Quote: Sounds very reasonable. I also agree with pretty much everything everyone else has said so far, but here's my personal list anyway, in no particular order, and of course it is relevant that these birds are freeranged and live together with no divisions according to gender, age, or whatever.
But, that said, they are randomly caged sometimes, and sometimes I do this without a reason, with each new generation, to spot those that turn quickly aggressive if caged. It's a heritable trait like so many other things, in my experience. Also, any bird that succeeds in becoming a pet may get away with having some defects, though aggression is never tolerated.
Because I breed many of mine, some of these faults are irrelevant to someone who doesn't, but it's a general idea of my guiding rules in selection for 'keepers' and 'eaters'. Many I only keep for a limited time, too.
Aggression to others of any age/genders, as well as aggression to injured or ill birds, and aggression to humans.
Unthriftiness, poor feed conversion, genetic faults, over-reliance on humans for provision, and under-performing.
Lack of instincts, excessive stupidity, and inability to be trained, or learn from important experiences.
Excessive inclination to vocalizations in all birds, and negative crowing patterns, (timing and frequency) in roosters. (It's highly heritable for a rooster to crow in the middle of the night, and a rooster who does so can train the others to as well).
Spackiness, untrusting nature, human averse mentality, and hens who are habitual "illicit-nesters".
Hens who train chicks to view humans with suspicion, and roosters who warn the flock when a human approaches.
Sexual aberrations: attraction to humans and underage birds are never tolerated. Attraction to the same gender,is tolerated if it resolves itself quickly. (It's been quite rare and mainly hens-only, not really an issue).
Instinctual/behavioral faults: cannibalism, feather picking, inability to resolve social conflict swiftly, inability to mother which isn't compensated for by decent enough egg production, hysterical tendencies and neuroses.
So, yeah, that's just off the top of my head, but there are more. But I guess that'll do. Some things aren't absolutes, whereas others are never, ever tolerated, i.e. aggression. I'll cull a hen for fleeing the nest when I approach too, and I cull any bird that doesn't tolerate being handled. Also, there are varying degrees to some of these things, and an individual's merits as a producer or breeder may allow it some leeway on some non-crucial points.
Best wishes.
