What do I do with these birds?

[tlaquepaque]

I'm pretty sure they are Cornish X going by pictures online. A neighbor boy brought them to me yesterday and asked me to take them. Apparently I'm the chicken lady of the area. His mom said he couldn't keep them in his room anymore.

I'm surprised the mom let him keep them as long as she did. They are fat and ugly and stinky. Nothing at all like my sleek and playful laying hens. He says they are a little less than 4 weeks old. I'm guessing they were fed unrestricted because they are big and kinda misshapen. I read that I need to take their food away at night so I started that last night. Is there any other things I should do? How long till I need to take them to the butcher? I'm guessing they won't live very long since they are already panting from me handling them.

They were filthy from laying in their poop on newspaper in the box the boy had them in. I gave them a bath this morning so they are starting to look better. One is a hen and one is a roo, I think. The roo has a big red comb and is much bigger. His chest worries me because it's protruding on one side. Does this mean anything?

Also, they have very sparse feathers. Underneath the wings and on their bellies the skin shows because it is so bare. Is this normal or is something wrong?

Pictures here... one of them in the bath

and one of them basking in the glow of a red heat lamp to dry off.

 

[happyhensny]

CX's are not "meant" to be alive long. We have them as meat birds and plan to butcher at 8 weeks. They typically end of with leg problems or heart attacks. Unfortunately for the breed that is what they are bred to do. Grow fast then become someones dinner. If you do not want to eat them put them on CL - they would likely go quick.

 

[tlaquepaque]

Thanks for the response. Do they look normal for their age? I'm just not sure what they *should* look like.

 

[terri9630]

They look fine. The lopsided breast is probally just a stuffed crop since they like to eat non stop. They may never fully feather out. Our last ones didn't. They had bare butts and bellys.

 

[Dogfish]

Yup, they look about the right size and condition for that age.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Someone I knew kept the CX for a few years by putting asprin in their water. Not sure if that is why they lived so long or if they were just lucky. I have seen a few threads on here who tried this also but never went back to check how things went. Lost the thread and forgot to subscribe to it

She also took their food away at night so they could not eat all night long. Are you planning to butcher them?

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Yeah when it comes down to it, unless you plan on hassling with birds that really aren't meant to live, it is better to raise 'em up and put them out of their misery (aka use them for what they were bred to do!).

If you can't do it, I'd sell 'em online, but keep in mind, they'll probably use them for food. Please don't expect someone else to raise them as pets as well! And I suppose avoid the newbies or people who have a golden heart, but don't realize these birds' purpose - could end up detrimental for the birds more than anything else! And more heartache than worth it! lol, me I'd probably take them in and do my best to make their lives as best as possible, than dispatch them when they show signs of wear, tear and just unhappiness!

They'll have good lives if you raise them up in good care and that'll be good for them. I suppose you can keep them as "pets" but you'd be a little frantic (oh, when will they drop dead from leg issues, heart issues, etc.) since I was like that with my two birdies!

Cute pictures though

I'm glad you took them in lol g'luck1

 

[Bettacreek]

I think she fully intends on taking them to the butcher, but is asking WHEN. 8 weeks is supposed to be the "magical" age for them.

 

[ChickyLaura]

They do have sparse feathers on their bellies and under their wings. I had 2 last year that I did not take to the butcher, and they both died very early on. The male was HUGE, I mean small turkey sized. I really should've taken him to be butchered, which I was contemplating. Stupid me. He went to waste.

 

[tlaquepaque]

I get that this breed is for meat. My family eats chicken (I'm veg) so I think we will try to use them. I don't have it in me to do the kill myself. Will the butcher laugh at me for bringing in two birds? Haha. They just look so different than what I have. I need to get them out of the basement. Maybe I can make them a little corner of the coop for the next 3-4 weeks.

I really wanted to hear from the experts if they looked normal or not. Thanks for the answers. I wasn't sure how this boy was feeding them but it seems like they are right on track.