I just moved to a half acre in the middle of a small town, and found out I AM ALLOWED TO HAVE ROOSTERS!!!!!! I am pretty excited about it, because in my opinion, a rooster is one of the very best ways to protect your flock. I have a half acre, but most of it is wide open, then partly surrounded by privacy fence (read-perfect for hawks to swoop down and chow...to date, I have lost one young Delaware pullet to a hawk). I would like to look into getting a rooster for my 15 girls (come spring, there may not be quite so many...it was more economical to order 15 than the 9 I wanted...the plan was to order 15, then thin the numbers, but as attached as I get, they *might* all be staying lol). I am looking for a breed that is big, docile, and hopefully somewhat quite (I know, it varies from bird to bird, however, it also varies in general from breed to breed ie-orpingtons tend to not be quite as chatty as say, campines) so that I won't upset my very cool neighbors.
I prefer a gentleman who will take care of his ladies (again, I know this depends on the bird, but generalities may help me make my decision), and I don't want to pick a random mutt off of craigslist, deal with quarantining him, and all the stuff that goes along with introducing a new adult, and hope he isn't an a**hole when I get him home. He must be willing/able to try to protect them.
I have a mixed flock (1 BCM, 1 JG, 1 speckled Sussex, 1 golden campine, 1 buttercup, 1 white leghorn, 2 silver spangled hamburgs, 2 (I believe) blue orpingtons, 2 EEs, and 3 (I believe) welsummers), and have a preference for dual purpose breeds.
I would like a pretty good sized rooster...I am thinking maybe a barred cochin, a salmon faverolle, *maybe* a black copper marans, or something else along those lines...ideas? Suggestions?
I prefer a gentleman who will take care of his ladies (again, I know this depends on the bird, but generalities may help me make my decision), and I don't want to pick a random mutt off of craigslist, deal with quarantining him, and all the stuff that goes along with introducing a new adult, and hope he isn't an a**hole when I get him home. He must be willing/able to try to protect them.
I have a mixed flock (1 BCM, 1 JG, 1 speckled Sussex, 1 golden campine, 1 buttercup, 1 white leghorn, 2 silver spangled hamburgs, 2 (I believe) blue orpingtons, 2 EEs, and 3 (I believe) welsummers), and have a preference for dual purpose breeds.
I would like a pretty good sized rooster...I am thinking maybe a barred cochin, a salmon faverolle, *maybe* a black copper marans, or something else along those lines...ideas? Suggestions?