rescuing a birds from market

[sydney13]

I went in a live poultry market saw and they had stacks of cages with silkies, and a bunch of cornish and game hens all piled on top of each other barley moving. I want to buy some of the chickens to save them and keep them as pets in my coop.
So my question is do you think the silkies will have just as many health problems as the cornish hens do from being feed to grow so fast. I know that the cornish meat birds get lots of problems from eating so much, but if i bought one of them and then fed her a laying mix would she still get all the quick developing issues?
What breed is used for brown skin chickens?
What is the difference between a cornish game hen and a cornish hen and is the cornish breed generally docile or aggressive?
And my last question is how do I tell the difference between a male and female silkie, or do just use only females or only males for meat (i dont want to bring home a rooster)? is this the right category for this question?
i dont have any other birds right now i just have a coop waiting for them so the rescue birds wouldn't affect any birds
ok i understand they might carry diseases but im getting the chickens any way cuz its either buying a ten dollar silkie who lived her whole life in a cage or having to buy a adult silkie from a breeder and then pay for the shipping. Also im gonna quarantine them in cages for a few weeks to make sure they dont spread diseases.

 

[horsejody]

Are the cornish cornish crosses (sometimes referred to as cornish X) or are they cornish? The crosses are much more common and will still get fat on layer feed. They would take a bit of management to keep the weight down, but they would still live shorter lives and possibly end up with weight and health issues. As far as the Silkies go, you could eat hens or roos. Often you have to wait to see if they lay an egg or start to crow to determine the sex.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Just keep in mind that if you buy from this person, you are fueling their business. If you did not like how they were penned, how they looked, or how they were treated, then it is best to get his/her contact info and report them.

 

[cassie]

In my opinion, if you rescue poultry from a market, you are just asking for trouble. You have no way of knowing what diseases you are bringing home that will infect the poultry you already have.

 

[speckledhen]

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I agree. I would not do it. It's a huge risk.

 

[theOEGBman]

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AAAAMEN, biosecurity is a major issue. Plus, that person probably sees them as a business. Not everyone is like a BYC'er, lol

Also, the silkies will not grow huge no matter what you feed them. The commercial meat birds you see in the store have been bred to have genetics that make them grow quickly. They're fed no more than a normal backyard chicken. They just grow quicker in order to get to market sooner.

 

[sydney13]

ok this is a stupid question but what is a BYC'er

 

[theOEGBman]

LOL, not stupid at all. A BYC'er is a member of BYC ( Backyard Chickens).

 

[OccamsTazer]

IMO, buying an animal from an unethical breeder/dealer to rescue is not a good choice. In giving them money, you are condoning and supporting their behavior. The animal you buy is just going to make room for another critter in their hands.
Hard to resist, though

Edited because I can't type.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Many people forget that chickens are livestock. Sure, some make great pets, some make good mothers, etc. but to the vast amount of the population, they are a way to make money, meat and eggs. Is it possible that this person brought these birds in these cages because it was all they had to transport them in? Is it possible that they have VERY good living conditions at their home where they were raised? It is indeed possible.

Transport cages are completely different than living cages. Think of show birds. They are kept in excellent conditions, but the transport cages are set up so that the birds cannot harm themselves or others. Sure, some people complain about the transport cages, but how else could we possibly get the amount of birds we are bringing if we use the same size cages as their runs? Not many.

Then there's the possibility that the birds in the cages were in those cages to be seen. Meaning, the public needs to see what is inside in order to determine if they want to purchase the goods in it. If he kept them in a cardboard box, one per each box, nobody would purchase because the guy across the dirt path has cages that show the birds in them.

Just my 2 cents.