Help me pick a Shetland rooster to keep

[Hardboiled]

I hatched 9 Shetlands on July 1st to hopefully add color to my current mostly black flock. I got some red pullets which I'm thrilled about but need help deciding which boy to keep. One is reddish/ orange and one is black with red. The black with red is extremely friendly and sweet, the orange boy has an average personality.
Pix 1-3 are bachelor #1. Pix 4 and 5 are bachelor #2

I have someone who wants to pick up whoever I don't choose and I'm struggling.

 

[OneLostHen]

I like the coloring of the darker one. But sometimes the sweet ones are the ones that mature out as rude.

The stand off red one is already respectful of your space I assume. And might stay that way.

Are you wanting to breed them or just keep as you personal flock? If to breed and you're excited about the red pullets, maybe the red roo would pass the red gene? Im far from an expert on this breed or genetics in general.

 

[D13]

My immediate thought would be to pick the friendly one, but those can be a bit of a gamble (As OneLostHen so wisely said already), but if you want to be safe def go with the average behavior.

Or, wait until they get a bit older and then assess them again. If friendly is still uber friendly and basically an adult now, keep him. A little dude that likes to sit on your lap and takes the hens to visit you is definitely worth keeping and will 100% make your day better lol.

In my experience, average or timid roosters will stay that way. I'm the kinda guy who'll pick up a chicken and nuzzle it a whole bunch, so, a friendly little roo is my kinda chicken.

Beautiful boys btw!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would keep Mr Average, for the reasons stated above. Friendly cockerels often end up turning on you as they mature, as they think you are part of the flock and they can dominate you. They are surprised when you don't submit so they try to beat you into submission, with disastrous results all around. Keep Joe Average who is already a little scared of you. He'll make a good flockmaster, I'm thinking.

 

[Perris]

I'd keep the one your flock prefers (the other Shetland pullets and the mature mostly black ones they're bringing some colour to).