reading this somewhere but couldnt remember where. Thanks a lot. I had planned to start dressing them tomorrow. Just wanted to be sure it wasnt something else. I dont have a way to send pictures yet.