Culling Silver Laced Wyandottes

[walkswithdog]

Culling the all dark birds early was probably a booboo.

Culling at this age in general in a bird that changes through the first few moults (anything pencilled or laced) is going to throw out a number of what might have been good birds.

You are really jumping the gun and you will throw away good birds if you persist in over culling a large laced breed before the second adult moult.

 

[NYREDS]

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True-at that age cull only for disqualifications ie: inverted spikes, crossed beaks, stubs, etc. Way too early to colour cull.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

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True-at that age cull only for disqualuifications ie: inverted spikes, crossed beaks, stubs, etc. Way too early to colour cull.

I must agree.

 

[CelticMoon1]

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Well what's done is done.. The darks weren't of a very good build though, plus they had no lacing in the chest area whatsoever (practically black w/ some bad lacing on the wings).

I am not showing, but I do want a nice roo

 

[walkswithdog]

You're judging them by juvenille feathers. At that 5 week cull you'd be judging entirely by juvenille, not even first mature feathers. Down, then juvenille pattern, then first mature feathers, then adult/first moult.

A bird can be feathered in black juvenille feathers and feather in totally differently at first mature and then again a change at first adult moult.

Now if you're culling for type at under two months... can't say I do anything but toss DQs that early, crooked toes, severe comb DQ, cross beak.

If you're trying to actually keep the best birds in a patterned breed you are going to have to be more patient.