Plymouth Rocks and Mareks

[rebrascora]

27 at the moment in 5 different groups/pens at 2 different locations. Things got silly a couple of years ago when chicken maths took over and I had over 80+ but with dogs and foxes and culling surplus cockerels it came down quite dramatically and probably needs to come down further yet, but I wanted a few new pullets to produce eggs through the winter..... or course, I have ended up with more cockerels than pullets as usual from my hatches. I find butchering them hard emotionally but it is the responsible thing to do. I have a retirement plan for my old hens though. I won't cull them.

 

[jucat60]

27 at the moment in 5 different groups/pens at 2 different locations. Things got silly a couple of years ago when chicken maths took over and I had over 80+ but with dogs and foxes and culling surplus cockerels it came down quite dramatically and probably needs to come down further yet, but I wanted a few new pullets to produce eggs through the winter..... or course, I have ended up with more cockerels than pullets as usual from my hatches. I find butchering them hard emotionally but it is the responsible thing to do. I have a retirement plan for my old hens though. I won't cull them.

Yes it can over take an addiction almost I understand.Last year all the chicks I kept and did not sell with my Aracuana where pullets!!! could not believe it not a cockerel among them.I have found homes for all my boys too which has been great.My flock are all asymptomatic every morning I look for signs I wish I did not have too but with the recent loss I cannot but not.