Rescued a meat chicken that fell off a meat truck need help!

[Kusanar]

I agree with the others, the chances of this bird living are VERY slim. There was actually a very similar thread with a turkey not long ago https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...aughter-truck-rescued-but-needs-help.1202704/
But they tried to save that one, all that really ended up happening was that they stressed the bird out a bunch in trying to clean his wounds and care for him (these birds have rarely if ever even SEEN a human) and he still ended up dying.

It's up to you on how to proceed, but chances are that it's not going to survive and if it dies on it's own, the meat won't be any good for eating.

 

[chicken lover #1]

I agree that you may want to euthanize the bird but there are many stories of people rehabilitating birds like this you just have to decide if it's life would have any quality to it and if you have time to spend with it.

 

[cassie]

Just a couple comments that may not apply here. If the chicken is just bruised and in shock he may come out of it. Where I used to live, there were a lot of chickens and turkeys transported to slaughter. I found several chickens and a few turkeys along the road and I picked them up and took them home. Most of them recuperated and after I kept them a while they went to freezer camp. I thought the best thing for all concerned was to process them. These birds do not live a long life so there is no point trying to make pets out of them. As for the legs giving out because the birds get too big, I have had a few that had problems with their legs but not many. In fact I butchered one that dressed out at 16 pounds and he was able to get around just fine. I think the reason I had so few problems was due to the way I fed and cared for them.

 

[chicken lover #1]

If I were you I would make a sling for it and try to build its muscle

 

[Artmax]

I just did the same thing, bird is clean and happy. Have not seen any updates on the bird you rescued. Did she do okay, is she still around? Just asking because we are now learning to care for the bird, and are planning on putting up a coop for laying hens next year.

 

[rjohns39]

Todd hasn't been back since October 26, 2017. What condition is your bird in?

 

[Artmax]

She was rough for a couple of days and we were not certain the bird would live overnight. Now she is eating and drinking, likes to be scratched and seems comfortable. Amazing she has adjusted to being held and washed.
Typical missing plumage and has a bit of a hard time standing, but she is comfortable.

 

[rjohns39]

Exercise, a 16% protein feed (in limited quantities), vitamins and electrolytes will give you more time with her. Sexing birds is not my forte, but I'm thinking she is a he based upon comb and waddle development. I would suggest reading this entire thread as there's lots of good information here of what to expect.

 

[Artmax]

Thanks, we did reduce to 16% and limiting feeding after the first day. Was not sure of the sex either, just assumed a hen. We do not expect to have it round long, and know the breed is short lived.

 

[Cheryltonka]

A meat bird headed to slaughter has been raised to grow fast, so fast that it's body mass exceeds the ability to support it. This is not reversible. The kindest thing is a humane death

So nothing can be done to keep this chicken from dying? We had 2 before, they lived a couple months, then actually their bodies ripped opened at the breast area. Iwe didn’t know they were fed growth hormones. I don’t want this girl to suffer.