3 choices of roo... which to pick??

[MommaOrp]

currently my hen to roo ratio is lacking! i have too many roo's without a doubt, my free rangers (not my penned up breeding stock) at present is 3 roo's to 9 hens

as my welsummer roo has had to find a home. i've never yet managed to balance it correctly due to one thing and another but their all really happy together, the only thing is my hens are beginning to look a little beaten up but over the last two days i've managed to downsize my roo stock a little so they should have a chance to re cooperate!

 

[goosemama]

I would definitely choose the BR and RR that way you will get some purebred BR chicks from those hens mated with the BR roo and unlike the Leghorn he will produce a heavier chick so that you could use any future males from him as fryers at 5 months of age. The Leghorn is so light weight, they are not good for anything but soup even at a 5 month age. I've had Welsummer roos too (4 mistakenly sent in a pullet order). The one was sooooooooo nasty = attacked me every time my back was turned while his 3 other siblings who were heavier than he was, were as calm as could be. He and they obviously were sold to someone for meat birds and I opted for a Buff Orpington roo when I bought 6 BO pullets. He is big and heavyset so produces purebred BO's with my BO hens but good crossbred chicks with my Barred Rocks, Delawares and Cinnamon Queens. Have some straight run BRock chicks just hatched and I may save a roo from them to use in the flock as they will produce good egg layers and good fryers too.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

keep the barred rock first, then if you need another keep the rhode island red. barred rocks throw some pretty neat mixes! i bred a barred rock and golden comet and got a white bird with faint yellow barring!

 

[megg902]

Thanks for all the wonderful information. Im hearing a pretty clear BR at number 1 and if i go with a second roo the RIR. I guess i didnt realize just how big the BR would be. Makes me very happy to know i have lots of options also. Thanks again eveyone!

 

[dretd]

Quote:
I think either choice would be great, but I would personally go with the RIR over the BR if he has a decent temperament because it is really handy to have sex links--I guess I would ask myself what my goal was and use that as my decision-maker.