To kill or sell, what are your thoughts?? (Discussion about culling)

[rodriguezpoultry]

I wouldn't sell them at all. I'd use them in my "laying" flock. (I have different flocks for different purposes...teehee.)

But, selling as "mutts" would be the best thing I could think of if you really want to be rid of them.

 

[NYREDS]

Culkling is simply removing from the flock. Killing or selling, or giving away all accomplish that end. You should do whichever of those that you're most comfortable with.

The other part of me thinks this is a LIFE we are talking about here

If you are a moral vegetarian I understand this concern, if not I don't. The chickens you're talking about & the ones available at KFC differ only in circumstance.

Lastly, don't be too quick to cull all the blak birds that show a bit of red. Many breeders of black birds will use a male with some red to maintain the gloss in their females. As long as it's not too predominant it may be of use to you.​

 

[kla37]

I'd sell them! A lot of us backyard chicken owners don't care if our birds are "pure" or up to a "standard", we just em cute and pretty to look at, and I know a lot of people that don't even care if their chickens don't lay well or at all, since they see them as entertaining and pretty pets. List them as cute and pretty mutts, with pics if you have them, for pet quality chickens.

 

[speckledhen]

Lastly, don't be too quick to cull all the blak birds that show a bit of red. Many breeders of black birds will use a male with some red to maintain the gloss in their females. As long as it's not too predominant it may be of use to you.

Good tip, Bill, thanks! I have only killed one rooster who became too aggressive for me to sell him and I didn't want his bad temper reproduced. Other than that one bird, I've rehomed or sold every extra I've ever had to someone, but I have no problem with anyone processing their extra birds.​

 

[gallinamama]

Quote:
Hi!!! Oh my goodness..I see you are from Sparta Tenn. My brother and his family are from Doyle...I just love it there.. so pretty. Just wanted to say Hey to someone near "part of my heart"

 

[cybercat]

If you are breeding to SOP and will be making a name for yourself, think twice before selling. First off people will use your name when selling chicks from your birds. If you sell rejects from your program and they know you as a breeder then their chicks are from so and so chickens. What this does is one can ruin your repetation fast since these are not SOP that are bred. Word travels faster on the Bad than the good. So I would not sell anything if I was trying to make a good line and become a known breeder.

 

[imusa76]

us backyard chicken owners that just want eggs don't care if they are show quality.
I have 5 Favoralles, they were culls for someone, but they are great Pets for my family.
I bought them as "Favoralle Mix" so I knew they were not pure bred and are not show quality, but like I said they are great pets, and cost much less to buy then pure bred birds.

 

[chickenzoo]

I sell or give away any birds that doesn't make the cut, I can't eat my own animals....If I've brought it into this world, i try to find it a good home. Many people just enjoy chickens for being chickens and doing chicken things, LOL. Some of my best sellers are some of my little yard mixes that people happen to see running the yard when they come over and fall in love. Also around here chickens are very good poo scratches for other animal manure, some of the best being the roosters. When people find out that they can have more than one roo and how good at poo scratching they can be, they are happy to take them. When my hens get too old to lay, they get turned out into the pasture to do poo/ bug duty for the rest of their days.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

I have the same concern with my serama, not wanting the not-so great birds to add to the gene pool.

For a bird that is fine, healthy, but just lacking the type (or some necessary quality) needed to be a good example of its breed,
these I sell or give away to people who do not know what breed I raise. I sell them as small & cute mixed breed pet chickens.
Most of the hens get to stay here as broodies if I need some extras.

For birds with major defects or that dont find a home.. its cull-city for them, sadly.

 

[wegotchickens]

I agree with cybercat. As I've gotten closer to perfect I've been more hesitant to sell for that very reason. If its a color flaw, then I say up front they are pet quality.

But d'Uccles have some toe and feather issues. For those I have been hard-culling (aka killing). The feather issues leave you with a bird that is patchy and not as winter-hardy. The missing toenail is becoming a serious defect, and although I don't find it often in mine I am starting to be more proactive about removing them from the gene pool.

I raise bantams. Not good for meat or layers. They are eye-candy. So if it's not a pretty pet bird, and not worth me keeping to breed, I cull and I cull hard. d'Uccles are not common in my area and I want people to see them at their best.


Edited to add:
I don't know enough non-showing bantam fans to give my culls to, and I don't want irresponsible breeding anyway. I've seen too many pq folks that cross-bred indiscriminantly and then had to find homes for the youngsters. The breed doesn't need bad genes being carried on that way.