Whelp....I'm in Beaverton and suddenly out of roosters. Looking for the right boy or fertile eggs.... haven't decided yet and thought the dice throw of what's available might help me make up my mind. If I go eggs, I will likely be looking for a quick turn over as I work solely with broodies. I'd need to find availability then connect when I've got a brooder.
I've got 20 lonely hens...but no him. Most are my Olive Egger project. Some are Cream Legbar breed backs. Some are Barnevelder breed backs. Sadly my Barney line roos aged out and passed. I've been using my blue line the last 2 years. But my Cream Legbar breed backs dont seem to have good rooster longevity....not sure why as hens are great.
Health is essential to me and I haven't brought an outside chicken into my flock...I think ..5 to 7 years. I've just worked on breed backs and olive eggers.
Now I'm at a cross roads and need new roosters and some new genetics. Pretty sure my cream legbar line is too inbred, egg shell quality and rooster lifespan. I'm also painting myself into a green corner losing the brown genetics and getting a boatload of green and blue.
Therefore I'm thinking of going dark brown first, so Barnevelder or Marans....either fertile eggs or rooster....IF the right boy.
Rooster MUST have a great temperament...no people, dog, human, child, hen aggression. Any nasties hit the soup pot on my place. My test is just pick them up and they don't really resist....no trying to claw my eyes out or biting. Some squawking okay.
Willing to drive 1 hour radius from Beaverton so Salem, McMinnville, Newberg, Oregon City, West Linn, Canby, etc.
Price negotiable. Working with egg money for my "foolish hobby." Hybrids fine if genetic lines clear. Looking for sustainable birds of good health, stature and temperament but not necessarily show quality.
LofMc