OK to eat panting bird?

[RoseyBK]

One of my 6.5 week old Cornish X didn't come out of the coop this morning when I opened the door (they always run out to the feed.) By evening he was panting heavily (not hot out and birds comfortably spaced apart). I was suspecting heart issues and didn't want him to die on me overnight, so I went ahead and processed him. He dressed out at 7lb 5 oz, so he was a big boy. Didn't notice anything unusual while cleaning him out, although it was getting dark and I could have missed something. He did have more mucus than normal come out of his nostrils while upside down in the restraining cone. Meat looks normal. Think it's OK to eat?

 

[DobieLover]

One of my 6.5 week old Cornish X didn't come out of the coop this morning when I opened the door (they always run out to the feed.) By evening he was panting heavily (not hot out and birds comfortably spaced apart). I was suspecting heart issues and didn't want him to die on me overnight, so I went ahead and processed him. He dressed out at 7lb 5 oz, so he was a big boy. Didn't notice anything unusual while cleaning him out, although it was getting dark and I could have missed something. He did have more mucus than normal come out of his nostrils while upside down in the restraining cone. Meat looks normal. Think it's OK to eat?

I'd eat it.

 

[Mellowmalt]

considering supermarket birds most of the time have salmonella I wouldn't be any more worried about a bit of mucus. I'm not qualified to assess if that bird is safe but my ruling is it will be safer than most supermarket birds and I'd eat it.
Do you think the slaughter house would go" Hey bill this one has the snivels, lets not process this one.." Doubt it.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As described, I too would roll my dice and take my chances.

 

[CNJ]

Think it's OK to eat?

I would eat it, it must look better than super market chicken at 7 lbs.

 

[RoseyBK]

Thanks all. He's in my freezer. =)