help choosing which cockerel stays

[Floof]

So in April I hatched out some blue orpingtons from eggs I got from a local breeder. Out of the two dozen eggs I hatched I only had 6 survive (8 hatched and 2 had leg issues and needed to be let go). Of those 6 I'm pretty sure only 2 are female: a splash and an all black. I've decided I want to try hatching their chicks once they start laying but that means I need to choose just one good rooster for the job. They all have agreeable temperaments so it comes down to who is a better representative of the breed.
From darkest cockerel to lightest here is contestant #1:
He's the darkest but has two white feathers on the tip on each wing.

Cockerel #2:

Cockerel #3:
I am leaning towards keeping this guy. I like his fluffy butt

Cockerel #4:
He might be a splash and not a blue actually... He's got some dark feathers mixed in. I thought he was a blue because he's still so much darker than my splash pullet from the same batch.

I took pictures of me holding them so you could also see their wing feathers better but it's not displaying them for some reason . My goal in breeding them is to hatch out chicks I can sell so I want to select the most handsome and hardy boy for the job. I appreciate you all taking the time to checkout my pictures and weigh in on the decision.

 

[Floof]

You can see that boy #3 has some gold leakage in his feathers. One roo from the farm I bought the eggs had the same gold in his hackle feathers too. He was beautiful but I don't know that they're allowed to have color leakage like that.

 

[lazy gardener]

Based on looks, I vote for #1. Which boy has the widest shoulders and pelvis? Color is a big part of it, but you want your breeder to produce nice beefy chicks.

 

[Floof]

#3 is actually the largest. He stands larger and is heavier than the others. The smallest is #4. I didn't realize it until picking them all up in order today but he's quite the pipsqueak.

 

[Mrs. K]

Really take a look at the sops. And do some measurements. I think I would go with the biggest, heaviest the quickest, as just a general rule of thumb. If you are selling them, don't do the gold leakage one.

I just went back and checked, to me, 3 and 4 are out. One is too small, one has leakage. That is where I would start. I think on the other two, I would wait a while, maybe another 2 months, or until the pullets start laying. Then decide.

MRs K

 

[BlueBaby]

# 1 seem's to have the best lacing going on it it. If he was mine, he is the one that I would keep. As you said that you also have a splash female, that boy would be the best pick for future chicks from that match to have good splash patterns in the splash that would hatch out.

I agree with Mrs. K, don't do the one that has that leakage going on it it. It will pass on that gene to future chicks.

 

[Floof]

# 1 seem's to have the best lacing going on it it. If he was mine, he is the one that I would keep. As you said that you also have a splash female, that boy would be the best pick for future chicks from that match to have good splash patterns in the splash that would hatch out.

I agree with Mrs. K, don't do the one that has that leakage going on it it. It will pass on that gene to future chicks.

I'm new to this and can't find the SOP for blue orpingtons. Is it okay for them to have the white feather in their wings? The only one with no weird feather coloring is #2.

 

[Folly's place]

Go for the best size and structure first, and worry about a couple of white feathers WAY later. Those white feathers may disappear with the next molt anyway. Mary

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm new to this and can't find the SOP for blue orpingtons. Is it okay for them to have the white feather in their wings? The only one with no weird feather coloring is #2.

I ran a search for you on BYC trying to help you. I found an old thread and it looks like they were discussing what you want to know in it?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/orp-apa-standard-dq-question.232482/#post-2749134

 

[Floof]

I ran a search for you on BYC trying to help you. I found an old thread and it looks like they were discussing what you want to know in it?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/orp-apa-standard-dq-question.232482/#post-2749134

Thank you!