Culling Towards the Best Flock

[Mrs. K]

I completely understand. I have had had numerous plans, seldom do they go through. I am incredibly impressed when people lay out a 5 year plan, and stick to it.

Life just always gets in my way.

Mrs K

 

[DemeterAD9]

Making more decisions.

This guy will be going. I’ll let him grow until he creates problems or I want some fresh meat.

Chunky Jr. will be staying for a long time unless he becomes jerk or I get a better meat bird cockerel from him.

This guy gets to run with the laying flock and likely father a few chicks in the spring. He’s grown on me with how well mannered he is. Too bad he won’t take food from my hand like my rooster.

I’m getting a good feel for my new layers. Some are way outperforming others in egg production. But there are a handful of young girls who oddly went through a light fall molt and stoped laying early. I’m not sure if that could be a genetic thing or what but if it is I’m not particularly fond of that trait. 2/3 of the brahma mix pullets molted as did a couple other mutts including an EE mix and a OE. Waiting on 5 more young pullets to start laying but may have to wait till spring.

One particular mutt pullet I was leaning towards selling is probably the best new layer. She’s only skipped 6 days since September 18 and her eggs are green speckled. She’s gonna be a mom at some point.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Oh! What pretty eggs!

 

[Vicker]

Update to my earlier reply about getting Delaware chicks and hoping at least one was a male. Turns out my "95%-chance pullets" are half males. Phooey. I thought I'd figured out which one or two I'd keep, but when the hormones kicked in, they changed my mind. They're all naughtier than I want in a rooster. I know this will change again in time, but I'm not feeding this gang of hooligans much longer before they go in the freezer.