Chicken Mixing

[dangerouschicken]

I have a number of cockerels, and I'm not sure which to keep. I have the following:

2 Speckled Sussex
3 Cuckoo Marans
1 White Rock
1 White Leghorn
1 Buff Orpington
2 Easter Eggers

My question is this: Should I keep the Buff Orp since I have 3 Buff Orp pullets, or should I just pick whichever cockerel I like best and let them mix breed with my 10 pullets?

The pullets consist of Buff Orps, Easter Eggers, Turkens, Black Stars, and Silver-Laced Wyandottes.

I'm not sure the protocol of chicken breeding, as I haven't crossed that bridge before. Is it a big faux pax to let them mix breed? Other than Easter Eggers, I have only purchased pure breeds myself. They are just my farm flock, but I don't want to make some dumb mistake that could have been prevented.

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

 

[dangerouschicken]

I'm leaning on the BO roo. He always protects his BO ladies from the other boys, even if they are bigger than him. He's tough, but loveable.

Any suggestions????

 

[dangerouschicken]

ANYONE?????????

 

[Buster]

I don't know if you've seen pics of my SS roo, but he's beautiful. Lemme get you a link.

 

[Buster]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=51244

 

[bearfretworks]

I'd pick the one that was "friendliest" to my 9 y.o. daughter......

 

[dacjohns]

If you aren't trying to show, sell purebred, or save a heritage breed I don't see a problem with letting them crossbreed.

I would keep whatever rooster shows potential in taking care of the flock, being nice to people, and looks like it would have nice looking offspring.

It's a farm flock. They're supposed to be mixed. I would probably lean towards towards the BO also.

 

[ginasmarans]

Pick whichever one seems friendly and strong. Buff orps can be very good.It doesn't hurt anything for chickens to mix breed,unless you want pure breed chickens. One man once wanted pure bred chicks from me because he believes the Bible speaks against it.

 

[Buster]

I was also going to add that my speckled sussex rooster is a warrior. Nothing would dare come to harm his hens when he is on watch.

 

[SueNH]

Go with the one you like. I enjoy my mutt chickens with their ever changing rainbow feathers. Each egg that hatches is a surprise.