culling

This is my 3rd time around incubating eggs from my own flock, and it has been so rewarding! I had 14 happy and healthy chicks hatch. But with this batch being mostly successful for me, I still ran into some heart ache. I had one chick hatch, my 15th chick, unable to stand or walk, and after...

So..last Spring we bought four Pekin Ducklings and twenty other chicks to add to our farm. I could not wait for those duck eggs! Well, it turns out my husband has a nack at picking out Drakes because that's what we ended up with ALL drakes! We did end up having to cull one that became lame...

I'm still incubating my first quail (103 eggs, hoping for at least 50% hatch rate), but I know that culling is only 2 months away. I intend to breed my quail. I'm not sure what to look for in good breeding stock though, especially cocks. I'll keep every healthy hen for now because I'll...

Two rooster have wandered into a friends yard. They must be rehomed today otherwise they will be culled. I cannot take them myself because they will fight with my own. If anybody can help please let me know immediately. He is only keeping them for the rest of the day. Location: New Castle, NY

This is my first flock, 13 months old now. He's been the friendliest one and just last week he was cuddling up to me and falling asleep while I held him. The problem is he's becoming more aggressive. He has what I call "bird brain" moments where he starts staring at my clucker clogs (the shoes...

Hi All I have been keeping chickens for about a year, when we bought a little farm. We have Icelandic chickens, which are quite flighty and independent, but that is something I like about them. At this time, I have about 40 birds -- 3 roosters and 16 hens that are 1.5-2 years old; the rest...

I have to cull the first of four roosters and am having trouble steeling myself to do this. I would love to keep him but he's extremely aggressive with the ladies and they all run whenever they see him coming. And he's wearing out my 1-1/2 year old experienced rooster from having to keep him in...

…. is so stinking hard to do and it's not for everyone. When it's necessary, it's our responsibility. RIP Opal :hit:hit:hit

My hen has a hernia under her vent. I’m aware that there isn’t much to do for her except surgery (no) & also aware that she may live comfortably for years. So, my question is for those who have experienced waiting out a hernia with their bird. How did the bird eventually end? In a mess of...

Hello everyone, We live in a small town in Michigan that does allow a maximum of 6 hens, but does not allow slaughter within village limits. The area around us is pretty agricultural though. We got our 4 hens 1 year ago, and I need to have a plan for emergency situations, in case I sadly need to...

So I have 15 muscovy ducklings. I can start culling about July 18 and if they keep growing at this rate that will likely happen. Should I deworm these guys so I don't risk ingesting parasites? I heard ducks are super resistant. I see no signs of worms yet. These are Muscovy if that helps and...

I'm still debating on whether or not to process my layers after their peak egg production years are over. I feel like after two years I would be quite attached to each individual hen and they would be more like pets than livestock, but on the other hand, the idea of processing the flock out...

I have a 16 week old chicken that started acting drunk, now can only lay down. Legs out every which way. Will flop around and can only flop from one side of a plastic tub to the other. Still eats and drinks a ton though. I have separated her from the rest of the flock. Lots of food, probiotics...

Forewarning, this is going to be long lol Problem: My two Buff Orpingtons are breathing roughly. The more they move, the more the raspy wheezing increases. There is NO discharge from the eyes or nostrils. No other symptoms (except one just started showing signs of vent gleet yesterday). They...

Hello from Nebraska! I have 7 Black Copper Marans and 1 Splash Marans Rooster that I hatched out in December and February. I'm trying to figure out which ones I should keep for breeding purposes. All of them came from "good lines" but we all know there are plenty cull birds from show lines... I...

Hi all, I am new to this blog but obsessed about chickens for the past month or so, specially with all the in ovo sexing discussions. My obsession came when I read what happens to day old male chickens in hatcheries and I think is something the should be stopped. I know there are some companies...

Thinking about culling a fair bit of my flock. I keep finding advice on HOW to cull a bird, but i never see if there are any tips to the setting them aside before the culling. I'm pretty sure that i won't treat them like crawfish before the boil; where they are set in running water to purge, but...

Most of our flock is really old hens that aren't in lay. And although I feel awful about it, we need to cull some. My Grandmother says that thre is no point in feeding birds that don't do anything. We will be adding a rooster soon, off topic but do you have any suggestions/pros and cons between...

so awhile back i had posted questions about the dangers of opossums. having taken care of a few over time i had felt confident my flock was safe, but alas... yesterday morning seemed normal with feeding time at dawn as usual, but as roll-call carried on it became clear someone was missing and in...

Something got to our Brat Pack. Took off with one, we found one with head and neck and feathers, but interior gone, and one severely injured: Basically, her complete back end had been eaten off, and she was limping, almost a hobble. She was making squeaky noises. We fed her and then I...