Sick meat birds... any info please?

[EricH]

Brief history, brooded my layers with 8 slow cornish and a black broiler. Since my layers got big enough, i put them with the main flock. Havent been spending tons of time with my meat birds in their pen (what i used as their brooder) lately. Figured the black broiler was just lazin around when id go out and take a peek/feed. examined closely today. his neck is stiff/eye wont open/lethargic. 1 slow cornish is lethargic/slow reactions and wont run around when chased. I dispatched the black broiler. Feel that i should dispatch sick slow cornish rooster too.

Anyone know what this might be? is it contagious?

 

[punky rooster]

are they cornish x rock?

 

[EricH]

well one was a black broiler. he was pretty bad so i just put him down. The rest are what they call slow cornish cross.

 

[punky rooster]

GET A DUAL PURPOSE BREED IT IS WORTH IT THEY BEARLY EVER GET SICK OR DIE! it does take longer and their not as big but they are healthy'er and you will get more. thats why I have buckeyes I just crossed my buckeye rooster with RIR hens and hatched 7 chicks for meat

 

[EricH]

i just saw the sticky - i probably wasnt clear enough before

7-8 week old slow cornish

just recently showed symptoms

lethargic/stiff neck (neck tucked in, not out and proud like a rooster)/runny stool

1 bird real bad, 1 just starting lethargy

they eat broiler feed and water

poop was very runny from what i saw

housing is a shed/makeshift brooder area - straw bedding.


since they are for consumption - really just need to know if you guys think its treatable, contagious, or just see if it heals up.

i have removed the seemingly healthy birds and put them into a totally separate pen.

 

[EricH]

Quote:
no offense, but i posted this for advice, not to be preached at. i know the benefits of DP over commercial bred frankenchickens.... now, anyone have something useful?

 

[bargain]

Eric, I suspect that they are just getting too big and top heavy....Too much pressure on the heart. I'd move to process them as quickly as possible. Take care. Nancy

 

[EricH]

i dunno, the black broiler roo was pretty tiny still... thanks for the input, guess we'll see what happens.