How do I know which Rooster to keep with my girls?

[samandemsmommy]

Hi! I have 3 cream legbar pullets....and 3 roosters. I would like to breed my CL and keep them in a separate pen from my other chickens...my question is - how do I know which of my 3 roos to keep? I know very well I cannot have 3 hens and 3 roosters...that would just not work. So, I am planning on just one rooster. Tips for keeping the best one?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don’t know what your goals are but which rooster do you like the best or best meets your goals? Appearance and behaviors have an inherited component. Choose the one that you want his babies to be like.

 

[Folly's place]

How old are they? Eliminate any from contention who have obvious flaws in structure, or are human aggressive in any way. Then watch them as they grow, and make your choice. Sometimes human aggression doesn't appear until the following spring, but keeping all three with only three hens won't work out either. More hens??? Mary

 

[samandemsmommy]

They are only about 6 weeks old at the moment.

 

[aart]

Well then, you have a few months to decide.

 

[Mrs. K]

Truthfully, you will probably change your mind several times! However, I would not do an a cull two at one time. Generally, (at least with me) there is the one I know I don't want, cull that one first. Then wait awhile, and cull again.

Mrs K

 

[FridayYet]

When they get older, post their pictures on one of the Cream Legbar threads, people there will help you choose.

 

[Toddrick]

I ended up keeping the skittish runt cockerel by chance. It wasn't my choice, there were two others I would've chosen first, but it didn't work out that way. Anyways, it turned out good because he doesn't mate my three hens nearly as much as the others did (I rarely see him do it more than once a day), and since he has always been skittish, he is completely non aggressive to humans. I was concerned about breeding him since he was slow to feather, and was not dominant, but since I'm not showing, I suppose it doesn't matter.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You want the healthiest male possible to breed forward. I say possible as there are factors to consider so the dominant cockerel may not be the best choice. Aggression is on factor, don't confuse dominance with aggression. If you cull for dominance you'll be culling the top dog every week until your left with the runt that in turn will be dominant of the pullets. Then there are' the standards of the breed you need to consider. Shape, size, feather color, leg length, etc. Faster feathering is a good quality to breed for. It results in faster maturing birds and earlier egg laying. Once you've had the birds for years you'd choose the top layers as breeders and in turn use there male offspring.

There's a lot to consider but once they start growing out it's not as hard as it sounds. There will be distinct differences and you'll choose the one that best suits you.

 

[samandemsmommy]

Thanks, I will do that!!