BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[ejcrist]

I guess I'm looking for reasons not to cull him. His best attribute is most definitely his looks. His personality is so-so. He actually went through a pretty nasty period where he was almost constantly biting me, but since including him in the same pen as my "three amigos", three exceptionally sweet roosters that I totally adore, they've set him straight. No biting the mother clucker!

I actually have 1 blue egg laying NN and 1 mint green laying NN and 1 olive egger NN, all with single combs, good meat, and sweet personalities. I know I could use this guy to give me more black feathered birds that also lay blue to green eggs...but I'm just not sure if it's worth the effort.

As an FYI, I've got 18 roosters to 52 hens, with most of the roosters penned up together in their own runs and 5 primaries caring for the girls. That's a lot of crowing.

You've got 18 roosters? Bless your heart - I wish I had that many. With 18 in inventory I'd definitely have to say pass the salt!

 

[stryker]

and pepper!

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I guess I'm looking for reasons not to cull him. His best attribute is most definitely his looks. His personality is so-so. He actually went through a pretty nasty period where he was almost constantly biting me, but since including him in the same pen as my "three amigos", three exceptionally sweet roosters that I totally adore, they've set him straight. No biting the mother clucker!

I actually have 1 blue egg laying NN and 1 mint green laying NN and 1 olive egger NN, all with single combs, good meat, and sweet personalities. I know I could use this guy to give me more black feathered birds that also lay blue to green eggs...but I'm just not sure if it's worth the effort.

As an FYI, I've got 18 roosters to 52 hens, with most of the roosters penned up together in their own runs and 5 primaries caring for the girls. That's a lot of crowing.

In that case......... I would have culled him, with regrets for his beautiful colour, for biting. Only nice roosters get to stay, I don't want nasty in my flock since it's a heritable trait. Eighteen roosters is a lot if they aren't waiting to be invited for dinner if the crowing is getting to you! You could always try breeding for more of that colour by crossing a good tempered red naked neck rooster to your australorp.
I'm having a tough time culling too, even though I know most have to go it's a difficult thing to do when they have something about them that I like.
But if your hubby likes the fellow and his behaviour has improved, are there any other roosters who could go, that neither of you would miss too much- to make room?

 

[Beekissed]

I'd cull him....and all the extras. What a racket!!!

Can 'em into a jar and they'll be a tender addition to soups all winter long.

 

[Beer can]

Me personally, one rooster is enough, have to have one at least. I'm keeping a few now for breeding purposes. All other's are meat no matter how pretty they are. Was hoping to have a bunch of capons, prepared a bunch awhile ago, giant's, giant silkie crosses, and naked necks. I failed, scratched the surface of the first NN and choked, just couldn't do it. Maybe next time. Just going to grow them out a little more and process them all young.

 

[Beer can]

Thanks to all for the nail trimming tips, glad I asked here, never heard of it before, going to give it a go.

 

[Beekissed]

Me personally, one rooster is enough, have to have one at least. I'm keeping a few now for breeding purposes. All other's are meat no matter how pretty they are. Was hoping to have a bunch of capons, prepared a bunch awhile ago, giant's, giant silkie crosses, and naked necks. I failed, scratched the surface of the first NN and choked, just couldn't do it. Maybe next time. Just going to grow them out a little more and process them all young.

I'm good with one as well. One really good rooster is enough for me, with his offspring being grown out from early spring to November, so if something were to happen to him suddenly while he's out foraging and such, one of his replacements are on hand for the better part of each year. During winter I just take that one good rooster forward, to breed another potential replacement again the next spring. When he gets too long in the tooth...uh...beak....I just save the best of his boys of spring and can up the old guy in the fall.

I can't imagine having all those roosters crowing, crowing, crowing all the time. That would drive me batty.... and that's a very short drive.

 

[dfr1973]

I guess I'm looking for reasons not to cull him. His best attribute is most definitely his looks. His personality is so-so. He actually went through a pretty nasty period where he was almost constantly biting me, but since including him in the same pen as my "three amigos", three exceptionally sweet roosters that I totally adore, they've set him straight. No biting the mother clucker!

If you can't immediately come up with a GOOD reason to keep him, then eat him. Pretty doesn't hack it around here, as pretty is one of my goals. When hubby picked out his yard ornament from a batch of Luanne's culls, he asked if that one had got on my bad side yet LOL

Since my answer was no, we have a yard ornament in with the layer group. My yard ornament is Pollux the capon-nanny, so no extra crowing there.

Beer can, watch a few more caponizing vids, look at the pics on the big caponizing thread, and work to get your mind into the zone. It's the way to get to where you can cut into them, without hurling.

 

[bramblefir]

I guess I'm looking for reasons not to cull him. His best attribute is most definitely his looks. His personality is so-so. He actually went through a pretty nasty period where he was almost constantly biting me, but since including him in the same pen as my "three amigos", three exceptionally sweet roosters that I totally adore, they've set him straight. No biting the mother clucker!

I actually have 1 blue egg laying NN and 1 mint green laying NN and 1 olive egger NN, all with single combs, good meat, and sweet personalities. I know I could use this guy to give me more black feathered birds that also lay blue to green eggs...but I'm just not sure if it's worth the effort.

As an FYI, I've got 18 roosters to 52 hens, with most of the roosters penned up together in their own runs and 5 primaries caring for the girls. That's a lot of crowing.

When you're looking for a reason NOT to cull it's almost a definite that you should. His looks could easily be recreated by crossing a red or gold male over a black hen. His coloring is just red/gold leakage on a black base.

 

[lpatelski]

this is a cross post from the Cornish tread. I like having a bunch of hopefuls around. Only my two adults, and one Jr. have crow-offs.
DARK CORNISH COCKERELS
DOH 3/23/16 145days

DOH 3/17/16 152 days

DOH 3/05/16 164 days

DOH 3/29/16 140 days

DOH 2/16/16 182 days

Cockerels still in the coop. Like an "Heir and a Spare"