We finally processed our CX - 19 weeks

[2ndTink]

I accidently bought a CX this summer with 2 other chicks, she was unlabeled and the guy at the store didn't know what she was and I had been wanting a white chicken so the flock would be easier to spot while free ranging. We quickly figured out she wasn't a "normal" chick, but we had already named her so we spent literally up until this week going back and forth between keeping her and butchering. Every date we picked to butcher her, something would come up and we wouldn't have time. She laid an egg last week so that put an end to the butcher conversations and we decided she was going to live out her life until her quality of life decreased. She was a big happy girl and the RIR and BR she was raised with would always come back by her side to hang out.

That all came to an end on Monday when I checked on the chickens at lunchtime she wasn't able to stand up, I'm not sure what happened, if she tripped and hurt her legs or just finally couldn't lift herself. I made sure she got food and water several times that afternoon but didn't see any improvement in her. We won't let an animal suffer so the next morning since she was still unable to stand we went ahead and processed her. She had bruising in her hocks, nothing broken, but I know we made the right decision. She dressed out at 9 3/4 pounds.

We did pretty much the opposite of every rule for raising a chicken to eat, she was named, handled, spoiled, and photographed, she lived a good life though

Long story short, we enjoyed our adventure with Marshymallow, but if we ever do meat chicks on purpose we will definitely do things differently when raising them.

 

[Xouie]

She was beautiful. The love you gave her was so wonderful. I’m trying to raise my CX this way, but they mostly look so alike they all just ended up named Patty or Turkey.

 

[CaroleW]

You played the hand you were dealt and you did better for her than most CX. Good job! We all live and learn and hopefully we can help others by our experience.

 

[De Bauer]

Good decision.. IMO letting an animal suffer is not about life or respect for the animal it's selfishness. The chicken was a further benefit in the form of food.

 

[2ndTink]

Thanks everyone for the positive comments. We live in a heavy poultry industry area, chicken and turkey houses everywhere, and seeing them so pale and pathetic looking heading to the kill plants on the semis is not a pleasant sight. We may do some meat chickens in the future, at least if we raise them (maybe a slower growing bird and with the intent to not get attached) they will have a really nice life while they grow. Marshymallow was way more vibrant than anything I've seen from the chicken houses!

 

[De Bauer]

That would be a good idea especial if you are buying chicken to eat anyways.. Even if you used reg CX like the houses and had them in a tractor they would be healthier and much better enviornment compared to the houses.

Choose a Kosher King or Freedom/Red Ranger or other rustic broiler and they will be much more chickeny in life..