Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[DMRippy]

So, I have a few BCM chicks with middle toe feathers. They are a week old. Would culling these now be a good idea? The majority seem to be correct to the standard wth only the outer toe. Also there is at least one that has a shorter outer toe than normal; Should I cull for this to? What and when should I be looking out for? I had day old's last year for the first time and ended up with 1 decent rooster (his back was too short) and 3 hens from 15. Though they all seemed too dark compared to what seems to be the norm, so I'm starting with 25 (hopefully 28 in 3 days) this time and shooting for about the same...to cull or not to cull, that is the question.

I cull for middle toe feathering at day olds. The outer toe this is ok, but I would not use it for breeding.

 

[Arielle]

Middle toe feathering is not a DQ only a fault; depends on what your current goals are.

 

[ashandvine]

So I have to ask this question and I hope you will forgive me. How does one cull at a day old? Are you moving them to a separate pen or chopping heads off chicks? Do you raise them for meat or eggs if you are separating? What do you do with the bodies if you kill them?

 

[pinkchick]

So I have to ask this question and I hope you will forgive me. How does one cull at a day old? Are you moving them to a separate pen or chopping heads off chicks? Do you raise them for meat or eggs if you are separating? What do you do with the bodies if you kill them?

Please do not be sorry for asking this question.....lots of folks would not ask.
If I have the need to cull a day old or very young chick I use the baking soda and vinegar method. No mess to clean up. I also burn the bodies to dispose of them.

 

[Arielle]

So I have to ask this question and I hope you will forgive me. How does one cull at a day old? Are you moving them to a separate pen or chopping heads off chicks? Do you raise them for meat or eggs if you are separating? What do you do with the bodies if you kill them?

This is part of raising animals, birds in particular. Never an easy task.

I prefer to break their necks. What you do with the remains can depend on why the chick was culled. If the meat is "clean" I will cook and feed it to the dogs or cats.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: That would be my preferred method too. One day I will make an easy box for culling.

Keep in mind Culling does not always mean to kill.... it can mean to remove from your breeding flock. Example... some people prefer Marans without feathered legs (they don't like the mud in the feathered legs), I cull them from my breeding flock, but they will be sold as layers.

 

[ashandvine]

This is part of raising animals, birds in particular. Never an easy task.

I prefer to break their necks. What you do with the remains can depend on why the chick was culled. If the meat is "clean" I will cook and feed it to the dogs or cats.

I plan to grow them out so that they are at least eggers or food for us/dog. No cats here to dispose of chicks. And you mean clean meat as in no disease right? I have this 'summer cottage' coop that I keep the eggers in and sell off their eggs as I can. I use a lot here in bread. I did know culling didn't HAVE to be killing but it seemed like that was the reason why people called it cull, so as to avoid the unsavory reality of killing. I respect the desire to keep a standard and will hopefully have success myself trying it in the next year, I just couldn't imagine killing all but three chicks when they are only day old or something and they do surprise you as they grow. But... I am new and maybe too inexperienced to know how to read them well enough to say that. No offense intended to anyone who manages their flocks responsibly in the way they see fit.

Please do not be sorry for asking this question.....lots of folks would not ask.
If I have the need to cull a day old or very young chick I use the baking soda and vinegar method. No mess to clean up. I also burn the bodies to dispose of them.

Thanks Pink. I dare to ask a lot of things that others would not and usually folks around me later admit to wanting to know so it helps me be ballsy. So... I have no idea what you mean by vinegar and baking soda. This culling thing is totally new to me. We always just raised it out for food or sold them as such-- all that was as a kid, so I just don't know better, sorry.

 

[slick4591]

When vinegar and baking soda are mixed it creates carbon dioxide gas. When you put the chicks in a closed environment with carbon dioxide they go to sleep to never wake.

 

[ashandvine]

Good thing I didn't stand too close to the volcano in 5th grade....

 

[Arielle]

Good thing I didn't stand too close to the volcano in 5th grade....

My boys still ask to make a volcano every summer !!