We're trying to keep a rooster this year too. He's a 9 week docile blue Orpington. Awaiting to see how badly his crowing noise/ times are to decide if we can keep him. We made an effort not to handle this years chicks as much so there wasn't a chance of him imprinting on us. When his hormones kick in the hope is he'll not see us (and children) as competition, just caretakers who feed them.
All the Roosters you have would be good for breeding dual purpose birds. Traditionally the New Hampshire was bred to be faster maturing as meat bird though I don't think the hatchery NH hold true to that quality anymore. Australorp is a great utility bird and would lend to larger and more eggs in flock progeny. I'd await for the hormones to kick in and decide then which is to your liking. For me it's not so loud crow, not crowing often and good with the hens and family. It's a pipe dream I suppose but have fingers crossed.
All the Roosters you have would be good for breeding dual purpose birds. Traditionally the New Hampshire was bred to be faster maturing as meat bird though I don't think the hatchery NH hold true to that quality anymore. Australorp is a great utility bird and would lend to larger and more eggs in flock progeny. I'd await for the hormones to kick in and decide then which is to your liking. For me it's not so loud crow, not crowing often and good with the hens and family. It's a pipe dream I suppose but have fingers crossed.
