Best Rooster breed?

[gunslinger33]

In My Opinion I would stay clear from the mass hatcheries in your rooster search. Most of the mass hatcheries focus on volume and not necessarily correct breed characteristics or proper standard such as temperament. You do not have to want to show your chickens to search for desirable breed type and temperament is one of those desirable types. Each animal will have it's own personality but in general terms some breeds are less people aggressive than others.

Make sure you spend the time looking and reading about the different characteristics of each breed you are considering. You have plenty of time to make your decision on what breed is best for your needs. You will find that asking what breed is the best is like asking who do you like better Ford , Chevy or Ram. We all have had good and bad experiences with various breeds but that does not make the individual you buy good or bad.

Both of my roosters will allow anyone to walk in their pen without any aggression. I think some of this has to do with the amount of time we spend with them and some has to do with more selective breeding. Are they good flock protectors? I do not know since they aren't allowed to free range because we have some stray dogs in our area. They are alert to ANYTHING abnormal, especially anything in the air. They are quick to give an alarm growl.

The Orp is the head rooster but both do breed the girls. They get along for the most part considering my numbers are a little low, 6 hens with 2 roos. I will add some additional girls in the spring to better balance the ratio.

I would try to find a local quality breeder that can give you some feedback on their breeding roosters. I would also try to find a local breeder that has the other breeds you are interested in.

If you are specifically looking for a rooster I might suggest looking into the auto sexing breeds , so you are sure to get a rooster in the specific auto sexing breed of interest. Most breeds that end with BAR (Welbar, Legbar, Rhodebar) are auto sexing.

Some breeds I would suggest looking into:
Chantecler
Bielefelder
Isbar
Swedish Flower Hen
Welsummer
Barnvelder
Niederrheiner
Marranuna Basque
Jersey Giant
Russian Orloff

More common breeds of possible interest
Orpington
Sussex
Brahma
Cochin
Marans

 

[Elsveta641]

I'm actually trying to breed just what you're wanting, because I'm sick of things eating my birds too lol. Everyone is. Theyll be the size of large geese and very protective. And just to make things more fun, it will be fibro and lay boatloads of green and blue eggs! My largest male is 28 inches tall and 18lbs. And he's not done growing!
In the mean time based on the research I've done, what you probably need is a Liege Fighter. They aren't easy or cheap to get a hold of, but worth it. This guy is over 2 feet tall and about 12/13 lbs. He is smart, calm, defensive of his hens and friendly to people(typical of the breed)

 

[gunslinger33]

I’m curious to know what you are using to cross with you LF to get colored eggs and still keep size? All of the colored egg layers I know of are medium sized large fowl , about 1/3 the size of your LF.

 

[Elsveta641]

I’m curious to know what you are using to cross with you LF to get colored eggs and still keep size? All of the colored egg layers I know of are medium sized large fowl , about 1/3 the size of your LF.

18lb olive egger/Cochin mix is my other rooster. They're over 4th generation blue layers, fibro Jersey Giant and Brahma cross

 

[Elsveta641]

I just had to brag on this big rooster again, sorry lol. I love him to death hehehe

 

[cmom]

I think it boils down to what you want to breed. There are many breeds that have nice fellows. I have noticed that hatchery males seemed more aggressive then my pure breeds. I hatch a lot of chicks out each year and I do sell my excess males. I grow them all out and pick out the ones I want to use as breeders and sell the rest. It helps to recoup some of the feed costs. We have a couple of monthly farm swaps. I take my extra males to the swaps and sell them. I do have a few in my freezer. Usually when I take my birds to one of the swaps I post it on Craigslist and have had good luck selling them.

 

[gunslinger33]

18lbs is a definite giant. I don’t think even that size would deter some of the ground predators but I don’t think the avian type would take a chance with him.

I hope to increase my rooster size also. My two are big but I wouldn’t consider them giant sized.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Get your rooster too large and you might have to worry about accidental injury to hens when breeding.

To me... The salmon Faverolles grow to slow and have small eggs. Wouldn't be MY choice.. feed cost is a factor for me as well. Don't think I would be willing to feed an 18 pounder long term.

 

[Elsveta641]

Get your rooster too large and you might have to worry about accidental injury to hens when breeding.

To me... The salmon Faverolles grow to slow and have small eggs. Wouldn't be MY choice.. feed cost is a factor for me as well. Don't think I would be willing to feed an 18 pounder long term.

No worries. His hens are huge lol. And his beautiful babies pay for most of his food! He's a gentle giant. Got beat up by a hen yesterday lol

 

[nateboussad]

Depends on what you want them for. Eggs,meat,showing,dual purpose.