- May 11, 2011
- 7
- 0
- 7
Hi, I've been finding all sorts of useful info on this forum- thanks everyone.
we recently got our first chicks. We live in French speaking Belgium but speak only a little french and the farmer we got the chicks from doesn't speak English so I'm turning to you!
Anyway, a few days after we brought them home, and as their big feathers were starting to grow we noticed that three of them (all Noire Marans in french) had what I thought were deformed wings, just one wing on each chick. Asked the farmer and he very matter of factly said that he did that to them so that we didn't have to. Basically it looks like he broke half of one wing completely off each one so that they have an ugly sore, a sort of "stump". I am totally clueless and just want to know why? how? did it/does it hurt them? is this a normal practice? I am new to chickens and have heard of clipping wings but not this.
If anyone can enlighten me I'd appreciate it.
They are doing fine by the way. Not growing as fast as the others (Sussex and CouCou des Malines). Although it is hard to tell as they are a few days younger. Do different breeds grow at different rates?
Thanks very much,
Siobhan, in Belgium with 8 lovely new chicks and a big backyard waiting for them.
we recently got our first chicks. We live in French speaking Belgium but speak only a little french and the farmer we got the chicks from doesn't speak English so I'm turning to you!
Anyway, a few days after we brought them home, and as their big feathers were starting to grow we noticed that three of them (all Noire Marans in french) had what I thought were deformed wings, just one wing on each chick. Asked the farmer and he very matter of factly said that he did that to them so that we didn't have to. Basically it looks like he broke half of one wing completely off each one so that they have an ugly sore, a sort of "stump". I am totally clueless and just want to know why? how? did it/does it hurt them? is this a normal practice? I am new to chickens and have heard of clipping wings but not this.
If anyone can enlighten me I'd appreciate it.
They are doing fine by the way. Not growing as fast as the others (Sussex and CouCou des Malines). Although it is hard to tell as they are a few days younger. Do different breeds grow at different rates?
Thanks very much,
Siobhan, in Belgium with 8 lovely new chicks and a big backyard waiting for them.