I have 4-6 roos and only 1 space - when should I choose?

[arrowti]

I let my hens hatch their own chicks this year. The result is 6, 5 or 4 roosters (two of them I'm still not COMPLETELY sure) and 3 obvious pullets. In my current flock I only have room for 1 more rooster to keep with my one and a half aging rooster (one is a banty )

Two of the roosters are 13 weeks old. They have not attempted any dominance over the flock and continue to be picked on by the older hens. The other roosters are 9 weeks old. I want to get an idea of their mature personality before deciding which rooster to keep, but I don't want all my hens to suffer the full effect of too many roosters in the process. I know winter is 'less' of a hormone rush than spring, but I doubt having snow on the ground will stop them from trying to mate all the time or fight.

What I want to pick is a rooster that has good protective instincts (alert, loud alarm call), that is not excessively aggressive to the hens (I know early breeding can be rough but there are definitely clear differences between rough and very rough roosters), that is generally the best personality of the bunch.

At what age do you typically get a good idea on a rooster's personality? And when would I be pushing it? The main problem is the age difference, of course.

I really wish there was space in the yard for a rooster flock. They are all so pretty and then it would be easy to determine personality.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally start removing and butchering those early troublemakers. By the time I reach the bottom I got a good idea who's good and who isn't. Usually the best roosters are either middle or towards the bottom.

 

[Mrs. K]

When I have this situation, I find that there are some I just do not want. Instead of trying to decide one out of the many, make a cut. These, I don't like. Get them out of the way. Then wait a little while longer, make a cut again, till you are down to two-three, then make a final decision. Thing is, roosters with roosters are often times different than roosters alone.

 

[Morrigan]

When I have this situation, I find that there are some I just do not want. Instead of trying to decide one out of the many, make a cut. These, I don't like. Get them out of the way. Then wait a little while longer, make a cut again, till you are down to two-three, then make a final decision. Thing is, roosters with roosters are often times different than roosters alone.

This is good advice. I've been going through the same thing in trying to pick a keeper out of a bunch of cockerels. First of all, it seems this is an inherently imperfect and imprecise process, so you can't get too hung up on waiting until you can confidently pick the "perfect" rooster. Just do your best and time will tell whether it was a good choice. Second, it is easier to decide what you don't want, and winnow the field down. I have now culled for aggression; crowing non-stop; and being too skinny. It's never fun culling. Just do it when you know the rooster is not a keeper and keep evaluating the remaining ones.

 

[arrowti]

My goal is to try and rehome the extras if possible. I know someone who does want a rooster (we had given them a rooster before, and sadly he passed this winter around the time his brother died). There is definitely one rooster that I don't like. He's one of the 13 week olds, and he just 'rubs me the wrong way' so to speak.

There are 2 of the 9 week olds that are pretty but not 'that' pretty. I can be rather vain but I still want to see how they mature. One of the 9 week olds, 100% sure he's a roo as of today, is absolutely beautiful. I wish I had a picture ready. He might be one of the last two to decide between. Muffs, feathered feet, beautiful black and white chest, red wings. This may be easier than I thought.

The 'winning' rooster, so to speak, will be joining the two older roosters I already have. He won't be the only rooster.

 

[Mosey2003]

I don't think you'll really be able to judge while there are older roosters in the flock. The younger ones will defer to them.