Question on broilers for those who purchased....
I ordered fm my feedstore (small mom & pop) they get fm Ideal. I've been on waitlists for speckled sussex and checked IFAs and they have been missing out of many orders for that breed (hatcheries say a continued bad hatch, hmmm.).
Anyhows, this yr I got 12 meaties, 1 up and died at a wk old. #2 developed the chest infection I mentioned earlier (antibotics & isolation and she seems to be doing well...but tagged for nonhuman).
Last wk I had one that acted "lame". No sign of injury, swelling, etc but after a couple days she moved less and less. So she's in the house now, moving not an inch but has access to water and regulated feed. Today I find #4, same thing. It's more alert but doesn't want to move so brought her in. Chick #3 appears to be on her way out, even flops to the side. I was trying to get a couple more wks out of her and then processing... but now I'm concerned about consumption.
I have ordered at least 50 meaties last couple yrs and have NEVER had this issue. I'm aware they have leg/heart issues but these birds aren't so huge yet. And my birds are healthy, active, laying well (meaties are in their own coop), etc.
Do you think the GMO corn thing has finally hit production birds? I know last year large turkeys at the groc store were far and few.
Would you eat these birds if they make it another couple wks? Right now they are just too small to process imo and the odds of 4 in 12 is not good. Thanks for any advice!
Elk
