I have a question for breeders

[backyardmenagerie]

I've been wondering (after spending WAY too much time in the auctions section of BYC) those of you who keep chickens for exposition or other non-food purposes, and keep several breeds, in separate breeding pens, and sell breeding stock or hatching eggs: do you eat your eggs or culled chickens? I'm especially curious for those who breed SQ heritage breeds, or breeds originally intended for egg and meat production, but are being kept for breeding instead of homesteading. Is there a point at which the egg or meat from a chicken becomes too valuable to consume (like with Lavender Orps, FBCM, silkies, or other such "high priced" breeds)?

 

[SamuelMcF]

If I don't have orders to fill I eat the eggs. But I have chickens that I keep just for egg purposes. And I always eat the culls because I don't think its right to sell someone a bird that is not good quality.

 

[Robo]

I eat eggs when I have enough, I eat my culls, but sell silkies as pets.

 

[tandersphoenix]

I have production hens for laying our eggs but I definitely do not like eating eggs from my show lines. They are worth more to sell the eggs or hatch them and sell chicks. I do eat plenty of culls though, however most of the time I cull way before the birds are big enough to eat.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Thank you for your replies. That's interesting that several people have mentioned having separate chickens designated for egg production, here and on other threads.
Was your primary motivation, when you got started, exhibition and breeding, or did the layers come first? What made you decide to produce chickens for pets and show, rather than a food source?
For those that eat their eggs and culls, do you think about the cost of that meal (or what you would have gotten for it) or is it just a natural part of chicken breeding?

edited for clarity

 

[gumbii]

i have a pen with mixed color OEGB that i sometimes use to fill in the blanks in the incubator, and i sell those as pets... i don't eat my culls, my dog does... they're OEGB, don't feel like cooking a tiny chicken for myself... i don't eat my show birds or eggs like tanderspheonix said... i give the eggs to my friend's that might be incubating when i'm not...

i also have a huge pen with giant cochins for eggs... although they aren't laying yet... i'm also looking to add EE's OE's and light sussex for eggs... sometimes, i will eat some OEGB and serama eggs... LOL... or cortunix eggs... yummy...

 

[SamuelMcF]

I started out with just ten layers and then they all got eaten and when I got more some turned to be roos so I decided to hatch some and it just went uphill from there (or downhill however you want to put it

) lol

yes generally I think wow this omelet is worth thousands of dollars haha cuz honestly you make money but it takes a while to get started

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Thank you again for the input. Any other breeders out there that want to chime in?

 

[punky rooster]

How about upcoming breeders?
I want my birds to produce well to their purpose. So YES eat culls and eggs when not in breeding season I don't care as much if they win, as long as they are true to type and produce well I am happy.

I started with 6 hatchery birds a friend sold us and it grew from there!

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:
Awesome!

So I take you have a dual purpose breed? I would imagine the answer would be different for those with bantam and ornamental breeds. I'd also be interested to know what you guys get for your eggs and culled birds, and what price would you have to get to make your eggs/culls to expensive to eat?