What is this?

[Weeg]

I am not a vet… disclaimer… not a food inspector… not an expert, just a regular person. So I could be wrong but…

It could be DPM deep pectoral myopathy,' which is also commonly known as Green Muscle Disease… it is found in meat birds, first identified in Turkey then confirmed in modern commercial broilers found in the breast muscles… basically current info indicates it is not caused by a pathogen but actually is caused by a restriction to the tender area by tough inelastic muscles covering or membranes and sternum... So when the bird tries to flap its wings the tender is getting damage by a 20% weight increase, blood flow restriction and so on the flesh dies because oxygen and all the other body healing stuff can’t get to the area. Anyhow the problem is on the increase… management suggestions seem sort of weak to me… less exercise, keep birds from flapping… the problem usually isn’t noticed in the broiler houses, and is only discovered after slaughter usually by the consumer.

Seeing as this is a relatively new problem I think genetics, fast weight gain being pushed to the max, environment may contribute to this…but that is my stab in the dark theory as why it is starting to happen increasingly.

When in doubt don’t eat anything that looks off is my rule… and necrotic flesh is definitely gross…


Some pretty extreme examples I found on the net…


View attachment 2972946View attachment 2972947

This is really interesting, definitely could be a possibility. These birds had no lack of wing flapping. I tried to give them as much access to outdoors and roaming in their short lives as I could. They followed me around the yard as youngsters, and got opportunities to free roam. A few days before butchering I let them out and they all ran around, and jumped in the air flapping their wings. Maybe thats what caused it.
Really good info.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am not a vet… disclaimer… not a food inspector… not an expert, just a regular person. So I could be wrong but…

It could be DPM deep pectoral myopathy,' which is also commonly known as Green Muscle Disease… it is found in meat birds, first identified in Turkey then confirmed in modern commercial broilers found in the breast muscles… basically current info indicates it is not caused by a pathogen but actually is caused by a restriction to the tender area by tough inelastic muscles covering or membranes and sternum... So when the bird tries to flap its wings the tender is getting damage by a 20% weight increase, blood flow restriction and so on the flesh dies because oxygen and all the other body healing stuff can’t get to the area. Anyhow the problem is on the increase… management suggestions seem sort of weak to me… less exercise, keep birds from flapping… the problem usually isn’t noticed in the broiler houses, and is only discovered after slaughter usually by the consumer.

Seeing as this is a relatively new problem I think genetics, fast weight gain being pushed to the max, environment may contribute to this…but that is my stab in the dark theory as why it is starting to happen increasingly.

When in doubt don’t eat anything that looks off is my rule… and necrotic flesh is definitely gross…


Some pretty extreme examples I found on the net…


View attachment 2972946View attachment 2972947

 

[Weeg]

Did the bird have a breast blister?

I'm honestly not sure. I honestly wasn't there during the butchering process. I can't kill a thing, so would probably end up saving them all if I was there. I had some family members do it for me. Point being I didn't get to look any of the birds over while they were being butchered.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm honestly not sure. I honestly wasn't there during the butchering process. I can't kill a thing, so would probably end up saving them all if I was there. I had some family members do it for me. Point being I didn't get to look any of the birds over while they were being butchered.

I think @Lauravonsmurf has nailed it.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

This is really interesting, definitely could be a possibility. These birds had no lack of wing flapping. I tried to give them as much access to outdoors and roaming in their short lives as I could. They followed me around the yard as youngsters, and got opportunities to free roam. A few days before butchering I let them out and they all ran around, and jumped in the air flapping their wings. Maybe thats what caused it.
Really good info.

Yeah the flapping at close to slaughter date could be the cause… I am guessing this is related to CornishX genetics. Like some birds more prone. Again I am no expert… just seems to check the boxes as likely suspect.

 

[Weeg]

I think @Lauravonsmurf has nailed it.

I agree, symptoms and causes seem to fit the bill. Thanks for clearing that up everyone.

 

[Weeg]

Yeah the flapping at close to slaughter date could be the cause… I am guessing this is related to CornishX genetics. Like some birds more prone. Again I am no expert… just seems to check the boxes as likely suspect.

I think you got it. Seems to check the boxes quite well. It makes me sad that people breed birds that get so big so fast. I'm glad I could give Doodle a long life.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I am not a vet… disclaimer… not a food inspector… not an expert, just a regular person. So I could be wrong but…

It could be DPM deep pectoral myopathy,' which is also commonly known as Green Muscle Disease… it is found in meat birds, first identified in Turkey then confirmed in modern commercial broilers found in the breast muscles… basically current info indicates it is not caused by a pathogen but actually is caused by a restriction to the tender area by tough inelastic muscles covering or membranes and sternum... So when the bird tries to flap its wings the tender is getting damage by a 20% weight increase, blood flow restriction and so on the flesh dies because oxygen and all the other body healing stuff can’t get to the area. Anyhow the problem is on the increase… management suggestions seem sort of weak to me… less exercise, keep birds from flapping… the problem usually isn’t noticed in the broiler houses, and is only discovered after slaughter usually by the consumer.

Seeing as this is a relatively new problem I think genetics, fast weight gain being pushed to the max, environment may contribute to this…but that is my stab in the dark theory as why it is starting to happen increasingly.

When in doubt don’t eat anything that looks off is my rule… and necrotic flesh is definitely gross…


Some pretty extreme examples I found on the net…


View attachment 2972946View attachment 2972947

Very interesting! Never heard of ist, even though I read what I can about chickens , maybe it is cos I haven’t had a commercially raised bird for the last 10 years?!

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I think your basic utility, dual purpose, slower growing meat breed or even game and ornamental probably won’t have the problem. I think this is something that is going to pop up most common in the maxed out genetic end towards huge breasts in CornishX type lines because no one was really concerned about the rest of the bird or even had an inkling the genetics might create this issue.

Like I doubt the Naked Necks I have will get it simply because even though they are “meat birds” they are not on the extreme end of the genetic push towards just big breasts. They are never going to look like CornishX (I raised a couple CXs to see how they matured, behaviors and so on)… and so I think if you stay with a more old school well rounded breeding program and slower grow broiler breed for meat this probably won’t be as big an issue.

If you want to do Cornish X type birds then maybe it’s time to reevaluate some really old school meat and chicken keeping practices… I seem to recall reading when keepers where trying to max out weights at some point in the growth stage they put meat birds into a “keep” sort of situation, boxes that limited moving, dark, quiet place to keep them mellow, usually also force fed them… but maybe the reason for some of that was more then just finishing weight gain but to prevent injury as well and thus spoiling dinner. Just a thought.