When to cull?

[Kidhenduckohmy]

Sorry, I think I am writing while you are posting.

 

[song of joy]

I wonder....do you use leg bands to keep track of what year they were purchased? Some of mine are very distinct and I know when I got them, but if I get another batch of leghorns (which I am planning) I do not think I will be able to tell them all apart. Right now all my leghorns names are Lucy.

Song of joy and Nupe , So the chickens I purchased as pullets in 2012 should have been culled last fall?

Yes, sometimes I use leg bands to keep track of individuals of the same breed that are different ages. When I do this, I always band the oldest age-class, because in doing so, they will be wearing the bands for a relatively short period of time (approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years, until they are culled). My preference is to use bandettes, as the spiral rings tend to have very sharp, pointy ends. You just need to be sure they fit appropriately or the band could cause an injury or lameness. I look at the bands every day or two to make sure they are in the correct position, but I've never had any problems with them.

In response to your other question, I think so. Was the pullet approx. 6 months old in the fall of 2012? If so, that would make it around 3 1/2 years old now. So, yes, you would have wanted to cull it last fall, if you want to cull your hens at 2 1/2 years old.

Based on detailed tracking records, I've noticed that my higher-production breeds (RIR, barred rock) lay about 6.5 eggs/week their first year, and 4.5 eggs/week their second year. That's why I usually cull at 2 1/2 years of age. I'll be keeping a barred rock to see what her production is like during her third year, but I'm guessing it will only be around 2.5 eggs/week, considering the rate of decline from year 1 to year 2.

 

[song of joy]

I have about 40 chickens ranging in age from 3 to young pullets. It seems like I always get about 12 -14 eggs. Mostly white as I have 14 leghorns. I need advice on how to manage my flock. I feel like I am always feeding way more chickens than what I am getting eggs.
For those who cull according to egg production, how do you keep your flock rotated? Is there a certain age that you cull? A certain time you get more chicks?
Currently I have leghorns, RIR, Ameracauna, EE, orpingtons, black copper marans and a mutt.
Subtracting pullets and roosters I have about 35 hens, how many eggs are reasonable to expect during summer?

If you have 35 hens and are getting 13 eggs/day, that's 91 eggs/week, which works out to 2.6 eggs/hen/week. That does seem pretty low.

In the spring/summer when they're all in production, a better laying average would be around 5 eggs/hen/week, which would work out to 25 eggs/day.

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

If you have 35 hens and are getting 13 eggs/day, that's 91 eggs/week, which works out to 2.6 eggs/hen/week.  That does seem pretty low.

In the spring/summer when they're all in production, a better laying average would be around 5 eggs/hen/week, which would work out to 25 eggs/day.  

That's what I was thinking we should be getting too, but it just never happens.

So, now I have a plan! Check their food, cut out so many treats, deworm and make lots of soup! I even called hubby to pick up some wild rice.

I am going to be looking into those bands you use. I have seen the spiral ones, as some of my chicks had them on when I purchased them. They were a bugger to get off those tiny legs!

Thank you so much for all the information!

 

[song of joy]

You're very welcome. Cutler Supply seems to have the best prices on bandettes. Most of my hens use a size 11 band, but the smaller hens (EE) use a size 9. I think they probably have a sizing guide posted for various breeds.

I grew up in Wyoming, MI . . . so it's nice to meet someone else from Michigan.

 

[Nupe]

Song of joy and Nupe , So the chickens I purchased as pullets in 2012 should have been culled last fall?

For me, they would be culled this year. 20 chickens, 4 groups of 5.

I don't use leg bands. I've just been getting different breeds each year. 4 groups isn't much to keep up with and I like a multi colored flock with multi colored eggs.

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

...

For me, they would be culled this year. 20 chickens, 4 groups of 5. 

I don't use leg bands. I've just been getting different breeds each year. 4 groups isn't much to keep up with and I like a multi colored flock with multi colored eggs.
[/quote
I am going to start culling my oldest, and changing the other things you mentioned too. Starting with the deworming! Do I have to wait two weeks before eating a dewormed chicken?

Some of mine I will not need bands, but my leghorns, definatly! I love the different egg colors too! This year I added, Ameracaunas and black copper marans. I have plans to breed some olive Eggers too!

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

I grew up in Wyoming, MI . . . so it's nice to meet someone else from Michigan.   

I had to look up where Wyoming Mi was. Did you ever make it above the bridge?

 

[song of joy]

I had to look up where Wyoming Mi was.

Did you ever make it above the bridge?

Yes, I have wonderful memories of Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls. The UP is a beautiful place.

 

[Nupe]

Sorry, I missed this question. Most meat birds never get wormed because they don't normally live long enough to gain an unhealthy worm load, but yes, at least 2 weeks before butchering. If I knew I was butchering an unwanted cockerel or hen, I probably wouldn't bother worming them at all. You're just potentially contaminating the meat before removing all the parts that the worms are infesting anyway.

I think next year, I'm going to be a bit torn. I love the different shades of brown eggs with the dark brown spots but my Welsummers have never thrived like the rest of the flock (all hatchery birds). In peak season I was lucky to get 2 or 3 eggs from them a day and I lost one seemingly for no reason last summer. My SLWs are my cranky little bullies (which the new roo is handling well),they're my most reliable layers but their eggs are all an identical tan color. I've been wanting to add some dark chocolate eggs as well as some olive eggs. I think the most logical course of action would be to build a bigger coop.

Now I just need to convince the hubby of my genius.