Hi there, welcome to BYC!
Please feel free to post pics of your chicks!
What age is best to cull really depends on what your version of cull is and what your goals are in addition to the breed, etc. Cull to me just means eliminate from my flock by whatever means. That could be selling, giving away, or dispatching... either to use as compost, to feed the feral barn cat, or to feed my family. There are truly so many variables!
You should have a few weeks before you have to make any real changes or decisions. Things will vary so much depending on the birds individual personalities, how much space they have. Right now I have ZERO issue with 5 cockerels and 4 pullets at 18 weeks old... Bielefelder. No issues before recently sending 2 cockerels to freezer camp last week either. But that's THIS group.
Other times when I had a bunch of cockerels maturing at the same time and older ladies out on pasture... they would chase the most docile gal and hold her down to take turns mating her.
There was no fighting among-st them! After that I created a stag pen that held ALL boys once identified (about 6-10 weeks) until they reached eating or breeding age.. after gaining some maturity, learning how to control their raging hormones instead of being controlled by them.. then they might get access to the ladies.. only the best of the best! Keeping a stag pen does take scrambling sometimes... but is very doable if that's YOUR preferred route.
Get my picture here.. that YOU will have to roll with what works for YOU as even what works for my friend or neighbor might not work for me. And even what worked for me one time might not work another.. but I don't mean to sound all over the place or confusing.. just saying keep your mind open and figure out which way might be best for you.. switch it up as needed.
What breed(s) ya working with? Are ya planning to eat your extra boys or other ideas?
If eating.. age at processing determines possible cooking methods.. younger birds under 16 ish weeks may be grilled or fried.. mid range are great roasted, And much older a best for stewing. They also need to rest long enough for rigor to pass before cooking or you will get an extremely chewy dog treat.
The Bielefelder I processed at 16.5 weeks.. weighed in dressed at 3# 5 oz and has zero fat. It had an excess amount of pin feathers making the final clean up a pain. Although the weight is plenty for me, the antics aren't much and I will be trying every couple weeks to see when is the best age for plucking THIS breed.
When I first started, I skinned birds due to the plucking horror stories. I also processed closer to 30 weeks (Marans, EE, Sussex, etc) as it just took a while to build the courage to take an animals life myself! If skinning, pin feathers are irrelevant and will come off with the skin. I prefer plucking, labor and appearance wise.. it just seems to give me more preparation options. At times we also just cut the meat off the outside of the carcass.. not messing with guts, etc. Ground chicken works well in tacos and such.
Happy adventures!
)
