Is it time to cull?

[kate2008]

All right everyone, I need some flock culling advice

Right now I have 8 chickens total with 6-8 birds being the ideal number for our family in terms of production. Of our 8 birds, 4 are going through their 2nd molt and 4 are going through their first molt and we are collecting 1 egg per day.

Our schedule has been to get chicks in the spring, but I just realized that it doesn’t make sense to feed all 8 birds all winter when half of them are probably not going to lay at full capacity ever again.

So my 1st question is - what is the realistic expectation for my older bird’s laying capacity? They are easter eggers and were laying at 3-5 eggs per week each before this molt.

So if I do decide to cull the older birds, is it ridiculous to get chicks this time of year? I am in Georgia and our winters are fairly mild.

Last question, if I do decide to cull the older birds - what is the easiest and most human way to put them down?

 

[lazy gardener]

Last ? first: broom stick method.

Culling: Yes, it's time to cull. Your older gals will lay less next season than they did this season. Your choice re: culling now or feeding them through an other season. No wrong choice. It depends on your priorities. I'd be culling them rather than feeding them all winter. That being said, I still have 2 birds that need to be culled!

New chicks: You could certainly start them now, if you can provide consistent brooding. I would opt for MHP cave brooding and do it right in the coop. Set up the brooder so the babies and adults can see each other. @azygous is the queen of early integration. After your chicks are well started, you can open up their brooder into a "panic room" so the chicks can visit the adults, but the adults can't visit them. Our winters are brutal, and we get frequent power outages, so I would never ever consider brooding winter chicks here.

 

[WhiteWyan]

All I know is that egg production will naturally decrease substantially during a molt. Egg production during molt does not reflect the birds future potential. Personally I would keep them if you like them, also you'll probably keep getting some eggs next year... Maybe 40-70% of what you got last year

 

[jthornton]

Keep in mind when there is more dark than day like now chickens naturally slow down egg production or stop to save eggs that would not survive anyway. The chickens have a photo sensor in their head that triggers the egg laying mechanism.

JT

 

[Ridgerunner]

So my 1st question is - what is the realistic expectation for my older bird’s laying capacity? They are easter eggers and were laying at 3-5 eggs per week each before this molt.


It’s hard to say. In general, after the second adult molt, egg production drops. In commercial flocks with their specialized hybrids bred to lay really well, that’s usually about a 15% drop on average. If that held for yours that would be maybe going from an average of 4 per week to 3 a week. But yours are not those special hybrids bred to lay so well. It’s quite possible that drop would be more drastic. It’s possible it would not be quite so bad but I’d expect the worst.

Another issue is that you need enough birds for average to mean something. If you had a flock of 5,000 hens the averages would mean something. With only four birds, not much. It only takes one to throw those averages way off.


So if I do decide to cull the older birds, is it ridiculous to get chicks this time of year? I am in Georgia and our winters are fairly mild.


Ridiculous? Not if you can find them. If you are brooding them in the house it’s really no different than any other time of the year except maybe you might need to keep them in the brooder a bit longer than in the spring or summer. Even if you are in North Georgia, with your winters it doesn’t have to be that much longer.

If you brood outside in winter like I do you have to contend with big temperature swings. Your goal is to give them a spot warm enough in the coldest temperatures and cool enough in the warmest weather. I can have some nights in the mid-teens Fahrenheit one night and a high of 70 a few days later. I solve that problem by having a large 3’ x 6’ brooder and use heat lamps to keep one end toasty but I have enough ventilation the far end does not overheat. I may find ice in the far end some mornings. Some days the chicks spend their time in the far end.

There are other ways to provide that warm spot without overheating the entire brooder. If you can give us some information about your brooding maybe we can help if you need help. But several of us brood all year around using different methods. People will tell you that you can’t but we do.


Last question, if I do decide to cull the older birds - what is the easiest and most human way to put them down?



A really common question and a good one. My answer is the way that you can. What you want is that the deed is quick and sure so you need to be able to do it without flinching or hesitating. I grew up swinging an axe and hammer, so I’m comfortable I can hit what I am aiming for and will only need to swing once. I use a hatchet and a stump. If you are interested there ae a couple of tricks that make this go better but if you are not comfortable swinging a hatchet I don’t recommend it, it’s not the best way for you.

A lot of first timers use a killing cone and various ways to actually kill the chicken. LG is obviously comfortable with the broomstick method. People might use pruning loppers or something else. If you don’t plan to eat them (they make great broth) you can rig up a box and hook that to your car exhaust. Some people shoot them. Some people get other people to do the deed. Some people give them away or sell them for others to eat, often using Craigslist.

The important thing is that you do not flinch or close your eyes at the wrong moment and injure the chicken or yourself. To cull does not necessarily mean to kill, there are other ways to get them out of your flock.

 

[ronott1]

This thread has lots of processing information!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...p-help-us-through-the-emotions-please.768107/

 

[song of joy]

I agree with @Ridgerunner - so much of this decision depends on the productivity of individual hens. And especially with EE, productivity can vary a lot from bird to bird because they are mixed-breed chickens. If you have productivity records on individual hens, cull the least productive hen(s) regardless of age.

Here's an example of productivity from two EE in my flock, to give you an example of how much it may vary by hen and how much productivity may decline from year to year:

EE #1: 1st laying season (12/14 - 6/16): 4.1 eggs/week. 116 eggs total.

EE #2: 1st laying season (1/22 - 12/14): 5.7 eggs/week. 256 eggs total.
EE #2: 2nd laying season (1/23 - 10/8): 4.9 eggs/week. 184 eggs total.
EE #2: 3rd laying season (1/5 - 9/22): 5.1 eggs/week. 176 eggs total.

(Edited to add: productivity records are based on ambient conditions year-round; no supplemental light or heat was provided)

EE #1 was culled at the end of her first laying season. EE #2 will stick around for a 4th laying season, and I'll probably set some of her eggs in hopes that her daughter(s) will be good layers.

As to the anticipated reduction in productivity, I usually see a 10 to 30% decline from the 1st laying season to the 2nd, and about a 15% decline from the 2nd season to the 3rd season. Again, this varies a lot by individual hen.

Although your hens have stopped laying for now, they will gear up again and should begin laying sometime in January or February. So, yes, it's a 2 to 4-month wait for eggs while they are molting, but it's also a 5 to 6 month wait for chicks to begin laying eggs.

For culling, we use the broomstick method and then we skin the chicken rather than pluck it. Makes great soup!

 

[ronott1]

I agree with @Ridgerunner - so much of this decision depends on the productivity of individual hens. And especially with EE, productivity can vary a lot from bird to bird because they are mixed-breed chickens. If you have productivity records on individual hens, cull the least productive hen(s) regardless of age.

Here's an example of productivity from two EE in my flock, to give you an example of how much it may vary by hen and how much productivity may decline from year to year:

EE #1: 1st laying season (12/14 - 6/16): 4.1 eggs/week. 116 eggs total.

EE #2: 1st laying season (1/22 - 12/14): 5.7 eggs/week. 256 eggs total.
EE #2: 2nd laying season (1/23 - 10/8): 4.9 eggs/week. 184 eggs total.
EE #2: 3rd laying season (1/5 - 9/22): 5.1 eggs/week. 176 eggs total.

EE #1 was culled at the end of her first laying season. EE #2 will stick around for a 4th laying season, and I'll probably set some of her eggs in hopes that her daughter(s) will be good layers.

As to the anticipated reduction in productivity, I usually see a 10 to 30% decline from the 1st laying season to the 2nd, and about a 15% decline from the 2nd season to the 3rd season. Again, this varies a lot by individual hen.

Although your hens have stopped laying for now, they will gear up again and should begin laying sometime in January or February. So, yes, it's a wait for eggs while they are molting, but it's also a 5 to 6 month wait for chicks to begin laying eggs.

For culling, we use the broomstick method and then we skin the chicken rather than pluck it. Makes great soup!

Another thing to consider is the lead time between getting chicks and then eggs. If you cull them now, you will miss out on eggs in the Spring. You will also have to feed the new chicks for up to 6 months before getting eggs.

Broom Method

 

[lazy gardener]

As I see it, OP will see her pullets start laying around 16 - 20 weeks of age, depending on breed, and nutrition.

 

[junebuggena]

For eggs next winter, mid-spring is the best time to get chicks. This winter, it's not too late to start supplementing light.