sorry for the late reply Buster ,have done the same since i started in 2004 ,i have lost 3 yearling cocks in 8 years ,so yes ,you could say it wasnt a good thing. however i am sure i would have lost many more if i hadnt .
stock and old birds split for sometime now. youngsters together still ,will look to split them on Sunday after ive finished fitting out middle section ,latebreds to have 1 more trainer , then lockdown for Winter .
out in the garden this evening , a family of seven gold-finch feeding on the bean stalk,s and thistles .not seen such a sight for a good few years , made my day .