Every now and then I immerse myself in different breeding topics on the forum. I thought it would be a good idea to hear from the most experienced breeders out there regarding the following topic: Earlobe color
The APA standard calls for earlobes to be "red, except female earlobes which are to be very pale, matching the color of skin."
Under disqualifications, the standard states that "in breeds where a red earlobe is specified, a positive enamel white is a disqualification."
Positive enamel white is defined as "permanent white in the earlobes where red is required. The term is not intended to include paleness of ear-obes due to poor condition, nor any slight white appearance which lacks the satin-like characteristic of the ear lobe of rose comb bantams."
My primary question is, at what age do you typically cull for incorrect earlobe color? I know progression may vary from line to line. My line tends to be slow to develop. I often have several late bloomers. My chicks tend to hatch with skin colored earlobes, and the earlobes of the cockerels turn red many months later.
Is there a period of time that you give cockerels, and if they don't turn red by that point, you consider them culls? Also, if a cockerel ends up with skin colored earlobes, but no enamel white it present, is he still a definite cull?
Thanks for your time.