culling chickens

I choose the ones with the best color, best form, and best looking overall birds to keep. The ones that meat the standard of perfection the closest.

 

I determine who is laying, who is not, if they are a nuisance bird or not.....non-layers and nuisance birds are culled twice a year and processed for the freezer or for canning.

 

I do a combination of those ideas. I keep best layers and broodies, one or two roos per breed for breeding. I also try to select for best breed standards, although we don't show.

 

This year I had to sell my excess chickens.. I had way too many and it got to be all work and no fun caring for them... Most banty and silkie and frizzles will not be eaten. And they command a higher price and I feel they went to good homes..
Now I have larger breeds also. The hens will sell easily but what about the excess roosters....If I had a dime for everytime someone says do you have a few hens to sell?
I have started pairing them up and may take a little less for the hen that way but I got the rooster a home instead of slaughter......
Here is how I did it. I got rid of the mean ones, ones without names, and the odd lots or breeds I really did not care about.
I took them to an auction. Dusted them for bugs, trimmed their toenails and made sure they were fed and watered before placing in cages..
Nice clean cages with plenty of bedding in it. Written on top of cage was type and sex of bird, how old etc. I also stood in ring when they were sold so people could see who brought them...
I know it is a tough decision to sell them but in the long run it will work out. My remaining chickens are happier and less bullied. And I now enjoy going into the barns to take care of them....