- Oct 13, 2008
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I've heard a lot of "oldtimers" used to separate pullets and cockerels of the same age as soon as possible and raise them separately. In the book Keeping Poultry and Rabbits on Scraps, it suggests that this prevents the larger more aggressive cockerels from hogging the feed, and also allows one to feed separate rations, reserving the more costly, high protein feed for the pullets and feeding "bulkier" feeds such as "potatoes" and extra scraps to the cockerels.
Are there any other reasons for separate rearing, or drawbacks that anyone is aware of? And in particular, does this have a negative effect on the optimal and proper development of future breeding cocks?
We have always raised them together just because it seemed simplest, but anything that may save on feed or improve management in some other way might be welcome...
Are there any other reasons for separate rearing, or drawbacks that anyone is aware of? And in particular, does this have a negative effect on the optimal and proper development of future breeding cocks?
We have always raised them together just because it seemed simplest, but anything that may save on feed or improve management in some other way might be welcome...
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