When do you cull your seasons hatch?

[everyday_farmlife]

This is probably the wrong section, apologies in advance if it is!
Are there any showies out there?
We have light sussex some of last seasons hatch are already showing u backs instead of straight ones...could these girls go already or would you keep until they mature? My thought is if they already have a u back it isn't going to improve? They are roughly 12 weeks old
Wyandottes is there anything you can cull (as in remote not kill) for in 3month olds? The current feedbill is atrocious and with show season around the corner I really want to weed out some of my sons 15 splash laced red pullets... I don't even know if he'll be able to enter the splash in the local Ag shows... but he'll need to keep the best to breed from is anyone else drowning in juvenile chickens my other son has just gotten into cream legbars... really Not looking forward to next breeding season!!!

 

[NatJ]

I'm sorry! LOL just realised cull over here means kill over there, sorry about that, I meant rehome/sell

Some people use it one way and some use it the other way, and it does get confusing.

 

[everyday_farmlife]

Don't cull them!!!! I'm sure someone out there would LOVE to take your Wyandotte and Light Sussex pullets!

I'm sorry! LOL just realised cull over here means kill over there, sorry about that, I meant rehome/sell

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You can cull for size using a scale. You can cull for leg color. Comb defects, though won't show up on Wyandotte until later age.

 

[SourRoses]

I feel ya.
For the last two years we've been constantly hatching for the sake of my projects (not showing). Culling decisions are hard. Made worse by the fact that some can look one way while they're growing and finish a lot different. It should be a bit easier within an established breed as the variety of growth patterns will be more limited and you get used to assessing them. The first year with a given breed or mix is the hardest.

"Is that one bigger because of a fast growth gene or legitimate finishing size?"
"Could that one be runty because of a docile personality so it's not pushing for food, or is it genetic?"

It seems like every trait has its own age where you can be sure. Often the first generation or two I've found myself keeping them all until maturity just to be sure. Twice, I've ended up picking a rooster I would have culled earlier, which hasn't done much for my selection confidence.

 

[saysfaa]

I'm sorry! LOL just realised cull over here means kill over there.

It seems to on this website quite often but doesn't in other communities over here. The traditional meaning over here doesn't indicate what happens to the selected individuals. I think the meaning is shifting because people want a euphemism for kill, slaughter, butcher, etc. and because many don't have enough farm contact to know about the traditional meaning.

 

[AprilWC]

Certainly you can start culling now. Reference the breed standard for traits such as eye and leg color. I can't say about how Sussex develop, but I do go ahead and mark my Jersey Giants as culls if their back isn't flat and straight by 3 months old. Do make sure the bird is relaxed. Some of mine will hold their tail too high if they are very alert or nervous about something.

 

[NatJ]

Comb defects, though won't show up on Wyandotte until later age.

Except single combs. Any of those would be visible early, and would definitely be a reason to cull in Wyandottes intended for showing.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Agree with all the posts
You can also cull any chicks that hatch that you can tell are not what your looking for.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Weights at an early age are consistent with later age. Definitely an early cull if you've a lot of birds. Can be done as early as 8 weeks.