How are chickens culled?

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

How are chickens culled?

Can they be given away if they are healthy and have nothing wrong with them?

There are lots of people who would take them in.

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:32 am

HI,
The term "culling" means many different things to many different people and is carried out in as many ways.
It also means removing from the breeding unit those fowls that fall short of a set requirement re type etc, they are not good enough or have faults, sometimes someone elses culls are better than what others have to breed from and can be a benifit to another breeder, this often is the case with very successful and serious breeders.
By all means if you can give them away do so, also sell them but as "culls" don't sell to new or unsuspecting buyers who think they can show them, make it clear they are pets or household layers.
The means of disposing of unwanted birds is a personal choice that is acceptable to you.
I often say the beauty of purebred fowls is you can eat your mistakes, and I often do.

PolishPets · **Joined:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:35 am **Posts:** 5

I have to add that some 'culls' CAN be show quality they are just surples to the breeders needs. I have sold many 'culls' that are show quality and they were sold because of an excess of a particular colour or roosters in excess.

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:29 am

Exactly !!
But in that sort of instance would not all them "culls" but "surplus to present needs".
As I said, culling means many things to many people.
There have been times I was very greatful for anothers culls, particularly if they embodied a characteristic my breeding required and would be benificial to my breeding plan.

PolishPets · **Joined:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:35 am **Posts:** 5

I agree but most if not all show breeders just use the term 'culls' regardless of the reason for disposing of them. Just didn't want new comers to think all culls are not show quality.

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:24 am

I think we are on the same page with this, PolishPets, just approaching it from opposite ends.
I just didn't want genuine "culls" sold off and the purchasers think they had bought quality purebreds cheap.
Many are fit to breed and show but many are only suitable as pets or backyard layers.
Thankfully many new enthusiasts come to APF for information but reading online adds there are a lot of worthless fowls passed off for good moey to unsuspecting newcomers.
This discussion has opened thier eyes to all possibilities and hopefully we can save someone the expense and heart ache of making a mistake.
Cheers.

PolishPets · **Joined:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:35 am **Posts:** 5

Oh yes I do agree with you I have seen a young breeder pay good money for quality polish culls only to be told by good breeders like myself that they are not because they have blue lobes and short upright crests, so you are so right they need to to cautious before parting with their money.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Thank you for the information about culling.

I did not want to "eggschange" my cockeral for a pullet as I thought the worst would happen to him and wondered if he would be "culled" and was not quite sure exactly what that meant. I could not separate him from his partner either and we had also grown very attached to him.

Now I understand that there are many different definitions and intrepretations of the word "cull", it doesn't have to mean death.

Ikell · **Joined:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:18 pm **Posts:** 1

I wondered the same when starting out 9 months ago and found this helpful.

In the breeding of pedigreed animals, both desirable and undesirable traits are considered when choosing which animals to retain for breeding and which to place as pets. The process of culling starts with examination of the conformation standard of the animal and will often include additional qualities such as health, robustness, temperament, color preference, etc. The breeder takes all things into consideration when envisioning his/her ideal for the breed or goal of their breeding program. From that vision, selections are made as to which animals, when bred, have the best chance of producing the ideal for the breed.[2]

Breeders of pedigreed animals cull based on many criteria. The first culling criterion should always be health and robustness. Secondary to health, temperament and conformation of the animal should be considered. The filtering process ending with the breeders personal preferences on pattern, color, etc.

This is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culling

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

I read the Wikipedia article and "oh my"... :cry:

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