Small meat bird

[ammcgeathy]

We bought meat birds in the beginning of March and one of them developed much slower than the other birds. She (we assume it's a she is still much smaller than the rest of the meat birds were when we slaughtered them. She was eating well and wandering around the yard with no problem. Up until a week ago she was getting along with the other birds just fine. Now she is not moving around or eating as well and the layers and turkeys are starting to peck at her and abuse her. We have her quarantined because we're afraid that they are going to kill her. Other than slowing down she doesn't seem to be sick; her comb is still red. We don't want to kill her (we've become a little attached), but we think that it may be becoming our only option. We wanted to see if any one else has had any issues like this with their meat birds or if anyone has any advice. We really appreciate any advice. Thank you!

 

[junebuggena]

How old is "she?" Can you post a pic? White Rocks look a lot like Cornish Cross, but don't grow as fast. You may have a White Rock cockerel.

 

[ammcgeathy]

She is almost five months old. She was supposed to be an 8 week meat bird.

 

[enola]

Does she always stand like that? She does not appear to feel well.

 

[ammcgeathy]

She does always stand like that. She toddles when she walks a lot more than the other meat birds did and more than the layers.

 

[enola]

How much does she weigh?

 

[enola]

How does she compre in size to your laying hens?

 

[junebuggena]

She looks like she might be a White Rock. She does not look well.

 

[enola]

When were your chickens wormed last? Is her breast boney?

 

[ammcgeathy]

We haven't weighed her, but I would guess that she weighs around 8 pounds. I don't think that her breast is bony. I've never really noticed to be honest. She is about half as tall as our mature layers and about the same height as the layers we bought when we got her. I'm not sure if our mature layers have ever been wormed (we got them from a family member) and we haven't wormed the birds we got the same time as the little one.