Disease chickens - Ask Extension
I purchased 25 day old Cornish cross meat chicks. Every week I lost 2-4 chick until at 7 weeks I had 7 left. When butchering them I notice this one wa...
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Disease chickens #870623
Asked May 29, 2024, 4:06 PM EDT
I purchased 25 day old Cornish cross meat chicks. Every week I lost 2-4 chick until at 7 weeks I had 7 left. When butchering them I notice this one was dying and after plucking it, this what I discovered. Needless to say, I threw it out. What is it? Do I dare eat the other 6 that looked ok?
Kent County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for your question. Without more information, I'm not able to answer your question. This could be a disease issue, but it could also be a management/processing issue.
Did you notice any symptoms of disease such as lack of appetite, nasal or eye discharge, diarrhea, lethargy, etc. with any of the birds that died? Did you talk to a veterinarian?
Did you process the birds yourself? If you did, could you describe the method that you used.
I may need to engage with our department of Animal Science poultry specialists and possibly the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab to get their thoughts as well. For the time being, out of an abundance of caution I would not eat the meat. Don't discard it yet until we can get a clearer picture of what is going on.
If we can move this over to my direct email to communicate it would be more expedient. My email address is <personal data hidden>.
Thanks so much!
Katie
Katie Ockert
MSU Extension Educator
Community, Food, & Environment Institute
Thank you so much for your question. Without more information, I'm not able to answer your question. This could be a disease issue, but it could also be a management/processing issue.
Did you notice any symptoms of disease such as lack of appetite, nasal or eye discharge, diarrhea, lethargy, etc. with any of the birds that died? Did you talk to a veterinarian?
Did you process the birds yourself? If you did, could you describe the method that you used.
I may need to engage with our department of Animal Science poultry specialists and possibly the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab to get their thoughts as well. For the time being, out of an abundance of caution I would not eat the meat. Don't discard it yet until we can get a clearer picture of what is going on.
If we can move this over to my direct email to communicate it would be more expedient. My email address is <personal data hidden>.
Thanks so much!
Katie
Katie Ockert
MSU Extension Educator
Community, Food, & Environment Institute
