Deciding which cockerel to keep....

[igorsMistress]

Thanks--- I've read so many threads about how the favorite cockerel turned aggressive, people ask, what in the heck happened???? But, aware of that, I had not made a pet of the aggressive grandfather, I was always hands off.
There's really no way to be sure until it is too late, since behavior changes over time and with changing flock dynamics as well.
I want to wait until at least I know how many of the 4 Spitzhaubens are boys. That could be another month, at which time, it will be the monthly poultry swap day.

Ironically my first roo wasn't friendly as a hand raised chick and was terribly aggressive as a roo; he was great with the girls but not humans.

 

[SueT]

Update--I rehomed 3 of the 5 boys to the Amish woman who bought my Spitzhauben pair. I removed mama hen as she was weaning her chicks, and was especially hard on the boys. So I have 7 pullets, plus 2 cockerels now all integrated together. Anyway, the 2 candidates for future rooster are R2, age 9 weeks, raised by me

And Lieutenant Worf, age 8 weeks, raised by the hen

They are being watched for any objectionable behavior toward me or the pullets. Only one will be chosen.....stay tuned for 'Star Wars vs Star Trek; the Final Decision'

 

[SueT]

Lieutenant Worf (the hen raised cockerel) got a warning this morning. He was chasing the girls and pulling their tails relentlessly, while they fled in terror. His Daddy didn't do this. R2D2, who is a week older, doesn't do this.
I caught Worf and pressed him to the ground, pecking on the back of his head with my finger. He behaved himself after that, but....he has received a black mark on his record.

Boys, I am looking forward to a chicken BBQ. Trust me, you don't want to be the one invited!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

How does the remaining cockerel look now?

 

[SueT]

How does the remaining cockerel look now?

We kept R2d2. Worf is no more. R2, now about 7 months, going on 8. He is full of himself and kind of hyper. 4 of the 7 girls are laying.

 

[Folly's place]

Good decision!
Mary

 

[halefamily_flock]

I have 14 chicks hatched in May, half in my incubator, and half by a broody. 10 of them are a cross between Spitzhauben and Sebright, which I've abbreviated to Spright. I love both breeds and have looked forward to creating this blend. The Spright boys have developed fast, with prominent combs by 4 weeks, and crowing soon after. It looks like I have 5 of each. Of the 5 Spright cockerels, I would like to keep one but how to decide? Since it isn't a breed, there aren't physical characteristics that I am aiming for at this time, I just want the best disposition.
The current rooster, a Spitzhauben, was raised by a broody, and he's a gem, a complete gentleman. But his father, raised by me, was aggressive to humans. So I'm leaning twd keeping one of the broody's boys. Her 3 boys fight a lot amongst themselves though.
One of the 2 incubator boys, named R2D2 (hatched on Star Wars day, May the 4th) is very sociable and friendly. Always curious to see what I'm up to. He doesn't fight w his brother. I would lean twd keeping him because of that, but am aware that friendliness can lead to aggression.
I would appreciate any advice on making this decision!
The 2 groups are separate right now, w a fence between them as I plan to integrate when broody weans hers, and would like to have it narrowed down by then. (There are 4 Spitzhauben chicks amongst them, it's too early to sex them, that's another decision later. )
View attachment 2195803View attachment 2195806 and here are 3 of the Spitzes w R2 or maybe that's C3POView attachment 2195821

The Sprights are offspring of a silver spangled rooster and a silver laced hen, and they have both spangles and lacing. DH calls is spanglaced.

They're all gorgeous! What a tough decision