Deciding between Roosters (Input needed)

[Connie123]

We purchased ten chicks back in March, intending for all to be pullets. But you know how that ends up, two of my babies are Roos. These are all 10 weeks old now.

The difficulty in deciding who to keep and who to rehome is real.This will put us at THREE Roos in a subdivision setting. We already have a Serama trio that we separated into their own little coop.

So the boys in question are a French Black Copper Maran roo, Mortimer, and a LF Partridge Cochin roo, Frodo. Each of these boys have a pullet to match. We also have other pullets (Cream Legbars, California White, Buff Brahma, Golden Laced Wyandotte).

Personalities are: Maran -dominant roo, very protective and conscious of his flock, a bit of a touch me not, but not aggressive or scared. Cochin - non dominant at this time, but starting to try to fight with the Maran, will hang out but sort of all over the place, and will sit on you from time to time.

What are your thoughts on these breeds as Roos? Are they generally good with people and good to their ladies? (The Serama roo is a bit rude). I can’t decide who leaves, it is REALLY pushing it to have TWO Roos anyway. Three is just a deal breaker. The roo who stays will have to co-exist with the Serama roo and his hens at free range time. Who would you be more interested in keeping if this was your flock? Thank you!

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

As long as the cockerel is good to your pullets and not agressive, but respectful towards you, keep him. I think it is a little too early to tell if they are the right ones. I'd wait a little bit longer to make sure.

 

[Folly's place]

It's early times yet, if neither is being aggressive to either you or the pullets. Watch a bit longer! Either will be big and beautiful!
Personally I want my roosters to respect my space and pay attention to the welfare of the flock, so any signs of human aggression in any of my cockerels eliminates them from the flock. So far your two big birds seem to be doing okay, so give it a bit more time if you can.
How rude is this Serama cockerel, BTW?
Mary

 

[Connie123]

It's early times yet, if neither is being aggressive to either you or the pullets. Watch a bit longer! Either will be big and beautiful!
Personally I want my roosters to respect my space and pay attention to the welfare of the flock, so any signs of human aggression in any of my cockerels eliminates them from the flock. So far your two big birds seem to be doing okay, so give it a bit more time if you can.
How rude is this Serama cockerel, BTW?
Mary

The Serama roo is not near as rude as his father (he was AWFUL to people and his hen). This one is not aggressive to people, but he was beating up a full sized hen, and constantly mounts the two Serama hens with him in front of us. He was hatched here (broody little devils those Serama ladies).

I’m not particular on who stays, but they need to get along at least well enough to not fight with the Serama on the regular (I know they’re probably going to argue from time to time). I read somewhere that Maran Roos can be unhappy with other roosters, but I don’t know if that is the case or not, considering they’re all individuals. I’ve never had either breed before.

 

[Folly's place]

Their best chance of getting along is to have them raised together, rather than introducing older, more mature cockerels to each other. I've never had Seramas, and the size difference between those tiny birds and either of your big cockerels is scary.
I have both Belgian d'Uccles, bantam EEs, and big Chantecler roosters in my flock, and they get along well. They are also raised together, not introduced to each other later.
Mary

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Do you plan on free ranging the 2 flocks together? This may be a non issue for you, but I am terrified that my Marans/Cream Legbar (Big boy) will attempt to mate my Bantams. Maybe this isn't something that happens, but it's one of my possible scenario problems that I'm trying to work around with having standard sized free ranging with bantams, before it's ever even a possibility. Maybe having a cockerel/rooster with each flock keeps this from being a problem, but it's a real concern for me and I'm trying to figure out how to handle it. My silkie pullet screams like she's being killed if the silkie cockerel even considers mounting her and that always seems to turn all 3 of my bantam cockerels off from her, but I don't know about the big guys.

 

[Folly's place]

My Chantie rooster does mount one of the little EE bantam hens (she loves him!) and there's been no harm done.
Flock dynamics can be so interesting!
My Belgian d'Uccles stay together (all broody raised here) and the big birds, plus the two EE bantam hens, head out elsewhere.
This year's chicks include both EE bantams and standard birds, and I expect that they will stick together too.
Mary

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

I don’t know how the dynamics with the other rooster would be, I guess if I were looking at this just in terms of picking between 2 roosters, it would hinge on mainly 2 factors. The disposition of the roosters and which breed of rooster fits your desired goals. I don’t know any thing about either breed but based on what I have read Cochin may have a bit better disposition, however the Maran breed may be some what more prolific of an egg laying breed than the Cochin and may also be more suited for free range setting too.

 

[Folly's place]

Exactly!
But it's still up to each individual bird to show who he is.
Mary

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My Chantie rooster does mount one of the little EE bantam hens (she loves him!) and there's been no harm done.
Flock dynamics can be so interesting!
My Belgian d'Uccles stay together (all broody raised here) and the big birds, plus the two EE bantam hens, head out elsewhere.
This year's chicks include both EE bantams and standard birds, and I expect that they will stick together too.
Mary

Thank you for sharing this, Mary! That definitely makes me feel better. My Marans Mix Rooster is just so much larger than my silkie pullet and that has seriously had me worried. That girl is something else. Won't allow anyone to mount her, but she is constantly broody....... Thanks again, Mary. I always enjoy your replies