What Breed???

[TexasGirl97]

Ok so, my FIL brought us some chickens today, all I know is that they are female and 6 weeks old... when my FIL called the guy to ask what breed they are, he basically said he didn't know and that he keeps them caged to make them fat... they are looking pretty rough and when we put them in the barn they were pretty wobbly... anyway, do yall know what breed they are? I'm at a loss

 

[The Moonshiner]

Cornish cross.
They're meat birds.

 

[TexasGirl97]

Cornish cross.
They're meat birds.

Ok, thank you!

 

[rascal66]

Yep, indeed, Cornish Cross Broilers.
Are you interested in harvesting your own chicken meat?

 

[NatJ]

...he keeps them caged to make them fat... they are looking pretty rough and when we put them in the barn they were pretty wobbly...

That kind gets fat anyway, even if they are not kept in a cage.

As several people already said, they are Cornish Cross meat birds.

I hope you intend to butcher them for meat, sometime within the next month or so, because that is probably the kindest thing you can do for them.

They are bred to have big appetites, eat a lot, and grow quickly. If you do not butcher them, they will start dying of heart failure before they even finish growing up. The only effective way to keep them "healthy" for a longer life is to drastically limit their feed. This stunts their growth enough that they can stay alive and function-- but they are not happy if you do that, because they constantly think they are starving.

If you want chickens for meat, they are a very good kind of chicken.
But if you want hens to lay eggs, any other chicken breed would be a better choice.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Meat birds. They're butchering age. Do you plan on eating them? If not, are you aware they will struggle to stay alive past this age?

 

[TexasGirl97]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I did not know what kind of chickens my FIL was bringing us and the breeder he got them from didn't know what they were called either so I did a bit of research before I posted on here and was leaning more towards the cornish cross, which I did research on them too, but wanted to confirm with yall first! I had already told my husband that if they are that breed (which yall have confirmed for me since then) then we would have to butcher them within the next few weeks... of course my FIL tried to argue with me and said "well that guy sells them to another person all the time and he raises them, doesn't kill them" and I had said well they are prone to health issues and grow quickly if they are indeed this breed then he had said "well I guess you'll find out in 3 months"... we, of course, will not be waiting that long... so yes, I am aware and understand everything I have researched and read from yalls responses and will be butchering them soon. Thanks again for yalls help! I really appreciate it