I suppose I'm one of the only ones to keep my pullets as breeding birds for several years before even considering passing them on to someone else?
If I have a bird that I like, I'm keeping that bird as a breeder until A. Another bird comes out that surpasses that bird, or B. That bird dies. As I've said before, my birds don't mature until approximately 10 months, only 2 short months short of becoming a hen in accordance to APA/ABA description of the word "pullet." I don't consider my pullets hens until 14 months, however if I decide to show them, they will be put as hens once they reach 12 months of age.
I'm not saying this as justification for setting pullet eggs, but only that one should take into consideration that you will be keeping these birds for several years in which to breed from. If you get rid of birds after a year or so of age, you must either be advancing your flock at a record pace or have very limited space. I am just now thinking of getting rid of a hen that I have had for 3 years. She has great type, but her tail is not as wide as some of the new pullets that I have growing up. She's also a bit short in the legs, but was a good breeder at one point. She's still pouring out the eggs at 3 years, but is overall a better setter than a breeder at this point. I can only put largefowl eggs under her, but better that than nothing. Point is, I didn't consider getting rid of her until I was sure I could carry on and improve the line without her in it.
If all you have is pullets and a cockerel, this is what I would do:
1. Wait until the eggs are an acceptable size. Don't hatch from eggs that are smaller than an average hen egg. The chicks almost always come out smaller than normal and for some reason weaker. Possibly because the hens are still not directing all the nutrients into the egg that would be necessary for a healthy, viable chick.
2. Make sure your male, when he does eventually develop, does not have any disqualifications. If you only have one cockerel and he has a DQ such as a side-sprig, although minor at the time, can cause severe headaches to anyone that is not knowledgeable about effectively culling it from the flock through the generations. Even then, it could still crop up. Sprigs on the legs, just...just don't. You can pluck, but remember, just because the judge can't see it doesn't mean you're not breeding it into future birds.
3. Choose your breeders from those pullets and cockerels very carefully. Don't make a rush decision on this. Watch them develop and really get a feel for which birds are better than the others. After all, this is the foundation for your future flock. Choosing a bird with a poor wing could be the continual downfall for years to come.
Just some observations I've made over the years, but for sure not the come all-end all of poultry.
