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Don't count on ending up with an even number of pullets and roos. Out of 37 chicks I hatched out of my BLRWs last fall I've got about 5 pullets. So much for the old wives tale that you hatch more pullets by hatching in the fall! Those 50/50 averages are based on hatching hundreds of chicks.
How long you need to keep the cockerals depends on how picky you are about what you want for your roosters. If you're not breeding to the standard then you can let go of some sooner rather than later. Some breeds don't fully mature until they're well over a year old. At 12 weeks you aren't going to be able tell a lot about how they're going to be as adults. I cull out anyone who has the wrong type comb or other obvious flaws early on but the potential keepers I generally keep until they're at least 9 months if not longer.
I sell my excess roos at my local poultry auction.
Don't count on ending up with an even number of pullets and roos. Out of 37 chicks I hatched out of my BLRWs last fall I've got about 5 pullets. So much for the old wives tale that you hatch more pullets by hatching in the fall! Those 50/50 averages are based on hatching hundreds of chicks.
How long you need to keep the cockerals depends on how picky you are about what you want for your roosters. If you're not breeding to the standard then you can let go of some sooner rather than later. Some breeds don't fully mature until they're well over a year old. At 12 weeks you aren't going to be able tell a lot about how they're going to be as adults. I cull out anyone who has the wrong type comb or other obvious flaws early on but the potential keepers I generally keep until they're at least 9 months if not longer.
I sell my excess roos at my local poultry auction.
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