Whats my little Packing Peanut? *Updated Pics*

[Arztwolf]

I've determined the other five are BRs, still not sure on this little one. Sorry about the quality, the feathers on his wings are white.

 

[Michael OShay]

It looks like either a White Plymouth Rock or a White Leghorn chick. As it matures, you will know which by the color of its earlobes (White Rocks have red earlobes, White Leghorns have white earlobes).

 

[Lady of McCamley]

x2

One other possibility is Cornish Cross, which is a meat bird. Sometimes those are used as packing peanuts. If it is that, then it will grow very rapidly (and be good eating).

LofMc

 

[Arztwolf]

It looks like either a White Plymouth Rock or a White Leghorn chick. As it matures, you will know which by the color of its earlobes (White Rocks have red earlobes, White Leghorns have white earlobes).

It does have white earlobes.

x2

One other possibility is Cornish Cross, which is a meat bird. Sometimes those are used as packing peanuts. If it is that, then it will grow very rapidly (and be good eating).

LofMc

Does look similar to the pics on Google. Do meat breeds need a special diet or anything? I'm not planning on eating it, but I watn it to be healthy.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It does have white earlobes.

Does look similar to the pics on Google. Do meat breeds need a special diet or anything? I'm not planning on eating it, but I watn it to be healthy.

Earlobe color at this point is not what you want to assess -- as the bird matures the earlobes will take on their adult coloration, and that is where the difference would be factored into a breed ID.

You'll know within a week or two if it is a meat bird as their growth is exponentially faster than that of laying breeds - causing a mixed group to look like tiny villagers and a visiting giant. Yes, meat birds are best managed in a different way than layers - and you would also need to be preparing for the eventuality of the need for processing of the bird if it is a meatie.

 

[Michael OShay]

Earlobe color at this point is not what you want to assess -- as the bird matures the earlobes will take on their adult coloration, and that is where the difference would be factored into a breed ID.

You'll know within a week or two if it is a meat bird as their growth is exponentially faster than that of laying breeds - causing a mixed group to look like tiny villagers and a visiting giant. Yes, meat birds are best managed in a different way than layers - and you would also need to be preparing for the eventuality of the need for processing of the bird if it is a meatie.

Agreed.

 

[Arztwolf]

Do meat birds (that aren't eaten of course) have shorter lifespans caused by the quick growth? What/How do you feed a meet bird?

*Of Course this is IF he/she is a Cornish Cross*

 

[Michael OShay]

Do meat birds (that aren't eaten of course) have shorter lifespans caused by the quick growth? What/How do you feed a meet bird?

*Of Course this is IF he/she is a Cornish Cross*

Yes, Cornish cross are produced by crossing Cornish roosters with White Rock hens, and the resulting offspring grow much faster than either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. Cornish cross need a high protein feed, and due to their incredible growth rate, they are ready for butchering at 8 weeks. In fact, if you let them go much longer than that, they will begin to quickly develop serious health problems because of their abnormal growth rate. Personally, I'm hopeful your bird is just a White Rock and not a Cornish cross. If so, it will live a good long life and if it's a female lay lots of nice brown eggs for you. If it's a male, you can still make a nice chicken dinner off of it--you will just have to wait longer to butcher it. )

 

[BantamLover21]

Yes, Cornish cross are produced by crossing Cornish roosters with White Rock hens, and the resulting offspring grow much faster than either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. Cornish cross need a high protein feed, and due to their incredible growth rate, they are ready for butchering at 8 weeks. In fact, if you let them go much longer than that, they will begin to quickly develop serious health problems because of their abnormal growth rate. Personally, I'm hopeful your bird is just a White Rock and not a Cornish cross. If so, it will live a good long life and if it's a female lay lots of nice brown eggs for you. If it's a male, you can still make a nice chicken dinner off of it--you will just have to wait longer to butcher it. )

x2

 

[Arztwolf]

Here are some pics of him at 2 weeks old.