Judge My Roosters

I'm trying to figure out which roos to keep. I have about 5 of the RIR's and looks like 7 or more in the BA's. I'm new to chickens and Bee suggested I post this so I can get some help in figuring out which ones to keep since I'm clueless here and don't really know what to look for. Also I am going to have to band their legs since most all of them look a like to me and I can't tell them apart. I have two of them with the black feathering around their necks like this one. They are 3 months old now and the BA's are 2 weeks younger than the RIR's.

This is number one..... I'm sure hoping I get it pegged right....looks like a roo to me. ;-) This one wants to hang with me.



another one of number one.



side close up view of number one, but a little blurry. sorry



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This is Goliath......



another one of Goliath.



Goliath again....


and another of Goliath.






When I get the bands on the others I will post some more pix.


I like the looks of this one and I THINK it is a roo as well. It's a black australorp. So let's call this one Number 1 BA. It stands tall and proud and looks so mean. lol



Another pic of number 1 BA.





I think I want to keep two of the RIR roos and only one of the BA's. I'm wondering IF this would cause a problem though having 3 roos? I have 10 RIR pullets and not sure on the BA's yet but don't think I am going to keep but 3-4 of the BA pullets anyway so this is why I was thinking only one roo for them. Was HOPING to be able to let them all be together and not separate them since this would make it much easier for me.




They have a fairly large pen as you can see. This is the back side of it and is part of the run. Where the black one is at the top of the pic is starting to be deep litter in that area. That part isn't covered in tin but the part where their food is, that part is covered. The black one in the bottom of the pic is close to where the door is going into their roosting area. I lock them all up in the roosting area at night and they get turned out about 9-10 a.m. into the run or out to free range.
Their run is a good 70-80' long. Then there is another fenced off area where you see the PVC pipes sticking out toward the top left of the pic. So I think I have enough space they could all get away from each other if there was some fighting started. What do you all think? Would 3 roos be too many to keep?

opps sorry I forgot to subscribe so I can find this.

Are these hatchery stock? I see too much variations, such in feather colors and patterns. And differences in structures. I am not too knowledgable but to compare it with the RIR thread and the NH thread and the BA thread, something tells me "It's not there" feeling. It all boils down what goals you want out of these roosters and what do you want to do as in goals...do you want to raise just backyard stock or exhibition stock or production stock?

Can anyone help this lady to choose the best roo? Or need to find something better if she has the means for it.

The second pic of the BA, looks more blue, as in Blue Australorp, but I dont see enough RED in his face to justify for an Aussie. Maybe a Blue Andalusian??? (I don't see white earlobes at this point and it may not be one). The blacker, and purple/green sheen of the Australorp and having some Orpington traits is what you want to select.

Personally I would not use any of the Aussies.

EweSheep said:

Are these hatchery stock? I see too much variations, such in feather colors and patterns. And differences in structures. I am not too knowledgable but to compare it with the RIR thread and the NH thread and the BA thread, something tells me "It's not there" feeling. It all boils down what goals you want out of these roosters and what do you want to do as in goals...do you want to raise just backyard stock or exhibition stock or production stock?

Can anyone help this lady to choose the best roo? Or need to find something better if she has the means for it.

Click to expand...

I got them from my nephew and I don't know if they're hatchery or not. Not going to be showing them but I might decide I want some babies from them at some point and I know I wont be able to keep them all so I will need to sale some of them I'm sure. We mainly got chicks for fresh eggs right now. Nephew said they were the old dark RIR's.
I banded 4 this evening and looks like I have 1-2 more roos than I thought I had. I didn't have enough bands made so I am making more.
I am new to chickens and just don't know WHAT to look for to pick out the best one to keep. I don't want to get rid of the wrong ones.
Thank you two for your response.

RIR
Keep # 1
Although he does need a tail feather pulled. From what I can see in this pic. he looks the best
Shape Male

Comb: Single, moderately large, set firmly on head, straight and upright, with five even and well defined points, those in front and rear smaller than those in the Center: blade smooth inclining slightly downward following contour of the skull.

Comb: Rose , moderately large, firm on head ; oval, free from hollow center, surface covered with small rounded points, terminating in a spike at the rear, the spike drooping slightly but not conforming too closely to the shape of head.

Bead: Medium length, slightly curved.

Face: Clean cut, skin fine and soft in texture, free from wrinkles.

Eyes: large, full and prominent.

Wattles: Medium size, uniform, free from folds or wrinkles.

Ear Lobes: Oblong, well defined, smooth.

Head: Medium in length, fairly deep, inclined to be flat on the top rather than round.

Neck: Medium length.

Hackle: Abundant, flowing over shoulders, not too closely feathered.

Back: Long, moderately broad its entire length, carried horizontally. Saddle: moderately broad, feathers of medium length, moderately abundant, blending into tail.

Tail: Medium length, well spread carried at an angle of twenty degrees above horizontal.

Main Tail: broad and overlapping.

Main Sickles: medium length, broad, extending slightly beyond mail tail feathers.

Lesser Sickles: medium length, broad, extending slightly beyond main tail feathers. Lesser Sickles and Tail Coverts medium length , broad and overlapping.

Wings: Good size, well folded, carried horizontal

As for the other rooster I have nothing to compare him to. I would need more pics of him.

Got some more of them banded this evening and I got the scratches to prove it.

This is some of the bands I made for their legs.



Here's number 7 on the RIR. He has a little of his fermented food on him. lol



and # 6.


Another one of #6.



Working on banding them all and had to make more bands. I really like being able to tell them apart with the bands.



They're starting to try to crow now and it's so funny. They are finally 3 months old now and then the BA's are 2 weeks behind them. They are smaller than the RIR's. Their legs are much smaller. I had to make smaller bands for them. Although I did notice some of them have larger legs so I'm WONDERING IF these are the roo's?

I like number one as well...and for the second rooster, I'd pick number 7. I'd keep only 2 roosters...one top cock and one for a back up. Though I love the BA breed, that rooster doesn't impress me much.

I hope this helps, Rose Marie!!!

kkowa said:

RIR
Keep # 1
Although he does need a tail feather pulled. From what I can see in this pic. he looks the best
Shape Male

Comb: Single, moderately large, set firmly on head, straight and upright, with five even and well defined points, those in front and rear smaller than those in the Center: blade smooth inclining slightly downward following contour of the skull.

Comb: Rose , moderately large, firm on head ; oval, free from hollow center, surface covered with small rounded points, terminating in a spike at the rear, the spike drooping slightly but not conforming too closely to the shape of head.

Bead: Medium length, slightly curved.

Face: Clean cut, skin fine and soft in texture, free from wrinkles.

Eyes: large, full and prominent.

Wattles: Medium size, uniform, free from folds or wrinkles.

Ear Lobes: Oblong, well defined, smooth.

Head: Medium in length, fairly deep, inclined to be flat on the top rather than round.

Neck: Medium length.

Hackle: Abundant, flowing over shoulders, not too closely feathered.

Back: Long, moderately broad its entire length, carried horizontally. Saddle: moderately broad, feathers of medium length, moderately abundant, blending into tail.

Tail: Medium length, well spread carried at an angle of twenty degrees above horizontal.

Main Tail: broad and overlapping.

Main Sickles: medium length, broad, extending slightly beyond mail tail feathers.

Lesser Sickles: medium length, broad, extending slightly beyond main tail feathers. Lesser Sickles and Tail Coverts medium length , broad and overlapping.

Wings: Good size, well folded, carried horizontal

As for the other rooster I have nothing to compare him to. I would need more pics of him.

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THANK YOU! Now this is the kind of info I need so I will KNOW WHAT I need to be looking for. I KNOW these are not perfect ones but you gotta do what you gotta do and try to pick out the best outta what ya got. I noticed some of the cockerels toes are turned and I finally figured out that I need to not keep those because I might wind up hatching some like that. New at all this so I can use all the help I can get.

ALSO I gotta ask, since I have no clue, what's a bead? HOW am I to know if I don't ask.

By the way, I've been pulling feathers out since you said this because I didn't know I was suppose to be messing with their feathers.

Been seeing some that were sticking out. I think they are trying to molt because feathers are every where.

EweSheep said:

Are these hatchery stock? I see too much variations, such in feather colors and patterns. And differences in structures. I am not too knowledgable but to compare it with the RIR thread and the NH thread and the BA thread, something tells me "It's not there" feeling. It all boils down what goals you want out of these roosters and what do you want to do as in goals...do you want to raise just backyard stock or exhibition stock or production stock?

Can anyone help this lady to choose the best roo? Or need to find something better if she has the means for it.

Click to expand...

Thank you EweSheep!!