Do You Have Too Cull Your Roo's?

[jthayerkatz]

Do roosters need to be culled at a certain age or will they continue to fertilize the hens their whole life? if they do need to be culled, at what age does their reproduction ability drop off?

 

[Emzyyy]

No clue. I think their fertile all their life?

 

[greathorse]

A rooster's fertility corresponds in large part with the female. They can get quite old and still be fertile. A large number of older roosters are culled for a wide variety of reasons. Age makes them less nimble and they can cover fewer hens. They get very large and as a result are a bit hard on the hens. They get to be mean SOB's and arent tolerated. More importantly a younger better version of the old fella comes along and a good breeder will opt for the male that more completly matches their breeding target.

Two to three years is a pretty good breeding period for a rooster. Many people cull their hens on a very regular basis as well due to production dropping off.

 

[jthayerkatz]

Thank You,
It would be a shame to have too cull a well tempered roo once you find one.
what wouold you expect the age of the rooster too be when his production would start too wane? (undertanding that each breed might be different).