She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[AmyLynn2374]

Ohhhh ok. Im sorry, I was under the impression that cull meant to kill them. I saw some fancy eggs on eBay once (Ayam Cenami's) and the seller said they cull unwanted chicks (undesirable traits/weren't all black) and I thought they meant to kill, or when someone has a sick chick- but that means what I think it means, right?

In many cases cull does mean to kill. Almost always with a sick chicken it means to kill. Many of your bigger profit making hatchers will kill undesirable chicks as well.

 

[WalnutHill]

Ohhhh ok. Im sorry, I was under the impression that cull meant to kill them. I saw some fancy eggs on eBay once (Ayam Cenami's) and the seller said they cull unwanted chicks (undesirable traits/weren't all black) and I thought they meant to kill, or when someone has a sick chick- but that means what I think it means, right?

Cull can have either meaning. If a chick had a crooked back or crow head or deformed foot, to me cull would be kill.

 

[MunsterChicks]

In many cases cull does mean to kill. Almost always with a sick chicken it means to kill. Many of your bigger profit making hatchers will kill undesirable chicks as well. 

Oh, gotchya.

I couldn't kill an adorable chick unless it was sick. I just couldnt do it. I'm glad I mis-understood, but that's sad about the big breeders.

 

[scflock]

Thanks for that, it helps a lot. I guess I would want to keep some hens for eggs, and I don't mind some for meat either- meaning the roos. I can sell some roosters if need be, but I wouldn't be butchering, my husband would do it no problem. I've never eaten my own chicken obviously, but I've eaten plenty of hunted animals, with everything going on with meat I would like to have my own eggs and meat. I would butcher cows too if I had the land, and know where my food comes from. I won't lie though thinking about it now, I'd have to get past the whole raising and hatching the chicks, to eating them.

I would like to be able to sell eggs (fertile) and chicks. I would also want to keep the bloodlines pure for that purpose, because they are show chickens, and the guy I got them from, breeds and sells them as such. Some people he said keep them as pets and some have won shows. I've never thought about doing shows but if I get a beautiful chicken I would for fun. But they would be my pets, and if I could make some money too that would be nice, since I'll be home anyway. But based off all the info. Im guessing my best bet is to get some more eggs from the breeder, and keep a roo of each breed from a new hatch. Maybe I can even just get a roo from him if he gets any back, or doesn't sell all his chicks in the next few weeks. Worth a try right? I know he was setting his last hatch last week of each breed he has. If I do that though, like you're saying, people cull the unwanted chickens, with the undesirable traits? It would be tough to kill a chicks for no other reason, I don't think I could do that. Couldn't I sell them as non-show quality? Or keep some, even give them away to friends who don't care?

I would still keep the best rooster and any pullets from this hatch. I didn't mean to imply that sibling mating was totally unacceptable. Many people start their flocks that way, but it will enhance any undesireable traits. Make sure you want to sell fertile eggs, too. I had a woman call me and give me this sob story about how she just wanted a few polish eggs for her broody cochin so she could keep them as pets. I was very sympathetic to her, sold her 2 eggs for $4, then gave her 4 extras because I wasn't certain about fertility. 3 days later, an ad popped up on Craigslist that said "hopefully a few rare white crested black polish" 10 miles from me. I was boiling mad. I refuse to sell fertile eggs now because of it. I don't need the competition. If she had bought straight run chicks like me, and put the work into it that I did, I would have been fine with it, but she was selling MY eggs to MY customers

 

[MunsterChicks]

Cull can have either meaning. If a chick had a crooked back or crow head or deformed foot, to me cull would be kill.

Thanks, makes sense now. And of course with a sick chicken that won't ever get better, that's the best option so it doesn't suffer. That wouldn't bother me. I mean I would be sad for the chick but I understand sometimes it's better for the suffering animal.

We tried to rescue a bird that fell over the winter, it was too far gone. Something got to it, probably a cat. We decided after a few days and not being able to get it to eat, it was best to end it quickly for him/her. It was suffering and it wasn't fair to the bird.

 

[scflock]

Oh, gotchya.

I couldn't kill an adorable chick unless it was sick. I just couldnt do it. I'm glad I mis-understood, but that's sad about the big breeders.

If you can't cull a chick, then I would strongly advise against assisted hatches, or hatching any eggs after day 23. The odds go way up, and it's just a matter of time, when hatching, before it will have to be done. You may have to get your husband to do it, but that's just a part of it. I will cull (kill) sick or deformed chicks, but I won't kill them for having the wrong colored feathers. Then I sell them

 

[MunsterChicks]

I would still keep the best rooster and any pullets from this hatch. I didn't mean to imply that sibling mating was totally unacceptable. Many people start their flocks that way, but it will enhance any undesireable traits. Make sure you want to sell fertile eggs, too. I had a woman call me and give me this sob story about how she just wanted a few polish eggs for her broody cochin so she could keep them as pets. I was very sympathetic to her, sold her 2 eggs for $4, then gave her 4 extras because I wasn't certain about fertility. 3 days later, an ad popped up on Craigslist that said "hopefully a few rare white crested black polish" 10 miles from me. I was boiling mad. I refuse to sell fertile eggs now because of it. I don't need the competition. If she had bought straight run chicks like me, and put the work into it that I did, I would have been fine with it, but she was selling MY eggs to MY customers

Oh heck no! I would be ****** too. That's a good point, then you'll also probably get the people who have failed hatches, and blame it on you and claim the eggs weren't fertile.

If someone did that to me I would want to flip on her! But at the same time, is it even worth it? Ugh people have some nerve.

People on CL I heard do that with dogs too, they take free dogs and then turn around a re-sell them.

 

[BYC910]

I work, but it's the kids nap time

LOL @ SC, after all that waiting they wouldnt even see my kids. So aggravating, they didn't tell me on the phone Molly was too little. I'm annoyed today, I need that laughing gas!

You guys are killing me today!

Ugh and we have severe storms coming in, hopefully they pass through. I can't with this storm warning nonsense.

So I was thinking last night, after reading a thread. I can't or shouldn't have three roosters? Is that a terrible idea? And how do you keep them from not mating the other hens? Example: if next spring I want to breed my orpingtons, and don't want them mixed with my Ameraucanas and BLRW's (given they hatch and I even have a roo, or who am I kidding I'll end up with five) what do you keep them in their coops seperate? But if they free range? I don't know I'm thinking way far ahead. I read you can breed from the same hatch, people do that right? I want to keep the Ameraucana's and BLRW's pure for the purpose of selling them. The Ameraucana breeder I got them from is certified with the Breeders Club, I double checked with them, but should I get a different roo next year from the same guy maybe? Or is it OK to breed the same hatch? And then back to the problem with can I even have that many roos, and keep them from mating with other hens.

I have to say I would not do it breed from the same hatch inbreeding can cause problems

 

[scflock]

Oh heck no! I would be ****** too. That's a good point, then you'll also probably get the people who have failed hatches, and blame it on you and claim the eggs weren't fertile.

If someone did that to me I would want to flip on her! But at the same time, is it even worth it? Ugh people have some nerve.

People on CL I heard do that with dogs too, they take free dogs and then turn around a re-sell them.

I kept replying to her ad through the link, so she wouldn't get my real email address. I drove her nuts for 3 weeks

The failed hatches is another reason I don't want to sell them. I sell them all as eating eggs, mix fertiles with girls only eggs, and don't tell anyone. If they want to try and incubate, that's up to them

 

[MunsterChicks]

If you can't cull a chick, then I would strongly advise against assisted hatches, or hatching any eggs after day 23. The odds go way up, and it's just a matter of time, when hatching, before it will have to be done. You may have to get your husband to do it, but that's just a part of it. I will cull (kill) sick or deformed chicks, but I won't kill them for having the wrong colored feathers. Then I sell them

I have no problem culling a sick chick. I come from a long line of hunters, and my husband is too. The killing of animals doesn't upset me, especially when sick (or for good purpose such as food) and if a raccoon or animal messes with my chickens I'll be out there with my crossbow in a second. A sick animal though, I just feel, is better off being humanely killed/culled quickly rather than suffering. I agree I wouldn't kill/cull a chick for not having the traits or typical standards of a particular breed.