I have 2 gorgeous cockerels... Which do I keep?

[dunnmom]

I have two 4 mo. old boys out of a hatch. They are both very handsome Brahma mixes. I can keep only one as my flock is penned and space is a big consideration. I also only have 8 females, so not enough for 2 roos. I’m asking for opinions about which I should keep with the flock. I thought it would be better to go by temperament than by looks, although I know that temperament can change over time.

One cockerel is very much an alpha over his broodmates, although the older hens still chase him from the feeder. He tries to escape the run when I open the door, and jumps up at me when I bring food like a puppy. He also used to peck at me, and once latched onto my finger and wouldn’t let go. My husband subdued him pretty harshly and he hasn’t tried it since. Just a bit naughty. The other cockerel is more subdued, sweet, cautious, and tends to hide behind the alpha. He also gets bullied by the older hens.

If breed matters, I think one is a Brahma/Marans cross, the other Brahma/SLW. The calmer one is the SLW mix. Neither has begun crowing or mounting hens yet, as far as I know. All I know is, my older hens seem pretty unhappy having 2 boys in there. They are 2 yrs. old and have been an all-girls club since I got them. I also have young children, if that matters, as well.

 

[Rlmp817]

I would pick the more docile one.
I made the mistake of keeping the dominant one & had to cull him as well. :-/
Does the calmer one ignore you? If so, I think he would be the keeper, from what I have read about cockerels.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Keep the calmer one. Trust me don’t pick the angry dominant roo

 

[dunnmom]

Thank you! Yes, the docile one has never gone after me or any of the girls that I’ve ever noticed. He’s just chill, and tries to blend in mostly. He’s been my first choice for awhile, but I was trying to think of my hens’ wellbeing first and foremost because they have to live with my choice.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why do you want a rooster? What are your goals as far as having a male? The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs. Anything else is personal preference. There is nothing wrong with personal preference, but if space is tight you might want to think about not keeping any.

Which one to keep if you decide you really do want one? If one really meets your goals, keep him. At four months that would mostly be about size or color if those are part of your goals. You are right, temperament can change. Not just as they mature but cockerels can affect each other. The dominant one is suppressing the behaviors of the other. If the submissive one suddenly became the only male he could let it go to his head and become a tyrant. Or he may still be great. The presence of the weaker one may still act as competition to the other, causing him to act out more.

With all else being equal I generally prefer the more dominant cockerel. Adolescence can be rough with any cockerel but I find that the more aggressive typically is more likely to favorably impress the hens when they all mature. He generally has the self-confidence and magnificence to win them over by personality instead of having to resort to brute force. The meeker ones are more likely to have to use force even after they mature. With either one of them though adolescence is likely to be hard to watch as they set up their relationships with the pullets and even older hens. That's just about his relationship with the other chickens.

Then you come to the potential to the human aggressive question, especially with kids involved. That's really hard and the stakes are high. I've had cockerels act out against me when the hormones first hit and be fine after I show them it is a bad idea. I've also had some that could not learn that lesson. I've also had some that were find around me but would attack others. It is hard to tell how any of them will turn out in the human aggression aspect. In general I lean toward keeping the one that has the greater self-confidence. I think they are more mentally stable. The less self-assured may be quicker to resort to violence in all their interactions, with people as well as the rest of the flock. But I sure cannot give any assurances how either of them will turn out. I don't always make the best decisions in this myself.

Good luck!

 

[dunnmom]

Why do you want a rooster? What are your goals as far as having a male? The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs. Anything else is personal preference. There is nothing wrong with personal preference, but if space is tight you might want to think about not keeping any.

Which one to keep if you decide you really do want one? If one really meets your goals, keep him. At four months that would mostly be about size or color if those are part of your goals. You are right, temperament can change. Not just as they mature but cockerels can affect each other. The dominant one is suppressing the behaviors of the other. If the submissive one suddenly became the only male he could let it go to his head and become a tyrant. Or he may still be great. The presence of the weaker one may still act as competition to the other, causing him to act out more.

With all else being equal I generally prefer the more dominant cockerel. Adolescence can be rough with any cockerel but I find that the more aggressive typically is more likely to favorably impress the hens when they all mature. He generally has the self-confidence and magnificence to win them over by personality instead of having to resort to brute force. The meeker ones are more likely to have to use force even after they mature. With either one of them though adolescence is likely to be hard to watch as they set up their relationships with the pullets and even older hens. That's just about his relationship with the other chickens.

Then you come to the potential to the human aggressive question, especially with kids involved. That's really hard and the stakes are high. I've had cockerels act out against me when the hormones first hit and be fine after I show them it is a bad idea. I've also had some that could not learn that lesson. I've also had some that were find around me but would attack others. It is hard to tell how any of them will turn out in the human aggression aspect. In general I lean toward keeping the one that has the greater self-confidence. I think they are more mentally stable. The less self-assured may be quicker to resort to violence in all their interactions, with people as well as the rest of the flock. But I sure cannot give any assurances how either of them will turn out. I don't always make the best decisions in this myself.

Good luck!

Thank you for your detailed reply. I would like the roo, not only for fertile eggs (for my friends and family that hatch), but as a possible peacekeeper for my girls. I may also in the next year or so, build a separate pen and start raising their chicks for meat, since most of the babies would be great table birds, and as replacements for laying hens that aren’t pulling their weight. I also would like to occasionally let them out of their pen, and we do have predators in the area. My Orps, as much as I love them, are not the brightest, and might benefit from having a large roo to watch over them. Am I trying too hard to justify keeping a roo? Maybe, but if he becomes a problem I can always cull him later.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you are considering meat as a goal then I'd keep the larger. It really is a crap shoot as to how they will behave.

 

[dunnmom]

If you are considering meat as a goal then I'd keep the larger. It really is a crap shoot as to how they will behave.

Thanks again, you brought up some great points for me to mull over before I decide. I’m one of those people who naturally has trouble making important decisions confidently, so I appreciate the guidance when I can get it.