New to Backyard Chick

[HeiHeisMom]

Hello! I'm new here and to Chickens in general.
Got my first girls four weeks ago and am in love with all of them! Have four RI Reds and four Cornish Cross which I was told were Orpington Buffs, but at 51/2 week old they obviously are Cornish. They looked it at three weeks as they are very large gals.
I'm almost heart broken at discovering my girls are broilers as I have bonded with each and everyone of them.
Two of CC gals are too huge to stand for long at almost 6 weeks. They seem to gasp and breathe through their mouths lately and want to be touching me, but not held. I hope someone can guide me in helping to get them relief and help them to live healthier and happier.

 

[Kessel23]

 

[drumstick diva]

Sorry to tell you but, your Cornish cross are generally processed as meat birds at 8weeks or so. They were developed to mature and gain weight very rapidly. Because of this they quickly overtax their organs and structure. If they don't die of stroke or heart attack first, their legs will give out.

It's too late to hope for a healthier and longer life for them. That has to be worked for from the time they are hatched - to feed less often ( usually 12 hours with food, 12 hours without) and exercise. If they can be persuaded to free range , the exercise will be of some benefit. Also have the feeder farther away, so they have to move to get there.

I'm sorry you were given mistaken advice on what breed you had. The best thing to happen to your chicks would be to have them processed before they die. It is heart breaking but, that's the life, their developers have programmed into them.

Even with the best of care they generally do not last long enough to produce eggs.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy Welcome to Backyard Chickens.
X2 what @drumstick diva said!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. In addition to the great input from D/Diva I think the gasping may be due to being too warm.

 

[Teila]

G'Day from down under HeiHeisMom Welcome!

I am sorry that you did not get want you wanted but hope that with the right diet and exercise, you get to keep your feathered friends for a while yet.

 

[Kiki]

We are glad you joined our flock.
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
I am sorry about your meat birds.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Official BYC Coop Page Contest - Fall-Winter 2017

 

[N F C]

I'm sorry you were mislead on the breed of your birds. Drumstick Diva is correct with her facts. It would be a kindness to have them processed before they die due to their physical issues really show up. If you can't do it (very understandable), maybe you can find someone close by that would do it for you. If it's any consolation, you can know they had a good life with you.

Best wishes

 

[Joeschooks]

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. Glad to have you in the BYC flock!

 

[HeiHeisMom]

G'Day from down under HeiHeisMom Welcome!

I am sorry that you did not get want you wanted but hope that with the right diet and exercise, you get to keep your feathered friends for a while yet.

The girls are doing much better after 10 days of controlled diet and are much more active!