I think one should really look at the rooster. Once rooster will apply his genetics to the rest of the new flock birds. And you need to pick him up and feel under his feathers, feathers hide a lot of sins. Check his feet, they need to have straight toes, good shanks. His beak needs to be symmetrical and close well.
But for the back yard - it would be pretty difficult to get birds with consistent traits. So for me, when I thought my birds were getting too small, I went with a bigger breed type of rooster...when I thought my birds were not laying enough eggs, well the next rooter was a leghorn...when I thought I was feeding too much wildlife, I went with a rooster that had multi colored orange and brown and white feather pattern.
My last rooster had too big of comb, and my new boy has a pea comb.
I have been playing for years, some I breed, some I add...some get eaten by me or something else.
I have to admit, my plans seldom run true.
MRs K
But for the back yard - it would be pretty difficult to get birds with consistent traits. So for me, when I thought my birds were getting too small, I went with a bigger breed type of rooster...when I thought my birds were not laying enough eggs, well the next rooter was a leghorn...when I thought I was feeding too much wildlife, I went with a rooster that had multi colored orange and brown and white feather pattern.
My last rooster had too big of comb, and my new boy has a pea comb.
I have been playing for years, some I breed, some I add...some get eaten by me or something else.
I have to admit, my plans seldom run true.
MRs K
