What do you do with your culls?

[Gypsy07]

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I had to go back and re-read your original post because I didn't remember reading those sentiments... then I realised what your location was, and figured it out. I never heard the word "scrag", and wasn't "iffy" about what "softy" meant- but as it was followed with the option of raising them to eat for dinner... my brain assumed that killing/eating/using-as-feeders was OK, and "scrag" must have meant something the opposite there of... Like putting them up for auction or something.
I am sorry for what suggestions of mine may have upset you. I think this was a result of a translation error; British English verses American English.

Heheheh... A typical case of cross-pond confusion. LOL! 'Scragging' = slang for wringing something's neck. And no apologies required, I really was asking for any and all suggestions. I mean, okay, so some of them I wouldn't be comfortable with doing myself, but I'm fine with other people choosing them for their own birds. And it's definitely interesting hearing what everyone else does...

I have no problem with eating mature birds who have had a nice happy life free ranging round fields for six months or so, but I really don't think I could kill a chick right as soon as it hatched. I would just feel horrible about that. But I wasn't sure if it was maybe the done thing when breeding for specific traits. I thought maybe serious breeders would advocate killing the culls as soon as they're identified. But it looks like some are okay with rehoming the birds. So I think that's what I'll be aiming to do.

 

[ultasol]

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I too know of some people like that, but this is how I feel- the proof is in the pudding. A quality bird is a quality bird, regardless of what name is stuck on it. At the same time a poor quality bird is a poor quality bird. Even if you get them directly from the breeder, a ugly bird is a ugly bird. Anyhow, unless you get them straight from the source, it seems to be 'buyer beware' when it comes to claims of bloodlines.

Personally, I think more competition is better. A good competitor can always differentiate themselves by superior condition, consistent quality, etc. Another concern for me is that I'd rather get a little something out of them at this time... while I won't go the the length of selling large numbers of eggs, being in a school program with a schedule that has kept me from working right now I have to be able to get a couple bucks or a meal out of a bird in order to feed my birds or improve my stock.

 

[DaveK]

A lot of breeders function like that Texas bantam breeder. We need to remember too that not passing off culls (birds that may be very pretty but maybe not so suited to breed improvement) does not automatically mean that they will not share quality breeding stock with another like minded breeder. In my book culls and excess stock of decent quality are two different things but we may all define cull differently too.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

To me, a "cull" is a bird that I cannot use in my breeding program.

A "bad cull" is a bird that I won't even consider using in my breeding program because it has too many or one huge fault that surpasses any gains I might receive by using it. These birds are the ones that I eat or put into the layer pen.

 

[WyandotteTX]

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I too know of some people like that, but this is how I feel- the proof is in the pudding. A quality bird is a quality bird, regardless of what name is stuck on it. At the same time a poor quality bird is a poor quality bird. Even if you get them directly from the breeder, a ugly bird is a ugly bird. Anyhow, unless you get them straight from the source, it seems to be 'buyer beware' when it comes to claims of bloodlines.

Personally, I think more competition is better. A good competitor can always differentiate themselves by superior condition, consistent quality, etc. Another concern for me is that I'd rather get a little something out of them at this time... while I won't go the the length of selling large numbers of eggs, being in a school program with a schedule that has kept me from working right now I have to be able to get a couple bucks or a meal out of a bird in order to feed my birds or improve my stock.

My friend is a Master Breeder and Exhibitor in several varieties. His birds usually get best in class or better when they are shown. Its funny he gave me a pen of his "cull" Black Cochin bantams one time and truth be told they were the best Black Cochin bantams I had ever seen.....
He raises all bantams so that is part of the reason he doesnt sell them anywhere else also. Lots of people dont want to buy bantams for meat birds. He has scaled back his numbers alot in the past few years and only hatches out about 400 chicks each season. He is 80 years old now so when I say he is a longtime reputable breeder I mean he was getting best in show with his birds before most of us were born....haha.
I myself am of the same mind as Ropo.....a cull to me is something that I personally cannot use...BUT someone else might......a bad cull is on that has no distinguishable value to anyone other than to lay eggs or fill the deep freezer....

 

[VI KING RANCH]

Think of it this way if you don't call then it just makes life harder for those like me whom have spent years of refining breeds. I have been culling day olds since I was 14. I have no problem with it if you want your birds to get any where it has to happen because I can assure you that even after years of breeding you will not have as high of quality birds as me and if you cull young then take them to a wildlife rehab center they love my culls for their raptors. They will not be wasted and you will do a lot better with your birds if you cull. As the north American bantam association said "cull more than a lot if they aren't perfect they go" out of 100 birds you should have maybe five that are show quality and after many years of refining your breed you will notice the number being culled decrease.

 

[Katy]

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I don't think that's necessarily true. 99.9% of the people who come to the poultry auction don't give a hoot about show quality....they're looking for pretty or cute birds and layers. They wouldn't be looking to buy from a breeder anyway.

Most of the birds that I raise are slow maturing and except for comb type or wrong leg color it takes months or at the very least many weeks to see how they might mature out. I'd much rather my culls end up in someone's layer flock or freezer....just because they didn't make the breeder flock here doesn't mean they aren't worth something to someone.

I honestly think that some breeders are scared they're going to sell a potentail rival in the show ring than anything else.

 

[Gypsy07]

I can see both sides of that debate I suppose. The showinng thing isn't really relevant to me because I don't go to bird shows and I don't ever intend to show my own birds. I kinda disagree with the whole principle of breeding to show, especially with breeds that were bred for utility, cause with looks constantly taking precedence over egg size and laying ability and longevity, over time the breed's basic characteristics are bound to change. That's just my opinion though. Lots of people spend a lot of time showing their birds, and while I have great respect for the care and effort they put into it, it's just not for me.

The breed that I'm going to be working with was bred for utility and hardiness, and in the 1920s and 1930s was recorded as laying 200 large eggs a year, even in its fourth and fifth laying seasons. The birds that are left today look reasonably similar to the birds of yore, but for the most part they are now only average layers of small to medium size eggs. And I'm convinced that was caused mostly by people breeding the few remaining birds for looks and showing rather than focussing on the birds that were the most productive.

Anyway, I won't be scragging my incorrect single comb birds as day-olds. Not until I've tried really hard to rehome them in pet flocks first. And I really don't see how that could make life harder for the more 'serious' breeders out there. I just picked up one of my week-olds and felt his tiny little neck. So small and fragile. I couldn't break it, not unless he was sick or injured and it was for the best. I don't even like killing adults to eat. I must be a latent vegetarian. If I had to kill lots of chicks, I'd just give up my aims right now and go back to keeping hens just for the eggs...