Delaware selection help- 7 weeks old~ PLEASE :)

[The Wolf Queen]

walkswithdog wrote: I'm looking at the ones I have, the seven week olds aren't near butcher wt but you know the 12 week olds are looking pretty good.

My culls so far have some of the following faults.

Multiple curled toes on one bird, comb sprigs, greenish or pale legs, one has very low wing carriage. Right now I'm not looking at culling for feather color unless it's serious. Size is more important here and so there are a number here that aren't quite what I want.

As long as the comb is bladed and straight I'm holding ones that have too many and too few points, with an eye to a balanced spread of points.

Im sorry but why cant you sell the ones that arent so perfect as pets? I just dont think its right to cull an animal because of the imperfections they have

. Sell them or give them away

 

[klf73]

Quote:
Im sorry but why cant you sell the ones that arent so perfect as pets? I just dont think its right to cull an animal because of the imperfections they have

. Sell them or give them away

does't work that way, it is extrememly difficult to give roos away and with all the money you put into them it is most efficient to eat them. I can't do that because I promised my kids

. But there really isn't enough room for people to take multiple roos, but pullets can go to a laying flock. Cull does not always mean kill, it just means to remove from your breeding program

 

[speckledhen]

If it makes her feel any better, I've never killed a rooster just because I couldn't sell it, but I have no control over what folks to with them once they leave my place. Most do not spend $10 on a rooster if they're going to eat him, though. It is quite hard to even give some of these boys away, though.

klf, with these boys, you really can't pick the best one at that age. If you are serious about keeping a quality flock, you'll have to grow them out almost to maturity in order to pick your best, unless you just have lots with really bad flaws and know early on.

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
Im sorry but why cant you sell the ones that arent so perfect as pets? I just dont think its right to cull an animal because of the imperfections they have

. Sell them or give them away

One: These are dual purpose birds not pets. Dual as in meat and eggs. Part of their purpose here is for food.
Two: there are more spare roos made than "pet" homes for them.
Nice some people can keep them as pets. That's not in my budget, eggs I don't hatch are people and animal food. Deformed and cull animals feed people and animals or are sold for other peoples flocks.

There are crueler things than a life of freedom, affection and plenty that ends in a swift humane death. I am a farmer, they live a good, free range and affectionately treated life.

They're, in general held, and petted and loved and valued. When and if it's time, it's done swiftly and humanely. I wish all creatures that opportunity but it doesn't happen often that way.

I refuse to add to the hordes of ill bred, poor specimens kept and bred because they're "purebred." I control my breeding stock. If it's a DQ it's dinner. If it's seriously flawed it's also dinner. No one will raise seriously sub-standard birds on the back of what I raise. Ever.

I'm not feeding a bird for six months or twelve to find it lays a cream egg and is stipled, narrow or otherwise flawed and then sell it for less than I paid for feed, I eat it.

With the value of pasture fed bird meat I get back my investment. And I know what I'm eating.

While I'm mocked among local "poultry men" for my "pet" chickens, mine are sure as heck easier to catch than theirs and I mock old men chicken chasing, often enough.

I don't think it's wrong for livestock to have a food purpose, sorry. Mine have names and kindness their entire lives and while some folks cannot do that I can and do. Sarah turned up mean and was darned tasty.

My whole first flock are replacing themselves this year. Which means ten stew chickens here at the end of the year. That's how upgrading a flock works. Since they are hatchery grade I'll sell some and render others. The Roo, George is going to one of the poultry guys who's been in serious envy of his size and his friendliness. The partially stipled hens will be dinner and the better hens will go with George.

This will go that way with the Dels as well. Seriously faulted animals never ever leave my control. It's the only thing I can do about the future of the breeds I care about and I do it with serious devotion.

Now the sizzles, they can be pets, they're just a tad too silly and sweet to be anything but... The breed is not so established that pet people messing around will affect anything.

My Rocks and my Dels are serious commitments in both purpose and intent. I am NOT going to be responsible for bad Dels or poor Rocks. They're dual purpose, free range birds and I'm headed toward excellent type if I can at all manage it.

 

[klf73]

thanks speckledhen, I can't see any major flaws with any of them

, how lucky am I

. I have never rehomed roos this young anyway, but my feed bill is atrocious with all the *extra* adult roos right now. Dh says these are the most expensive eggs he ever bought(the ones we are eating), and he doesn't eat eggs!! He loves me

.

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
Wow he is truly cool! I don't blame you for

him.

You are lucky if you've avoided major flaws in the first round! How cool is that? Makes things easier.

I've only the one near adult PR roo and five maybe boys from Cyn (if I get her second pick they go away - he's nicer).

And then all the juvenilles still under 6 weeks that are my up and comers to sort for the next generation.

With all the turkeys besides those my feed bill is pretty huge but I've a nice group to chose from.

Can't wait for pics!