Breeding plan questions

[lemurchaser]

I have a flock of 6 laying hens that are 2-3 years old. I also have a group of chicks that I hatched out. My plan is to keep one of the rooster chicks, let it breed with the older girls and then hatch out some of their chicks. I can't have roosters where I am, so my first question is what are the odds that a rooster is fertile and breeding before its got a super loud crow?

I also have 2 roos to choose from, a black copper marans and a wheaten penedesenca. The hens are (1 of each), BLRW, Partridge Rock, Easter egger, Colombian wyandotte, silver laced wyandotte, and a welsummer. Which roo would be a better choice as far as making cute chicks that are friendly? Does the black coloring of the BCM's cover the hens' color (as in will I get mostly dark chicks)?

Tell me what you think.

Thanks for your help!

 

[redrocketrooster]

Quote:
Im going to go ahead and guess that your cutting it close so I wouldn't even try it.
A little further down the road from me theres a flock owner with a few nice roosters and breeding pens.
He offered that anytime I wanted to breed one of my hens he'd put a roo and my hen in a separate breeding pen.
Really kind guy and I know his flock is clean plus he would tell me if I should worry about anything.

Maybe try to make friends? Uh. Im not much help...

 

[joletabey]

I am no expert, I have my first roosters now, but only one in seven is attempting to breed, and they have been crowing loudly for weeks. (yeah, time to rehome some roos!)

 

[houndit]

Most breeds seem to start crowing around the time they start breeding. Cornish Cross sometimes crow at 8 weeks.

 

[gvntofly05]

I have a couple of 8 week old Black Copper Marans roos and one of them is already crowing! I also believe (someone correct me if I am wrong) that black coloring is dominant. Everyone that I know that has put a BCM roo over their EE's, to get pullets that lay olive eggs, the chicks tend to have the BCM coloring.

 

[lemurchaser]

Quote:
Ah, that's what I was thinking too. Black often seems to be a dominant color. Maybe I'll try to get a blue copper marans rooster instead.