Should I cull this chick?

[Wolf-Kim]

Okay, so I raise the Texas A&M White Giant Coturnix quail. I raise them for meat and eggs and have 3 generations on the ground and 2 in the incubator.

The generation that is in the brooder is only about a week old and most are fairly well feathered. Although there is one that is half the size of the others and only has his wings just feathering out. All hatched the same day and are the same age. There are only 4 so competition for food and water is pretty non-existant.

I am beginning to wonder if I should cull the stunted chick, selecting for the faster developing chicks. It is not just a minor size difference he is really half their size or smaller and while they are almost feathered except for their head and breast, he only has a few wing feathers, the rest is still down.

What do you think? I want to hear your thoughts. If he has the same food, water, and light as the others, then it should really just come down to the fact he has slower developing in his genetics, am I correct?

Thanks
-Kim

 

[First To Hatch]

I've heard of this many time, I know a guy who had 5 week old jumbos and one looked like it was 2 weeks old, I'd suggest culling it.

 

[Boyd]

keep him from breeding and invite him to freezer camp, or dinner

 

[gabrielle1976]

Well maybe but if you dont want him any more send him to me , dont kill the little blighter not his fault he is the Ralp Machiao of quail

 

[rachel]

I am keeping my runts or otherwise not up to standard birds in a separate pen and they won't be bred. I'll keep the females for eggs for eating and the males will end up in the freezer. For a bird that has such a quick maturity time, it seems like kind of a waste to just cull chicks right away when in a few more weeks they can be productive for you. I sure as heck wouldn't breed that one though!

 

[NancyDz]

Quote:
I agree

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I didn't consider killing him, just culling him. Marking him now and keeping him from accidentally becoming a breeder.

I wasn't sure what the deal was with him, but he's had all the opportunity the others have had. I'll just mark him with a band and keep him for eating later on.

-Kim

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
That's what I would do as well. I have 2 chicks right now in the bathroom that have goofed up legs, they are getting to 'table size' then are going to freezer camp