"katy" wrote in message

When you buy a chick package, it's much cheaper to get unsexed and just
kill off the roosters at about 6-8 months....

That may apply when you buy chicks... but we breed and hatch to suit our
turnover. That's the benifit of a rooster in the flock. We incubate and hand
raise ass the poultry except for mest birds. Then again, meat birds are
generally all male. For the extra roosters in our incubated hatch, I wait
until their plummage comes in and supply the ornate feathers to fly tyers
and whoever is interested.

You did your kill off in the spring? Most people I know do that in
October or November so you don't have to winter over and so that you're
not killing off moulting birds...

My birds moulted in December. Mind you they have a heated Hen House. They
are free ranged for a half day and return to roost at night. Alternately I
have a 12x12 coop attached with metal roof to offer a secure outdoor area.

I have a variety of heritage varieties, including Old English Bantam Game
Birds as well as Guinea fowl.

CM