Easter Egger club!

[MrsKris]

Roosters are exactly 50% of the genetic equation, just like how reproduction works with other vertebrates. There is never a good reason to keep an aggressive rooster. Temperament is also inherited, and mean roosters tend to produce mean offspring.

So I should definitely get rid of the biggest silkie? He isnt full on "mean" but is a pecker (pardon the pun) at times to the rest of the flock, especially when food is involved. He always runs forward to "check out" people before they get too close and seems to watch over things.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Well, it seems as though I am going to have to thin my flock. I have 7 hens and 6 roos. My question is about my 4 EE boys: Will their color/pattern/comb have any affect on future chicks I may or may not decide to hatch? I know EEs are a mixed bag and there are lots of possibilities, but how much of that falls on the roo? I only have 2 EE girls, both beautifully colored different grays. I'm having a hard time deciding which roos to keep. (I figured on keeping 2) My favorite boy is a coppery red with black/green tail feathers and a big single comb. The other 3 have smaller pea type combs and are mostly black with splashes of white/red/gold that seem to keep changing. I also have 2 huge silkie roosters, one of which has established dominance over the bunch. The larger one is a monster in size and seems to be pretty aggressive. Should I consider keeping him just because he is aggressive for protection purposes??? (They free range 2-6 hrs/day) I'm really in a pickle here! I've actually considered building each roo a small pen of his own to be able to keep them all because I know they will eventually start to fight beyond their current playful sparring. Help!!!

Aggressive won't necessarily make him the best for free ranging. One of my roosters was a real weenie growing up but turned out to be THE BEST ROOSTER EVER. He was good to the girls, never aggressive to me, and his world revolved around the girls and the chicks and being alert and making sure they were safe and fed. That is the kind of rooster that you want. If your rooster is so concerned about what is going on at the food bowl, for example, how is he keeping an eye on the sky and other surroundings?

As far as keeping their own pen, there is a thread on rooster flocks and I will post a link to it in a second.

ETA:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-flocks.1174877/

 

[junebuggena]

So I should definitely get rid of the biggest silkie? He isnt full on "mean" but is a pecker (pardon the pun) at times to the rest of the flock, especially when food is involved. He always runs forward to "check out" people before they get too close and seems to watch over things.

That's just pecking order behavior, not aggression. Aggressive rooster behavior indicators include constantly looking for a weakness/opening for attack, stalking you, wing dipping at people, flaring hackles. Telling other birds to wait their turn is just normal chicken behavior.

 

[igorsMistress]

@MrsKris how old are your roos? With my guy age also played a part in what happened at the food bowl. I thought my boy might not be one to take care of the girls, but he's become very good about letting them eat first as he aged a bit. Now he's 6 months old and keeps an eye out as I toss out food, then I keep an eye out while he eats with the girls most evenings.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Hey guys anyone ever have a girl like this and have pic?

The one on the left. Pic doesnt do her justice but shes got a bright yellow head and a blueish body. Came in a group of 30 from ideal. Planned on selling all of them but might keep het.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

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Some of my girls at almost 5weeks. I've got 8 EEs and several different color morphs, but not seeing any as blue as @yoopergirl1211 yet. One does have a very yellow head though.

@TexasSam @Leighe

 

[NorthTexasWink]

Forgot to add that I got all my chicks from Ideal too.

 

[junebuggena]

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• NorthTexasWink
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• NorthTexasWink
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• NorthTexasWink
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Some of my girls at almost 5weeks. I've got 8 EEs and several different color morphs, but not seeing any as blue as @yoopergirl1211 yet. One does have a very yellow head though.

#5 is a little cockerel.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

@junebuggena Certainly could be. Sexed by the hatchery, but we all know how that goes. I've got a Delaware I'm wondering about too. And maybe another of the EEs. At 5 weeks, I'm not ready to tell for sure myself.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

My EEs came from Ideal (that is where the feed store got them)... I was picky even though presexed... I used my way of sexing and avoided the white chicks as presexed white females seem to be more often Roos in reality. They both lay nice blue eggs btw, but clearly have different DNA, one has white ear lobes, the other red, one blue feather gene and possible other dilutes, and one is more lean smaller framed bird.