Ethical breeding??

[corgiscatsandchickens]

Not sure if this is the proper place to put this, so please forgive me if I should have posted it somewhere else.

I have a flock of 6 Barred Rock hens and one roo. Friends of ours have a much larger chicken operation with a mixed flock with some Barred Rocks. They're selling eggs and looking to process some birds for themselves, too. My birds are just feed store birds, and my roo is definitely not a high-quality bird when you look at him. He's almost as dark as a hen, his tailfeathers aren't very big, etc.

Looks-wise, my roo is a washout, but what he lacks in looks, he makes up for in temprament. He's fierce about protecting and looking out for his girls, but around people he is the sweetest, most gentle thing you can possible imagine. I've known sweet roos in my day, but this guy takes the cake. His favorite activity (after he gives the girls their morning chase) is to be cuddled and hugged.

He would rather snuggle than eat grapes, if that tells you anything.

My friends have had issues with roosters from Hell. All of their roos are very agressive. I was wondering if it's ethical to trade out some eggs for them to set in hopes of them getting a better dispositioned roo.

Ethical to breed a poorer quality bird physically to get a better dispositioned flock? Yea or nay?

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
I don`t see a problem with that. Neither flock is going to be shown and as long as your friends know what they are getting, no problem. The only rub I can see is if the eggs they hatch don`t turn out to be as charming as their parents, which could happen. Don`t make guarrentees, or be surprized if all doesn`t go as planned........Pop

 

[Lollipop]

Sorry, puter glitch......Pop

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I don`t see a problem with that. Neither flock is going to be shown and as long as your friends know what they are getting, no problem. The only rub I can see is if the eggs they hatch don`t turn out to be as charming as their parents, which could happen. Don`t make guarrentees, or be surprized if all doesn`t go as planned........Pop

X2

I would rather have a nice tempered roo, than a SQ one with a bad attitude.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

I agree. As long as anyone who hatches the eggs knows what they're buying. I'd breed to suit your purposes... personally, temperament and health are the first things I think about.

 

[halo]

The bottom line is, they are chickens. They lay eggs or go in the pot. As long as they fit those definitions, as far as Im concerned, its fine to make more of them if you'd like.

 

[Framac]

Quote:
Also take into consideration that you have 1 Rooster, and they might have multiple. I have found that the more roosters you have in a flock, the meaner they can get. I had a few that were causing all my roos to get aggressive, and I cut back and the problems went away.

Chris

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

Breed for what is important to you. When you sell offspring, you need only be truthful about your breeding goals. A lot of people buying chickens are looking for good personalities rather than show quality.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

One thing I would like to mention.




Sometimes the aggression in a rooster is brought out by how he is raised. There are people who naturally rub a rooster the wrong way and there for will always have a bird who is after them. Yet that same rooster might be a respectful rooster to someone else.


My very own sister is one of those type people. She is a sweet lady, but her body language is all wrong around birds – and a good majority of them intensely dislike her and are very happy to let her know!

 

[Sparklee]

:d