Can't decide what breed of rooster to get...

[SilberHenne]

I just purchased a home in the country with a few acres. My flock is adjusting well to the extra space, although we lost one of our beloved little D'Uccle roosters to what I'm assuming was a fox. We broke the door to our run during the move and unfortunately had not had a chance to fix it yet when the predator came through. Luckily all my girls roost high up and were fine, but Sherriff Woody wasn't known for being a bright rooster. Now we just have his brother Buzz Lightyear, but my girls do not take him seriously (maybe size matters to them?)

We planned on getting a full size rooster anyway for breeding and to have someone that actually knows how to protect his ladies, since they roam freely during the day. We mostly have Black Australorps and a couple each of RIR, BSL, SLW, and BLW. I wanted an aussie roo because they are so heat tolerant, but can easily find Jersey Giants locally, so apparently they do fine in the FL heat.

Is there really a huge difference between the two breeds besides size? I also plan on letting my girls hatch eggs and will keep all the chicks, so I'm hoping for a rooster with good parenting skills that will tolerate having his sons around (as well as not murder my existing spurless bantam boy).

 

[Elitefarm]

I don't have much experience with jersey giant roosters but Australorp roosters are awesome! I've heard of them going broody and hatching their own chicks a very sweet breed in general and usually get along well the Jersey giant rooster I have experienced (may just be this one) but he was rough on the girls and at 3 months old already larger then the 2 year old rooster! He grew big and fast he was scared of people but I believe as he got bigger he could have been dangerous. But again this is just my experience based on one rooster.

 

[ocap]

do you plan on eating his offspring? if yes I recommend a bird that is 25% cornish.
Specifically I highly recommend Dunlap Hatchery's Sagitta (Idaho, USA). The cornish will give a reasonable breast size for the home flock and a rooster that will die trying to protect his hens.

 

[SilberHenne]

We asked around and someone was actually looking to rehome two of their orpington roos, so we now have a chocolate and a lavendar orpington. Big gorgeous boys, and so sweet tempered. My squeaky toy of a d'uccle ran them out of the coop and he's quarter their size!

We don't eat our chickens, and that was a stipulation of adopting them. They wanted them to have a good home.

 

[Trish1974]

We asked around and someone was actually looking to rehome two of their orpington roos, so we now have a chocolate and a lavendar orpington. Big gorgeous boys, and so sweet tempered. My squeaky toy of a d'uccle ran them out of the coop and he's quarter their size!

We don't eat our chickens, and that was a stipulation of adopting them. They wanted them to have a good home.

Congratulations! Orpingtons are beautiful birds! I've only had one, but she was my favorite for the short time she was on this earth.

 

[SilberHenne]

I cant wait to see their babies.

 

[Ra_]

My Rainbow Rock rooster Blackfoot is very sweet and he's kind to all the chicks and young birds, until the boys get old enough to go after his girls, then he runs them off.
I've got plenty of his offspring in a wide variety of colors and ages, if you're near Dunnellon?

This guy in particular is now the size of Blackfoot and he hasn't even gotten his spurs yet.
Picture taken a month ago.

 

[Ra_]

Oh, didn't realize it was you that found the roo.
Congrats. He's a beauty.

 

[Folly's place]

Handsome birds!
Silber, what are you going to do with all the cockerels that hatch in your flock? At least half your chicks will be male, and usually most are meant to be dinner. Are you going to have a huge rooster pen? Sell them? Please do plan ahead!
Mary

 

[SilberHenne]

Those rainbow rocks are gorgeous! If these two boys didn't need a home, I would have considered one.

I've given my chickens autonomy to do what they wish, they aren't here for me. And I love roosters. Any boys born on my property are welcome to stay until they die. These Orpingtons don't have an aggressive bone in their body and have been cohabiting with multiple roosters their whole lives, so I see no reason why their sons would be any different. I most likely won't be incubating eggs, but letting nature do its thing, so volume won't be an issue. I'm expecting some big black fluffy roosters to take over the flock in the future and we need all hands on deck when it comes to protecting women and babies from predators.