Bringing this thread back to Heritage Large Fowl:
My Black Java breeding program took a backwards turn today. I had to kill my largest, best-looking cock. This leaves me with only one cock. I do have a few chicks from the recently dispatched bird, so maybe his type-related genes are still in the flock. It made me sad to kill him. I will miss seeing him around the yard. Unfortunately he flogged me one too many times. I won't miss the bruises and scabs. He made the best soup I have ever eaten.
While I was at it I also butchered the smallest five-month-old cockerel from last fall's broody hatch. I was surprised to discover that his testes were more than twice the size of the testes from the much larger, much more aggressive cock. I would have thought it would be the other way around.
Sarah
Sounds like you took a huge step forward and not a step back. ;-)