How often do you cull your older birds?

[thebirdguy]

If you are culling based on laying ability, you can check the width of the pelvic bones and/or condition of their vent.. Wide pelvic bones, 3 fingers wide, and moist vent means they are laying.. narrow pelvic.. 1 finger wide and dry vent means they are not laying. We have had hens lay consistently past 5 years old but typically find them falling into the non laying category around 3 years old. HTH

 

[CMV]

I am 3 years into the same rotation used by Ridgerunner and I have found it to be a great way to keep eggs coming consistently. The problem is I should have culled my older flock this fall, but found I really couldn't muster up enough enthusiasm to perform the deed. These birds were my first layers. I do meaties (chickens, ducks and geese) every year so culling is not usually a big deal for me. But I just can't seem to cull these birds. I think I have grown rather attached to the old gals. I don't think I will feel the same way about any of the younger birds and next fall I will re-evaluate the situation.

So, how often do I cull my older birds? Not often enough to maintain my flock at peak efficiency. But that's okay sometimes.

 

[Stefrobrts]

Quote:
Nothing wrong with that. I have at least one old girl who has a great personality and will be staying. She comes up to me with little 'bawwwwk?' noises that sound like she's asking a question, and then follows me around the yard while I'm doing chores

If I had any girls who consistently went broody I'd keep them too for raising chicks. Despite BOs reputation for being broody, only one of my young BOs has gone broody on me! Even my cochin didn't go broody - bad luck I guess. But for the girls who are old enough to have stopped laying, don't have friendly personalities, and don't go broody, I can't see any reason to feed them for the next ten years.

 

[tedabug]

Awww...seems so mean to cull them after all their hard work laying eggs for you. As a female, I feel for the girls needing a winter break to lets the egg-making parts rest. Mine will never be culled unless they have health issues. I'm planning a new coop for young-ins this spring.

Not going to lie: I am eating chicken soup for lunch while writing this......hehe

 

[Yazzo]

Never. Not only would it be just plain, well.....mean, but it has a huge, and usually negative, effect on the flock. There is a very informative article about it in an issue of Backyard Poultry magazine that talks about not only the ethical and emotional reasons, but the scientific reasons to not cull. I cannot stress enough how HUGE of an effect it has on the rest of the flock, especially if you have chicks. I'm not so concerned about egg production, but still get more than enough eggs to eat and sell or give away, and even the oldest hens lay sometimes. More importantly, they contribute a LOT to the 'culture' of the flock, and keep the younger chickens in line. They become more experienced as they get older, and probably pass that on to their young. Taking them out the the picture would be totally counter productive. Roosters get really smart as they age. My oldest rooster, who passed away a while ago, was the most amazing rooster I've seen yet, and I wouldn't kill him for anything. How could I kill the older hens either, when they ALL have such amazing and unique personalities?

My advice: if you aren't running a commercial egg business, do NOT feel pressured to cull.

 

[sourland]

Realistically most hens upon entering their third year lay so sporadically that it financially makes no sense to keep them. Although second year hens may not lay as well as first year hens they more than make up for it with increased egg size. A three year rotation should work quite well understanding that some third year hens may lay acceptably. I would cull from the third year group sparing those hens which were evidently in "laying condition"-bright red combs, three finger width between pelvic bones, bright and shiny feathers. Remember that everyone is allowed a few pets and don't worry about the "psychological" impact on the rest of the flock. It is non-existant.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, I have one flock, just took out the roos, and while things were a bit rattled for a day or two, it has settled down nicely. I don't think they missed the roos. When one does not cull, you are keeping older and older hens, and they are more susceptible to illness and disease, and can act as a reservoir for them.

There is nothing mean about it. It is not like you are kicking them, or stomping on them, or causing terrible pain. That is mean. Doing the deed carefully and quickly is not mean. It is mature and responsible.

However, to each his own method. mk

 

[imthedude]

thanks all for the great responses.

 

[ChickyLoo]

Quote:
Nothing wrong with that. I have at least one old girl who has a great personality and will be staying. She comes up to me with little 'bawwwwk?' noises that sound like she's asking a question, and then follows me around the yard while I'm doing chores

If I had any girls who consistently went broody I'd keep them too for raising chicks. Despite BOs reputation for being broody, only one of my young BOs has gone broody on me! Even my cochin didn't go broody - bad luck I guess. But for the girls who are old enough to have stopped laying, don't have friendly personalities, and don't go broody, I can't see any reason to feed them for the next ten years.

Struggling with the attachment issue of the first girls as well....we have more layers coming do hoping this will make it easier. DH is dead set on rotating every 2 yrs.

 

[galanie]

Quote:
Nothing wrong with that. I have at least one old girl who has a great personality and will be staying. She comes up to me with little 'bawwwwk?' noises that sound like she's asking a question, and then follows me around the yard while I'm doing chores

If I had any girls who consistently went broody I'd keep them too for raising chicks. Despite BOs reputation for being broody, only one of my young BOs has gone broody on me! Even my cochin didn't go broody - bad luck I guess. But for the girls who are old enough to have stopped laying, don't have friendly personalities, and don't go broody, I can't see any reason to feed them for the next ten years.

I guess I'm doomed then. All four of my BO's have gone broody twice already this year.

One is on eggs and another is in the breaking cage as I type. But nah, I was planning on keeping these girls anyway. At least three of them.