Golen laced wyandotte cockerals

[CynthiaM]

Seven GLW chicks, two months old. Four pullets, three cockerals.

The choice will soon be made as to which cockeral to keep. I've noticed with this breed of chicken that the cockerals take way, way longer to mature than the pullets. The pullets look like miniature chickens, totally and completely feathered out, and have been for a while.

The three roosters are still not completely feathered out, they have taken weeks longer than the pullets to feather. One cockeral is quite a bit larger than the other two, he is the slowest to feather out and looks rather bare in spots. The other two are more feathered. The one that is most feathered has a much deeper coloured comb and the comb is very red. Looks nice. The largest cockeral does not have as red a comb, nor is it as thick as the other two.

I wish I knew how to choose, the biggest cockeral with the smaller comb, the smaller more feathered out cockeral with the redder, larger comb, or the one that seems to be kind of inbetween the characteristics of the other two. Got any opinions? Elaborate please.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What are your goals? What do you want out of your rooster? Are you trying to breed to standard or are you after something else?

 

[CynthiaM]

I am not trying to breed to standard. I just want to have a good, quality stock for my chickenyard. I will one day wish to sell offspring, to offset the cost of food, but not interested in showing or anything like that.

I just want to know which would be the best cockeral to keep to get the best chicks for myself or any potential clients.

I want to know in particular, why one cockeral is taking so much longer to feather out. He is the largest in structure, and the slowest to feather out. Would he be the best choice? I know I could wait for a while longer and then make a choice, I am sure that it would be clear which one is the best of these dudes.

 

[cmom]

I had a pullet like that. She was the biggest in size but developed slower and was the last to start laying. Keep your favorite.