Extremely fat chick?

[Abbie79]

I picked up my first little group of chicks this past Sunday, and everyone seems to be doing well. I change water 2x a day a replace fresh crumbles in the feeder once a day. I also give them a little of the fine grit for chicks. I've been handling them a couple times a day, just enough to try and get them used to me, and check thier vents, without upsetting them too much. I only know what ive read about chicks, having never been around them. One little yellow puff ball girl with white feathers coming in (not sure of any breeds) has gotten WAY fatter than the others. Her vent is clear, but I've noticed her looking as if she's trying to poop a couple times, but doesn't. She doesn't act uncomfortable I don't think, but should I be concerned about the fat/struggle poop combo?

 

[gcbsmommy]

I am not an expert, but maybe if you could post a picture of her with her brooder mates, someone more experienced might be able to help. Perhaps you have a jersey giant or something? Easier to say if you post photos. Best wishes!

 

[debid]

Hmmmm... I wonder if you have a meat bird? They grow very, very fast.

 

[Abbie79]

Thank you. Here are a few pictures of her





and this is another the same age... they WERE the same size a week ago.


and another her age

and a shot of them together on the right side of the pic.... guess which one is fluffy?!?

 

[Abbie79]

Here is one showing her really chubby belly/bottom!


Anyone have any thoughts? Should I be worried? I purchased these guys from TSC in the assorted sexed pullet bin.

 

[Abbie79]

Ok, I looked for meat birds (not knowing what this meant), and I found a thread that documented their meat birds week by week with pictures, and details. I am am pretty sure after reading this thread that this is what she is. She is super lazy, and always laying down, as comments in the thread indicated. She also looks just like the chicks they got (also from TSC). I wonder if she will lay well too? We are keeping these guys as pets, and for eggs. I would have picked all production reds from the sexed bin, but my son wanted a white one! lol

 

[Elke Beck]

Abbie79,

It looks like you have a Cornish X. This is not good news if you want to keep her as a pet. Cornish X are the result of a cross between lines of birds that have been selected to produce chicks that grow incredibly fast, but not to live long. The chickens in stores are only 6 weeks old, and they are bigger than most full grown hens. If you want your girl to have a chance at surviving more than a few months, then you are going to have to be very mean and not allow her to eat as much as she wants. Many people who raise chickens for meat only allow Cornish X access to food 12 hours a day so that they will not grow so fast that their legs break or they have heart attacks. If you are looking for this chick to live more than a few months, then you will need to restrict her even more.

Also, Cornish X are not good layers.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

 

[Abbie79]

Thank you for the reply anyway... A local feed and seed store has offered to trade out any I don't want, but I thought that would be Roo's.... I can't put her in a separate brooder right now, so I'd have to also restrict the rest of food.... that wouldn't be fair. I really wish TSC would have made me aware that this was a possibility. They should group them separately!!

 

[hagerjennifer]

I also have this problem with one of mine. They were grouped separately at the tractor supply by us but my fiances son picked three from different bins. They also all had signs on them saying their names and a board with all chickens on them and what their for. We just didn't pay attention when the guy picked them all out. She's the one in front in this picture, Her feet are also getting fat.

this is one of her and one of the other bigger ones,

And her feet

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! TSC is a very inexpensive place to get chicks, but things often get mixed up there. You have a Cornishx bird, who needs to be in the freezer at about eight weeks of age. If the store will trade back, do it; you just won't be doing that chick any favors trying to pretend it's a normal bird, or fasting it into slower than normal (for a Cornishx) growth. I think producing animals who are sick and unable to function in any normal way is disgusting, but there they are. It's very sad. Mary