New to Roosters

[3KillerBs]

Makes good sense. I'm in warm sunny local so don't have too much issues with slow lay so did not think of that.
Yes, half of flock. Great way to look at it.
Does anyone on this thread have a Light Brahma X RR hen or roo. Always bee curious...

Of course, not everyone wants the rooster for breeding. Some want him for flock dynamics, for his beauty, or even for the lovely sound of a good crow.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Of course, not everyone wants the rooster for breeding. Some want him for flock dynamics, for his beauty, or even for the lovely sound of a good crow.

Yeah, I'm checking all of those boxes, even the breeding one. My boys do not disappoint. They tolerate our heat and humidity with the best of them. Surprised me... in a good way (for once lol) my 4yos are still giving me a few eggs a week.
My DH did pick up 2 RSLs and I am terrified of the mass production then burn out they may have. Not enough to do hormone injections but I never would have picked them up. Do plan to breed them w/ one of my roos and hope to get a nice safe layer ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Out of curiosity and maybe for posterity what do you folks have on this thread and what do you like best about them. Maybe should include photos?
*** roosterwise that is...

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have Mutts for Roosters, part of my culling project. I find that mature hens are pretty good about teaching young cockerels acceptable behaviors - but every time there is a change in the flock, there are potential changes in behaviors. A previously sweet, submissive Roo can become aggressive when the dominant is removed, or an overly protective rooster might settle down upon becoming the dominant bird. and of course, young cockerels tend to mellow a bit - except the ones that don't.

That said, I have a rule. An aggresive roo gets one "freebie" with me (but not my wife, or anyone else). I don't tolerate them on the property, and am unwilling to take the risk of another flogging - I know where those spurs have been. I don't expect roosters to act like humans, but I **DO** expect them to know their place. He can charge me. ONCE. I'm happy to show him where I stand in the pecking order. If he charges my wife, he goes to freezer camp that day. No one else is permitted on the property past the fence - I take biosecurity seriously - so she and I are the rooster's only "no go"s.

I encourage you to look for an early laying, clean shanked, single comb rooster of good body condition and decent size to fill the protector/breeder/free range leader role in your flock. Those traits should be good for your environment. Possibly something with a good coloration for your environment as well - or pick something that will make it easy to tell your birds from the background (and your neighbors' birds) - depending on what you think is most important.

 

[3KillerBs]

Out of curiosity and maybe for posterity what do you folks have on this thread and what do you like best about them. Maybe should include photos?
*** roosterwise that is...

I currently have a 7-month Black Langshan cockerel who is starting to fertilize eggs so discretely that I haven't even seen him actually mating. He doesn't titbit yet, but I have seen him dance for a seriously unimpressed pullet. I have seen him attempt to mate an adult hen who protested and he backed off.

I have also seen one hilarious "hen surfing" episode with the Brahma in my avatar which was probably about dominance rather than hormones since she's not currently laying (worst layer in the flock). I am OK with his behavior on that occasion because it's not a routine thing and because I know that hen refuses to squat for me too. If he's to be flockmaster she has to accept her place.

Ludwig's good points:

Large size​

Beautiful shape and color​

Feathered feet (I'm fond of them and have the right soil conditions for them)​

Good temperament (so far -- we're not out of the woods yet for hormonal fits)​

Decent-sounding crow​

Ludwig's bad points:

Slow-feathering gene -- if it's established in the flock I'll have to keep chicks on heat longer​

Late maturity​

Of a breed not known for high egg production or large eggs​

​

I have several Blue Australorp cockerels coming up -- currently about 14 weeks. They're maturing much more rapidly and are of a breed that I like very much but are too young to have much in the way of distinguishing features.

I think I would like to have 2 roosters and am willing to split my flock into an Australorp flock and a general flock. I may keep Ludwig only for a year and then replace him with either a Delaware, a French Cuckoo Marans, or one of his sons. I'm still in the stage of trying out different breeds.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I'm not the OP but find people who keep roosters interesting as they are kindred spirits and I always learn something whether I know it or not.
I'm a Brahma gal pretty much through and though right now. I am totally open for change, I just have not seen reason to yet. My favorite birds tend to be Brahma mixes, I think a little Brahma improves most all breeds. Usually light Brahma mixes as I have not kept any of my Buff or Dark mixes for the long haul. Brahma EE's are pretty fun.

Maybe because we are a warm climate they tend to lay as well as the next, just look better doing it IMO. Less reproductive issues than my other breeds too. I like that they are a "get along" bird as I detest bullies. None of mine have been particularly clickish. Though the Buff tend to be a bit more fragile and docile and the Dark a bit more.... simple.

I have had more than a few single combed roos that were kind of sketchy or loud or disruptive and did not handle the heat and humidity as well as my Brahmas do. My #1 boy Spider is a beautiful leader of his flock and was loved and respected from the start, the slipper fit.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Someone, I forget who, has a recent thread on Brahma / EE mixes with good results. EE are hybrids, so you never know what you are going to get from the hatchery in terms of genetics.

I'd have to look for it again, but need my PC. I'm on my cell at the moment.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Someone, I forget who, has a recent thread on Brahma / EE mixes with good results. EE are hybrids, so you never know what you are going to get from the hatchery in terms of genetics.

I'd have to look for it again, but need my PC. I'm on my cell at the moment.

I'd love it if you would PM me the thread for fun. I looked but can not find.
I absolutely love mine.

 

[aart]

I am looking for something that would watch the flock, but I am more interested in a bird that would not be aggressive towards my wife or I.

I would not count on a male for 'protecting' the flock in a free range scenario.
Human aggression has much more to do with how the keepers behave than breed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'd love it if you would PM me the thread for fun. I looked but can not find.
I absolutely love mine.

On further reflection, it does not appear to be a thread, rather numerous comments by @MysteryChicken on other threads discussing crossbreeds.