Can't decide who to keep

[WVFancyChcknLvr]

Of course I order from hatchery and buy local chicks and I end up with far more roosters than I was sold. So now I am stuck, I have a mix of silver laced polish, black and lavender ameracauna, silkies, black copper Marans and Jersey Giants. I plan on keeping a polish roo since they are so cool looking but can't decide on which big to to keep. I am leaning to the Jersey Giant just for protection and size but I worry he may be a lil much for my medium breeds if he mounts. I think the BCM rooster is prettier and would prefer to hatch their eggs next year. Any suggestions?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Don't go by looks or breed if it doesn't matter to you. Choose your rooster by the ones that the hens like most and is best with them. Which do they follow around? Which roosters protect the hens better? Which fight less or not at all? Which respect you most?

After you narrow them down to only the best behaved boys, then choose them by looks or breed. You don't want to get stuck with roosters that are cool looking but are awful.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As the little roosters start making trouble and making the hens scream, I start pulling them and penning them separately, very often you will end up with the best roosters being left. I would take your females favorites into consideration as they will stick around a considerate rooster and avoid those that are rude. As far as your polish rooster, hopefully he behaves better than mine did, I couldn't wait to rid of him, all he did was mate and run.

 

[Folly's place]

I watch the boys as they are growing, and select the best behaved individuals to keep, and make the next selection in spring, when they are more mature. In a very small flock, there will be room for only one, probably. If you will be raising chicks, take that into consideration too. I agree with everything already mentioned. Mary

 

[WVFancyChcknLvr]

I appreciate it, I have almost 1 to 1 roo to hen cause I was lied to by a seller and unlucky from the hatchery so i may need a jump on some. It's hard for me to Sex some still so I am waiting til fall to see the final count but how old do u think before they start harassing the girls. I plan on having a flock of 20 to 24 but will prob wait til next year to fill out my flock.

 

[donrae]

You got excellent advice above. Chose the individual, not the breed.

That said, why are you keeping a rooster? Are you planning to hatch out chicks next year? If so, what kind of chicks are you wanting? Are they just for you, or are you looking to sell babies?

Were it me, and all other things being equal, I'd keep either a Marans or Ameraucana rooster. Both those breeds are very popular, and you can combine them to make Olive Eggers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I appreciate it, I have almost 1 to 1 roo to hen cause I was lied to by a seller and unlucky from the hatchery so i may need a jump on some. It's hard for me to Sex some still so I am waiting til fall to see the final count but how old do u think before they start harassing the girls. I plan on having a flock of 20 to 24 but will prob wait til next year to fill out my flock.

Little roosters will start to make trouble around 4-6 months depending on breeds, some mature sooner than others, usually your lighter breeds will mature first with the heavy boys taking a bit longer.

 

[WVFancyChcknLvr]

You got excellent advice above. Chose the individual, not the breed. 

That said, why are you keeping a rooster? Are you planning to hatch out chicks next year? If so, what kind of chicks are you wanting? Are they just for you, or are you looking to sell babies?

Were it me, and all other things being equal, I'd keep either a Marans or Ameraucana rooster. Both those breeds are very popular, and you can combine them to make Olive Eggers.