Rookie Mistake- wrong chicks!

[Cshelest]

I just bought our first chickens from Tractor Supply, which I will never, ever do again because I got the wrong chicks! I bought the only 2 chicks they had in the silver-laced Wyandotte container and started to get suspicious shortly after because their feathers started coming in and they were all white. Also, they were at least twice the size of my other chicks, Leghorns and Asians.

Well, they're old enough now so that I can tell I got Cornish Crosses I do not want meat chickens and I can't bring myself to kill them. I wanted layers only. I don't know what to do with them except let them live until they get old and die. Will they ever produce eggs?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Letting them live would be cruel to them. Unless you strictly monitor their food intake I dont think that's a good plan. Maybe offer them to someone who doesnt mind using them for meat.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Unless you're SUPER careful about exercise and feeding, they won't live more than like 6 months (?). They grow faster than their bodies can support. The people who have kept hens alive though do claim to get small eggs from them occasionally. But if you aren't going to butcher them, I would see if someone else would take them for meat. It's not fair to have them live when they're not meant to.

 

[hmarg06]

If they are pullets, and not overfed, they could live for a bit if everything goes right. We had one that we never got around to butchering and she lived for almost 2 years. We hatched a couple of her eggs even and got some funny CornishX/polish hens. If they end up being cockerels, I'm not sure how well they would do, they always get so, so heavy.

I wouldn't try keeping them unless it's a last resort. They typically don't get around very well, and in most cases won't last very long. The one we had survive wasn't as heavy as the others for some reason, and I think that's the only reason she made it that long.

 

[Cshelest]

Thanks, all. I will see how they go for a bit. They are about 5 weeks old at this point and they seem very happy and active. They run around with the other chicks and have started flying short distances across the yard. As far as I can tell, they are not pigging out too much on food - I will just keep an eye on them.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Thanks, all. I will see how they go for a bit. They are about 5 weeks old at this point and they seem very happy and active. They run around with the other chicks and have started flying short distances across the yard. As far as I can tell, they are not pigging out too much on food - I will just keep an eye on them.

They're getting close to the age for processing. Their bodies just grow too fast. They arent meant to be kept as laying chickens. They're meant to be processed. That's what they are bred for.

 

[Folly's place]

I wonder who they really are; most Cornishx birds are pretty sedentary by five weeks of age. How about some pictures, and weigh them too.
Mary

 

[bpoore04]

This same thing happened to me!! What in the world is TSC doing??

 

[Cshelest]

Here's a pic of Bunty

 

[Folly's place]

Certainly looks like a Cornishx! Just don't keep him when he's miserable, whenever that time comes.
Mary