Choosing 1 of 3 nonSOP Marans cockerels - Feedback Desired

[aart]

Goal - New flock sire for creating olive eggers.
These are not SOP birds and I do not care about that, looking for general overall attributes.

Some general info/observations, not much I know but what I have in mind so far.

Zeus was my first choice as he has clean legs, I do not care for feathery legged birds.
Pros: He's the calmest.
Cons: He's smaller; Comb sprigs with white stuff on them(what is that stuff, trouble down the road?).

Thor was my second choice for his large size, (meatier offspring-extra cockerels for table).
Pros: He's the biggest.
Cons: One wattle is deformed, could be genetic/hereditary or incubation issue, could be indicator of other non visible problems.

Luke, meh.
Pros: No obvious abnormalities.
Cons: He's the smallest.

Pics aren't greatest for natural stances, they don't like being in cages and I have no one to help pose and/or snap pics.

Would really appreciate other eyes of experienced keepers/breeders to contribute some feedback.
TIA!

Zeus' funky fuzzy comb sprigs

Thor's funky wattle

Luke's headshot

 

[Kiki]

Could Z's white stuff be this:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/59/favus/

 

[Nksg75]

Just a quick question...
Aren't the BM eggs typically a lighter shade on the Maran scale vs the BCM?
I realize you are talking about roosters, however wouldn't that come into play when you are creating a Olive egger?

 

[aart]

Thanks.

Could Z's white stuff be this:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/59/favus/

Yes could be, none of the other birds have this currently tho I have seen white spots of it on combs, wattles, earlobes off and on in my flock.

Just a quick question...
Aren't the BM eggs typically a lighter shade on the Maran scale vs the BCM?
I realize you are talking about roosters, however wouldn't that come into play when you are creating a Olive egger?

Good point, Blue CM's may have lighter egg genes than Black CM's. The eggs I hatched were of varying darkness, but didn't track who came from what egg.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thor's wattle looks to me like it was damaged somehow. It just grew that way?

You seem less than impressed with Luke all the way around, so I'd just take him out of the equation altogether.

I didn't read the link on the possible cause of Thor'a white spots - is it a defect or contagious? Not sure I'd want to keep that in the gene pool anyway.

Since you're breeding for the freezer and not the show ring, I'd keep the meatier one.

 

[aart]

Thor's wattle looks to me like it was damaged somehow. It just grew that way?

You seem less than impressed with Luke all the way around, so I'd just take him out of the equation altogether.

I didn't read the link on the possible cause of Thor'a white spots - is it a defect or contagious? Not sure I'd want to keep that in the gene pool anyway.

Since you're breeding for the freezer and not the show ring, I'd keep the meatier one.

Thanks @bobbi-j !
Yeah, Luke went to the end of the line because the other 2 are just better.

It's Zeus (who was my favorite for a long time) that has the white stuff...
.....on rather complex branched comb sprigs.
Could be fungus/favus...the sprigs would likely be hereditary and may be more prone to growing fungi and maybe other problems.

Thor's withered wattle I only noticed just before these last 14wks pics, then looked at pics from 11wks and saw it there too. Didn't take many pics when they were smaller so I don't know if it was an injury or not, but I'm guessing it's not. Can't remember seeing an injury and it would have still grown more I would think.

Yeah, I think Thor is the front runner...next week is the freezer date so still have time to ponder it.

 

[Chooks man]

from my experience I can tell you Luke is your best one .
1) he is correct .no sign of any physical deformety .
2) you are saying he is small .Do forget when we cross 2 different breed we end up getting Hybrid Vigor .bigger and stronger chooks . Low of nature . So don t worry about his size .

the other 2 have a physical problem .you don t want to deal with that for the rest of your life .

use Luke and you ll get a correct chooks ,if you still not happy with they size do other crossing with a different Roo in the future .

ALWAYS WORK WITH A CORRECT CHOOCK IF YOU CAN . does help in the future .

chooks man

 

[aart]

the other 2 have a physical problem .you don t want to deal with that for the rest of your life

Yes, this kept ticking in the back of my brain.....
.....thanks @Chooks man for bringing it to the forefront.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Thor has good proportions, full breast and from the photos is easily the superior bird for dual purpose use. Can't see how that wattle is genetic, guessing it's from an injury of some kind. I'd hope it was and go for it at any rate.

 

[aart]

Thor has good proportions, full breast and from the photos is easily the superior bird for dual purpose use

I Know, Right!?
Am torn between Thor and Luke.
Worried about wattle but also curious to see of it passes down.
Have no clue if it's genetic or not.
Cannot recall an injury and think it would have been significant and hard to miss.