On March 15 I brought home a dozen Spring chicks, for a broody hen. One of these chicks that I believed to be a buff orpy quickly reveled herself to be something else entirely. A little research convinced me she is a jumbo Cornish cross. I thought the most humane thing would be to give her to someone who would butcher her for meat. My husband is a softy, and said she doesn't appear distressed or in pain, and perhaps we let her run the natural course of life. I realize there is no "natural course" for a hen breed for other purposes. However, my hope was that because she is the only Cornish and all of her little sister chicks are very active, she might be leaner and stronger than other Cornish. (The other babies are Jersey giants, Orpingtons and Marans).
She does have bald patches of stretched skin. She is now 6 weeks old. I have not restricted food. She can run and does so throughout the day, but she also typically lies down much more frequently than the others. She is able to get herself up onto a chair or table 18 inches high.
Hubby and I have arrived at a "let her be, unless she appears to be suffering". However, I also recognize that we might be predisposed to misinterpret signs of suffering. Am I delusional to hope for her to have any quality of life?
She does have bald patches of stretched skin. She is now 6 weeks old. I have not restricted food. She can run and does so throughout the day, but she also typically lies down much more frequently than the others. She is able to get herself up onto a chair or table 18 inches high.
Hubby and I have arrived at a "let her be, unless she appears to be suffering". However, I also recognize that we might be predisposed to misinterpret signs of suffering. Am I delusional to hope for her to have any quality of life?
