I'm looking for some advice on choosing between my bantam cockerels.
I have three birds to choose from. I'm not sure enough about the genetics yet behind faverolles to know what I can get away with breeding.
#1 is an absolutely beautiful bird. His type is great, his beard is great, toes and color are excellent, and he even has amazing wing bow lacing. BUT. He has a pretty serious case of crossbeak.
#2 Very similar to number one in coloration and type, but has a comb with sprigs and feet with double jointed 5th toes (is this normal? I've never seen it before?). They are like a real toe, with a middle joint. He is smaller then #1 and #3 Edited: I just remembered, he also has double spurs? Isn't that a Sumatra trait??
#3 Clean cut colors, but with a dark wing bow that lacks any lacing. His hackles are closer to cream. His beard is good, and comb is good. He has one foot with 5 toes and one with 4 toes. His type is amazing though and he is a very big bird.
I'm going to keep only one, but I'm not sure which. They all seem to have some problem or some good quality that is making them hard to choose from. If not for the crossbeak, I would without a doubt choose #1. But can crossbeak be bred away from? Or if I breed him, and cull for babies without it, will they still carry the gene for it?
I can get photos if I need to. The birds are about 7 months old.
Thank you
Sierra