New to meat chickens

[Chuntgray]

I just got mt batch of 75 broilers. The 1st night I lost one, even tho I have heat lamps it got pretty chilly Now I notice one has a hard time walking. She will take water and eat when I bring it to her, she looks fine other wise. The are not even a week old yet. Any ideals? is this somthing I should worry about the rest of them having a problem with?

 

[Judy]

Do you mean Cornish Cross? They commonly have leg and heart problems, and losses are not unusual. I have never raised them but do know they need a specific feeding regimen and no roosts. Lots of info available on these birds in this forum.

 

[jaku]

You're not going to have actual "leg problems" like Cornish X's get that early. More than likely, it's a "chick problem." Sometimes they come with weak legs, spraddle leg, etc. I would guess it would clear up within a week, and that you shouldn't have any problem with the rest. As for the death on the first night- same thing. You probably didn't do anything wrong, just that newborn chicks are pretty fragile in the beginning. Good luck!

 

[skeeter03]

Yea if you have 75- expect a few loses in the first 2 weeks due to who knows what - its large numbers then start checking everything -temp food sickness all that good stuff.

 

[Chuntgray]

I think The one with the bad leg is an injury. She is a cute one, I need to cull her I just can not do it. I know come time to butcher there is no choise with these meat chickens. So for I only loss one chick and they are a week old. so far so good. Thanks

 

[mtnhomechick]

One loss is great. Meat chicks have a high mortality rate. I got 49 a month ago and lost 4 so far. Two were due to a cat though. Good Luck.