Experience with these rooster breeds?

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I'm looking to change some things in my young flock this year. Adding some, removing some.

Does anybody have experience to share with these breeds for roosters/cockerels?

Penedesenca
Marans
Welsummer

 

[Mrs. K]

IMO Breeds really have little to do with cockerels behaviors. It is much more dependent on the space you have, the way you have the space set up, the number of older birds, and the individual bird you happened to get.

It is often times a crap shoot, sometimes you get a nightmare, sometimes a fair rooster, and once in a great while you get a flock master. It is IMO the luck of the draw.

I do kind of side with the idea, that a bird raised up in a flock, with older flock members and IS NOT A PET, tend to, generally speaking, kind of, sort of make better roosters. But nothing is fool proof. If a person could come on here and say, if you do this, then that will happen and you get a perfect gentleman...., but they can't.

The best way to get a good rooster is a sharp knife. You don't keep the rotten ones.

Another idea - is look at the feed store, ask at poultry clubs or 4-h clubs, ask for a cockerel/rooster that is close to a year old, raised in a multi-generational flock, in similar circumstances as your own flock, by a person who would have culled if he hadn't been so darn nice. That is a good rooster to get.

Mrs K

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

^^this

 

[BoundlessLove]

Our roo experiences thus far:
The Leghorn roos (white and brown) tend more towards aggression than any other breed we have raised.
Wyandotte roos are a hit or miss.
My one and only CL roo has been an amazing guardian and kind to his hens and to us, as well.
We have also had great success with Speckled Sussex roos.

 

[kattabelly]

IMO Breeds really have little to do with cockerels behaviors. It is much more dependent on the space you have, the way you have the space set up, the number of older birds, and the individual bird you happened to get.

Don't disagree with any of this but I would add that the specific line of a breed can sometimes give an idea of what kind of temperament you might be more likely to get (though obviously still not a guarantee), assuming you're getting birds from someone with a smaller setup and not the big mail-order hatcheries you have in the US.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

IMO Breeds really have little to do with cockerels behaviors. It is much more dependent on the space you have, the way you have the space set up, the number of older birds, and the individual bird you happened to get.

It is often times a crap shoot, sometimes you get a nightmare, sometimes a fair rooster, and once in a great while you get a flock master. It is IMO the luck of the draw.

I do kind of side with the idea, that a bird raised up in a flock, with older flock members and IS NOT A PET, tend to, generally speaking, kind of, sort of make better roosters. But nothing is fool proof. If a person could come on here and say, if you do this, then that will happen and you get a perfect gentleman...., but they can't.

The best way to get a good rooster is a sharp knife. You don't keep the rotten ones.

Another idea - is look at the feed store, ask at poultry clubs or 4-h clubs, ask for a cockerel/rooster that is close to a year old, raised in a multi-generational flock, in similar circumstances as your own flock, by a person who would have culled if he hadn't been so darn nice. That is a good rooster to get.

Mrs K

Space, free range, resources, hands-off. That's what we do for our birds.
Been around chickens my whole life (hundreds, including cockerels and roosters) and haven't met any bad ones yet

I'm just wondering if anybody has anything to say about certain breeds. Some just don't do well in confinement (we free range, but they occasionally have to stay in the run)
Others might be more likely to pick fights in the flock

I know it depends on the individual, as well as genetics and what situations they're in, but I'd rather sort through what would be a better choice to try out first.
I won't be keeping any problem birds either way. If they're a problem, they're renamed Stew and taken out for lunch.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Space, free range, resources, hands-off.

I have to second this. All my good boys have come from free-range flocks, not hand-raised. The naughty boys were brooder babies raised with pullets instead of by older hens. My good boys were/are two mixed breeds and Leghorn. The naughty ones were a BCM, an OE and a lavender Orpington. I don’t think breed is a good indicator of how a rooster will turn out. The OE and the Orpington live in my mom’s flock because she tolerates nonsense.

 

[fluffycrow]

@Perris is the only one I know on this forum with Penedesencas and Penedesenca mixes. They free range as well, and all their chickens are broody raised, so extremely hands off

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

@Perris is the only one I know on this forum with Penedesencas and Penedesenca mixes. They free range as well, and all their chickens are broody raised, so extremely hands off

Knew it was a long shot with the Penedesencas. Sadly, they just aren't common at all.
A couple hatcheries advertise them. I think they both use the same breeder/supplier, though.

I wanted Penedesenca pullets, but they have been "sold out" for a couple years. There's a very slim shot at getting a cockerel.

I suppose that could mean that they have problems with their stock but are still selling some

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I have to second this. All my good boys have come from free-range flocks, not hand-raised. The naughty boys were brooder babies raised with pullets instead of by older hens. My good boys were/are two mixed breeds and Leghorn. The naughty ones were a BCM, an OE and a lavender Orpington. I don’t think breed is a good indicator of how a rooster will turn out. The OE and the Orpington live in my mom’s flock because she tolerates nonsense.

My rooster and hens were all day-olds straight from the hatchery, no adult chickens to lead them (though they were eventually introduced to an adult flock, they had their own thing figured out by then)

They honestly turned out great
The rooster is pretty decent. Wasn't expecting the favorite pullet to be a cockerel, but fortunately worked out. He tries very hard to care for all of his flock.
All his ladies have remained fully feathered, even though they were an inexperienced flock.
He flirts with another flock of older hens, and graciously accepts "I'm not interested"

Now, his son...
He's going soon.
Wasn't keeping him, anyway, but he's just too much for the gals to handle now that his hormones have come in.