Friendly rooster breeds

[Molnut]

Hello,
I'm getting about 50 chicks to add to my existing flock of 14 hens and a rooster. I am planning to get 3 new roosters for a ratio of about 15 hens/rooster.
I have now an adult EE or Ameraucana (not sure which, he is a rescue).

I would like to add :

1 Golden Cuckoo Maran
1 Blue laced Red Wyandotte
1 Spitzhauben

The Spitz is smaller and I'm hoping will give me more Spitz since I have one hen. I have read that Spitz are flighty and like to roost in trees. There are no trees around, so we are covered.

Hoping for brown and olive eggs with the Cuckoo.

The Blue laced Wyandotte is just beautiful and I have silver and golden Wyandottes.

Would this be a workable arrangement or which other breeds do you recommend?

I am hoping for a fairly civil assimilation since the 3 roos will be juvenile and raised togheter.

Thanks

 

[Mrs. K]

That is quite a jump in your numbers. A bit off topic, but here is an idea you might consider. I would not add 50 all at once, I would add 25 this year, 25 the next. This will give you three different ages in your flock. A multi generational flock, is a much more stable flock, and will generally have more birds laying even in the dark days of winter, if your pullets start early enough, generally speaking.

The problem of getting 50 this year, if that maxes out your space, well then in three years you have mostly very old 3 and 4 year old hens. Some may die before that, but older hens do not lay that well, and I find that often time their egg quality also decreases. So then you will be needing to do a massive cull, and new chicks.

If this does not max out your set up, well then, not a big deal.

Mrs K

 

[chicklover 1998]

spitz can be flighty but with some love as a chick they will be people friendly as adults, wyandottes are fairly laid back and, marans have nice dark eggs so hopefully he will have some good offspring.

 

[Molnut]

Thanks chicklover.
I have red that Cuckoo Maran roosters are laid back. Do you know, by any chance, if it's the case for all Cuckoo roosters?

 

[Molnut]

I meant all types of Cuckoo roosters (cooper, gold, etc) not all Cuckoo roosters. That didn't come out right earlier.

 

[chicklover 1998]

I think that it is the case for most cuckoo roos.

 

[wamtazlady]

Last year when I was researching roosters I discovered the Salmon Faverolles. I loved the look. Loved that they are laid back. Had a bad experience a few years ago with a cockerel that got people aggressive. The Salmon Faverolles I have has never shown any people aggression at all. He calls the girls any time he finds something good for them to eat. At night he tries to herd them back into the coop. I'm pleased with him.

 

[Blooie]

Just remember one thing. Like people, they are all different. While some breeds of roos are indeed predisposed to be friendly, any roo of any breed or variety can suddenly turn on a dime. I had it happen. It hurt for several reasons - because of the injury I sustained, the fact that he turned at all after he'd always been so amazingly gentle, and the fact that with 2 disabled granddaughers I had no choice but to cull him to prevent him from hurting them.

 

[Molnut]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to get my roos and hope for the best. We can plan but so far.

 

[RockyFieldsFarm]

Just remember one thing.  Like people, they are all different.  While some breeds of roos are indeed predisposed to be friendly, any roo of any breed or variety can suddenly turn on a dime.  I had it happen.  It hurt for several reasons -  because of the injury I sustained, the fact that he turned at all after he'd always been so amazingly gentle, and the fact that with 2 disabled granddaughers I had no choice but to cull him to prevent him from hurting them.

Yes, this! I had a flock of Golden Comets and they were crazy. Like full fledged crazy! They were disemboweling each other, even when treats and distractions were added to the coop... I had to cull the entire flock. It was terrible. But I know some of my fellow chicken friends who have had great flocks of GC... I'll never have then again!!