AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

I would like to know the early tell tail signs of a good show fowl from a chick so I can cull the others and not have to wait until they are full grown. Is there certain things I should be looking for

I was looking for similar info 12 months ago but ended up talking to the club I think you should do the same as they can help with someone coming out and showing you

CottLodge,
Without knowing which breed your are looking to cull it is a little hard as each breed has its own traits and characterstics. Lets us know and that way advise can be tailored to the specific breed.
Culling your chickens is a task that needs to be done very carefully. As you mentioned you really only want to keep the "good" ones.
This knowledge is generally only learnt by studying your brids over a few years to understand your particular strain of the breed. However there are some traits that will enable even to novice to see and cull with little fear they are culling good chicks.

Look at thing like feet and toes - Are they all straight, are they the correct colour i.e pads white or pink as required, correct amount of toes, any feathers where they should not be.
Heads, are there any deformities i.e. twisted beaks, side sprigs on combs, missing serrations or too many for specific breed. (usually done for cockerels before pullets as they mature earlier),
Are any of the chickens weakly or lacks vigour or small
Feathering and noticable defromities - twisted wings feathers.

They are some of the basis. Once you get to know your birds and their specific traits you will start to see which traits are good and those that just don't make it.

I have several indicators I look for in my RIRs, but after over 25 years breeding them should have learnt something.

Rhode Red

Rooster for me stand proud from a week old so that for me is one way to tell but for roosters of course

That is very helpful Rhode Red they are bearded silky's buy the way sorry should have said that

Worth a separate quote as its good info



LooLoo

So do chooks that have bent toes breed chicks with bent toes?

Katy,

Generally bent toes are hereditary, a genetic trait that is passed from parents. While sometimes you get chicks that hatch in an incubator with bend toes because they we slow to hatch because the temperature or humidity was incorrect.
Unless you have NO (conf665), other option available and you are willing to risk the disappointment (short and long term) and potentially more bent toed birds, I would not and do not breed from bent toes birds.
RR