Choosing a rooster

[BirdLvr56]

I've got a small young flock. New at all of this but really trying to make good decisions. 5 female sapphire splash pullets and 2 sapphire splash cockerel. Also have a light brahma cockerel. They are all 3 months old and have been raised together. Definitely a family. Their personalities are different and I think they tag team to keep me guessing.

My problem is deciding which cockerel to keep. I do know that they are changing quickly. The one I thought was too aggressive (crazy Carl), is calming and shows much more attention to the girls and watching what is going on around the flock. Adam is calm, but not as interested in what's going on. He will return to the coop and roost while the girls are still foraging in the yard. Boudreau, the brahma, is constantly eating and could care less. Brahmas develop slower, so I just need to give them more time and keep watching.

To add to the complexity... my pullets are getting close to laying. One has been uncomfortable and obviously getting close to first egg time. Doesn't leave the coop last day. Can't wait to see how this changes the dynamics with the cockerel.

I'll post a pic of the three cockerel. Dark gray is Carl. White is Adam and black and white is Boudreau

 

[Ridgeback825]

It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war. I vote for Carl.

 

[BirdLvr56]

It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war. I vote for Carl.

He seems to be best suited right now, but they keep changing. Good point!

 

[Cat Ballou]

It can be challenging. My new flock is 5 months old. Honey, my Welsummer EE mix, is the most dominant, watches out for the 2 BCM EE mix hens, and continually challenges me. I fight back or sometimes just talk him through his “moments,” then he’ll collect himself and get over it. I keep threatening Honey that he’s going to end up in a stewpot, but he is doing his job.

My small lavender Ameracauna cockerel is my favorite but not quite successful with the ladies. I keep hoping one day he will and pass on his blue egg genes and wonderful personality.

My plan is that these 4 + a few more are the foundation of my self-sustaining flock of 25-50 to provide eggs, meat, and offspring.

Carl sounds like the winner, but there shouldn’t be any rush to judgement & Camp Kenmore unless you have young broilers.

 

[Mrs. K]

If this is your first year - I would move all of them out. I think roosters take some experience. IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, and they share the yard, be VERY CAREFUL. Cockerels tend to attack children first, young children at face level, then women, and then men. Many times inexperienced people do not recognize the warning signs a bird is becoming aggressive and the attack appears to come out of no where.

If you read much of this forum, there are countless articles where the darling became the nightmare in a moment. Many inexperienced people vastly underestimate the violence of a cockerel with another cockerel, with pullets and with people.

You are currently in the darling stage. And it is so darling, you will hardly believe how tough it can be. Do have plan B set up, and at hand, if you never need it, good deal, but if you need it, you need it NOW! A 5 foot fishnet can be used to separate birds, a dog crate to put the bird in, should be in or near your coop.

Yes, it would be nice to have a rooster, to breed with and create new chicks. But you want the right rooster, and a lot of roosters are not. Roosters are easy to come by and cheap. Many people would love to give away a good rooster so you do not have to keep these boys for later procreation.

A cockerel raised with just flock mates often times becomes aggressive. There are no older birds to teach them manners. You tend to get the best rooster from a cockerel raised under older birds to teach them proper chicken society. Not saying you can't get a good one from flock mates - but it seldom happens.

Wish you the best,

Mrs K

 

[BirdLvr56]

If this is your first year - I would move all of them out. I think roosters take some experience. IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, and they share the yard, be VERY CAREFUL. Cockerels tend to attack children first, young children at face level, then women, and then men. Many times inexperienced people do not recognize the warning signs a bird is becoming aggressive and the attack appears to come out of no where.

If you read much of this forum, there are countless articles where the darling became the nightmare in a moment. Many inexperienced people vastly underestimate the violence of a cockerel with another cockerel, with pullets and with people.

You are currently in the darling stage. And it is so darling, you will hardly believe how tough it can be. Do have plan B set up, and at hand, if you never need it, good deal, but if you need it, you need it NOW! A 5 foot fishnet can be used to separate birds, a dog crate to put the bird in, should be in or near your coop.

Yes, it would be nice to have a rooster, to breed with and create new chicks. But you want the right rooster, and a lot of roosters are not. Roosters are easy to come by and cheap. Many people would love to give away a good rooster so you do not have to keep these boys for later procreation.

A cockerel raised with just flock mates often times becomes aggressive. There are no older birds to teach them manners. You tend to get the best rooster from a cockerel raised under older birds to teach them proper chicken society. Not saying you can't get a good one from flock mates - but it seldom happens.

Wish you the best,

Mrs K

Thanks Mrs K. Good insight.

 

[Shadrach]

I've got a small young flock. New at all of this but really trying to make good decisions. 5 female sapphire splash pullets and 2 sapphire splash cockerel. Also have a light brahma cockerel. They are all 3 months old and have been raised together. Definitely a family. Their personalities are different and I think they tag team to keep me guessing.

My problem is deciding which cockerel to keep. I do know that they are changing quickly. The one I thought was too aggressive (crazy Carl), is calming and shows much more attention to the girls and watching what is going on around the flock. Adam is calm, but not as interested in what's going on. He will return to the coop and roost while the girls are still foraging in the yard. Boudreau, the brahma, is constantly eating and could care less. Brahmas develop slower, so I just need to give them more time and keep watching.

To add to the complexity... my pullets are getting close to laying. One has been uncomfortable and obviously getting close to first egg time. Doesn't leave the coop last day. Can't wait to see how this changes the dynamics with the cockerel.

I'll post a pic of the three cockerel. Dark gray is Carl. White is Adam and black and white is Boudreau

Wait until all the hens are laying before you make a choice.
Pick the cockerel that the hens crouch for most.

 

[BirdLvr56]

Wait until all the hens are laying before you make a choice.
Pick the cockerel that the hens crouch for most.

Good advice