total probably silly question..

[patnjess]

I have only had "pet" chickens for eggs and such. But at the fair this year I was noticing the pen of meat chickens. And not a single one of them could stand up and walk, they all looked fat and crippled. Is this normal? Its like there legs were like these useless piece of flesh. Just wondering, totally not judging, as I love to eat me some chicken too, just not my pets.
I was just wondering is this normal, or were they doing something wrong?
Oh they were huge and all white red comb.

 

[peterlund]

They can usually stand up, and they can walk, and they can run (just show them food and you will agree)... I assume you are trying to get to a point, but they do have real honest to goodness legs, and are capable of free ranging and running about. They are not a breed that is going to last a year, but for the purpose they were bred for they are perfect. I put the first of my meaties up a few weeks ago (3 at 10 weeks, and 3 at 12 weeks) They were great. The legs were not even related to useless pieces of flesh.... Actually they are larger and more developed than regular chickens at mature slaughter age....

My 2 cents.

 

[patnjess]

no these legs looked way different then my chickens, totally not trying to down the breed at all, the looked gummy if that makes any sense, they bent in a very odd way.
Like when they laid, their legs were splaid out in various directions with no particular bend or shape

they just looked way different. My grandparents always raised and slaughtered their own birds ( they did terrible things that bothered me, to me) but anyway so maybe they just lay different?

 

[patnjess]

I know, have you ever had a chick hatch with like splayed (sp) legs that lay real weird? well this whole pen of meat chickens appeared the same way.

 

[jaku]

You may have been mistaken- not only would this NOT be normal for even a backyard flock of Cornish X's, but I believe that when people take their birds to the fair, they take the BEST ones, and what you describe would be far from show quality. Sometimes they do lay down in a haphazard manner, even on their sides with their legs hanging out, but if their legs didn't work, they wouldn't be able to eat or get water.

 

[peterlund]

They tend to kind of "plop down" to rest rather than be graceful... I can't comment on a whole bunch of them being without identifiable legs.... even more... that they were of fair size (evidently thriving) and alive.... Maybe it was the whole lot of them playing like they were deformed... and not candidates to be eaten! Smart chickens!!!!

Then again I have only done 6 so far... I am sure some of the Gurus here will chime in. Ordering 24 more in a few weeks... Found the raising of the Cornish X to e easy, the birds rather tame (other than the feeding frenzy) and they lived fairly harmoniously with the rest of my birds... If you are thinking of raising a few for yourself do not be dis-swayed by what you saw... They are great birds, but you will see why many here are firm to tell you not to keep them too long... They get so large and they are obviously in duress after 10 weeks...panting and their waddles getting paler by the day. If you get attached to them both of you suffer... Yup.. another of my 2 cents... now I an out almost a nickel! Good luck.

 

[patnjess]

hubby and I both thought of doing meat birds, just because we would know what they were eating, and what in turn we were eating. But I don't have the nerve to butcher , cant even fathom, and he works about 60 hours a week, can't imagine him wanting to do that in his spare time.

Well I'm glad to know it was probably the way they were laying. they only exposure I had to meat birds was when I was way little. My grandffather would cut their heads of with an ax tie a rope around their necks and chase me around the yard while throwing them at my feet,

so the only exposure I have been to was cruel so I was thinking, and please forgive me that maybe they "hobbled" or something, glad I was wrong.

 

[peterlund]

LOL. Lots of folks seem to have horror stories of the old folks teasing them with headless chickens.... I was a calm suburb guy in my youth, no chicken stories. I bring my chickens to a local butcher shop to dispense of them... Expensive in the long run, but I promised wife I wouldn't do it in my yard.... When you get them back in your hands they are a beautiful yellow skinned chubby ready to roast chicken that you KNOW is healthy to eat... Try it once... even if it is not your style you can at least say you tried it... Peace!

 

[patnjess]

How expensive is expensive? so is it cheaper to raise birds on your own then take them to the butcher, if so then I'm all over it!!!

Quote:

 

[peterlund]

By far I believe (at least here on the wildly expensive East Coast) it is more costly to raise your own bird... BUT... (see the big letters?) you really know that they lived well, ate well and died quickly. The butcher I use does a neck slit method... He lets you help if you care to do so... I opt for just the kill and plucking. I do the gutting myself. The cost is $3 for kill and pluck. $5 for a packed bird that looks like a supermarket item. Either way it is healthy... both for bird (up till time of dispatch) and certainly for your family... I will admit it was hard to do the first time.. I helped the guy hold the birds legs as he slit, but it was quick... and the bird really (I am being honest here) showed no real distress with the cut... almost as if her just passed out....