Which cockerel should I keep?

A small update for all of you who helped me with loads of great advice. As I mentioned, I decided to keep them for now and see how it turns out. The roo that I liked but was at the bottom of the pecking order has worked his way to the top. The other two roos were constantly picking fights and the flock had split into 3 groups. But since the gentle cockerel has taken over there is almost no fighting at all the flock sticks together and looks much more relaxed. The other two still try to challenge him from time to time but it doesn't last long, and never gets physical. So thanks again for all the advice. Now that I don't have to worry about them wondering alone all over the place and/or hurting eachother I'll be keeping them a bit longer till they've matured enough for me to make a final decision. I know it's still too early to be sure, but I'm starting to think the gentle one is going to be the keeper. He keeps the flock together. He's kind to the other cockerels, he's never the one to start a fight and only stands up to them if they come looking for trouble. I've spotted him dancing around a little to impress the pullets a couple of times, but he hasn't tried anything yet.

As long as they're not fighting I'm not in a rush to make a decision anymore. But I don't have space to keep them all for very long though, especially with winter coming and there may be times that they're in the run all day. At what age can you be more sure of their personalities?
 
If you were interested in natural chickens you should only keep the dominant rooster. He is definitely healthier and he is more able to father superior chicks.

Why not order up a crippled sick roosters if your goal is to raise chickens who are unable to live without the local vet on your cellphone's speed dial.
 
If you were interested in natural chickens you should only keep the dominant rooster. He is definitely healthier and he is more able to father superior chicks.

Why not order up a crippled sick roosters if your goal is to raise chickens who are unable to live without the local vet on your cellphone's speed dial.

Sorry if I've offended you, but the two cockerels I'm trying to choose between are both very healthy. And I thought I made it clear I want to keep the dominant one. But as they are still young and the flock dynamic is still changing, my question was at what age can I be sure he will stay dominant?

May I kindly ask that you read the post properly before you jump to such conclusions. It's absolutely none of your business, but I never breed any chickens that have been ill or shown weakness. If you read my earlier posts you would also see that I live out in the middle of nowhere and take care of my own flock, there is no poultry vet out here. Sorry for the rant, but you caught me on a bad day your post was incredibly ignorant and insensitive. You don't know anything about me.
 
Since you are not breeding for show - you just want good layers, I'd not overthink the choice of cockerel. Please don't misunderstand me, you have had some very sound advice, but since you are facing some constraints, I'd go with whichever I preferred (be it temperament, looks etc). I was in your position a few weeks ago - and I just went with my gut. Eggs from every hen are fertile - job done.
 
Since you are not breeding for show - you just want good layers, I'd not overthink the choice of cockerel. Please don't misunderstand me, you have had some very sound advice, but since you are facing some constraints, I'd go with whichever I preferred (be it temperament, looks etc). I was in your position a few weeks ago - and I just went with my gut. Eggs from every hen are fertile - job done.

Thanks. Yeah, I'm mostly concerned about temperament. Can you tell this early how they'll turn out? From what some people have suggested it sounds like they can change quite a bit as they mature. But you are right, I am probably overthinking it
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My gut has been saying the second cockerel from the start and so far it seems to be working out that way.
 
Thanks. Yeah, I'm mostly concerned about temperament. Can you tell this early how they'll turn out? From what some people have suggested it sounds like they can change quite a bit as they mature. But you are right, I am probably overthinking it
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My gut has been saying the second cockerel from the start and so far it seems to be working out that way.

Not really, but go with your gut instinct.
 
In a flock situation you cannot tell how they will turn out. The dominant one will have certain duties and privileges that keep the others from showing how they would act in his place. If they get out of line he straightens them out and lets them know who is boss. If they go from subordinate to dominant, they can change. The constraints are off, their dominant personality comes through.

Even the dominant one can change when the others are removed. He no longer faces competition so he can relax more. They are living animals so I cannot guarantee anything about behavior, but usually these changes are for the better.

I’m constantly raising cockerels in my flock. When the hormones hit those cockerels and they start harassing the adult hens, the hens typically run to the dominant rooster. Just his presence is usually enough to scare off the cockerels, though he does some chasing. I’ve never had a chicken hurt in any of this, but that dominant rooster can be worn to a frazzle. When he is that tired his personality can change. Just having competition can cause a rooster to be more forceful.

From the posts you read on here you can come away with the opinion that roosters are a huge problem and you can expect disaster more often than not, even with just one rooster. Most of those posts come from people that keep their flocks in fairly small space. You have all kinds of room. Your chickens are allowed to live very much as chickens. They have split into three flocks. Even as juveniles things are pretty peaceful. It’s hard to overemphasize how important room is to chicken behaviors. When you remove two of those cockerels things will change. Flock dynamics will be different. They may all merge back into one flock. They may continue as separate flocks, at least to a certain extent. I don’t know what will happen. But regardless of which you choose, don’t expect disaster. That is unlikely. You are not in the same situation as the vast majority of us on this forum, you free range. They have all kinds of room. And it does not sound like you are making pets of them so they don’t have the human interaction most on here do.

I tend to overthink things too, but I agree with CT. Go with your gut unless you see something really wrong with one. Odds are you will be OK.
 
It sounds to me like the new head roo is the keeper.
Just one thing: apart from behavior towards people, behavior towards the hens is also important.
I had a human aggressive head roo who was good with the hens but I had to let him go, and the remaining roo was fine with me but a brute with the hens - no dancing, ever! just a neck grab - and they never warmed up to him. So I let him go, too, leaving me roosterless.
Sounds like your head roo is good in both respects - good luck!
 
In a flock situation you cannot tell how they will turn out. The dominant one will have certain duties and privileges that keep the others from showing how they would act in his place. If they get out of line he straightens them out and lets them know who is boss. If they go from subordinate to dominant, they can change. The constraints are off, their dominant personality comes through.

Even the dominant one can change when the others are removed. He no longer faces competition so he can relax more. They are living animals so I cannot guarantee anything about behavior, but usually these changes are for the better.

I’m constantly raising cockerels in my flock. When the hormones hit those cockerels and they start harassing the adult hens, the hens typically run to the dominant rooster. Just his presence is usually enough to scare off the cockerels, though he does some chasing. I’ve never had a chicken hurt in any of this, but that dominant rooster can be worn to a frazzle. When he is that tired his personality can change. Just having competition can cause a rooster to be more forceful.

From the posts you read on here you can come away with the opinion that roosters are a huge problem and you can expect disaster more often than not, even with just one rooster. Most of those posts come from people that keep their flocks in fairly small space. You have all kinds of room. Your chickens are allowed to live very much as chickens. They have split into three flocks. Even as juveniles things are pretty peaceful. It’s hard to overemphasize how important room is to chicken behaviors. When you remove two of those cockerels things will change. Flock dynamics will be different. They may all merge back into one flock. They may continue as separate flocks, at least to a certain extent. I don’t know what will happen. But regardless of which you choose, don’t expect disaster. That is unlikely. You are not in the same situation as the vast majority of us on this forum, you free range. They have all kinds of room. And it does not sound like you are making pets of them so they don’t have the human interaction most on here do.

I tend to overthink things too, but I agree with CT. Go with your gut unless you see something really wrong with one. Odds are you will be OK.

Thanks, I really appreciate getting a different perspective, it helps a lot.
 
It sounds to me like the new head roo is the keeper.
Just one thing: apart from behavior towards people, behavior towards the hens is also important.
I had a human aggressive head roo who was good with the hens but I had to let him go, and the remaining roo was fine with me but a brute with the hens - no dancing, ever! just a neck grab - and they never warmed up to him. So I let him go, too, leaving me roosterless.
Sounds like your head roo is good in both respects - good luck!

Thanks, hope he stays that way
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