Picking the Best Rooster(s)

[hcammack]

I am going to be hatching alot of faverolles this spring and selecting the best 1 or 2 cockeral to keep for breeding. I would select this way 1. type and breed standard 2. color 3.productivity 4.personality. I agree with speckledhen though if the rooster is aggressive I would cull him and defently not keep him for breeding. I just want you to know that to get 10 nice BQ birds in all of those breeds is going to take alot of hard work and startup money. From a dozen eggs I would say at best you could expect a really good breeder quality quad. I have learned there is alot of know about each individual breed and it takes time to develope an "eye" for the type and color of the breed. I think it will be very very hard to develope the "eye" for all 7 so quickly. I would also like to say that unless you get your eggs or birds from a very responsible and well known breeder you cannot depend on getting any breeder quality birds.

Good luck,
Henry

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
Cynthia:

This is such helpful information. And it makes perfect sense. I'm filing the information away for when the time is right. Thanks so much!



John

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
Henry,

Thanks for the info. I knew there had to be an intelligent way to choose the best birds; I just wasn't sure how to prioritize things. Thanks for doing it for me.

I'll be getting all of my eggs and chicks either from reputable breeders (for three of the breeds), Sand Hill Preservation (for three of the breeds), and from McMurray for the Buff Brahmas, just because I can't seem to find any breeders out there who raise Standards of these chickens. The vast majority seem only to have Bantams. If you've got other recommendations for a reputable Buff Brahma Standard breeder, I'm all ears. I'm curious what your thoughts are on getting this one breed from McMurray. Let me know, would you? Thanks.



John

 

[CTChickenMom]

A basic place to start too is just the breeds themselves. Some are just meat breeds, some are just egg breeds, and then there are the dual purpose. When you need to cull, some may not have enough meat on them to be worth the time. You probably know that but just thought I mention it.

 

[BarredBuff]

Although I have no expierience in breeding to me the personality is what matters.

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
I noticed your signature file. Did you REALLY count all of those bees?

John

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

I think I must have rotten luck with my roosters, and I don't even mean to get them. The one was extremely aggressive, and the other two are usually good or shy, but sometimes they'll run across the yard just to attack you. My hens are sweet as sugar though..

 

[Diavolicchio]

Life is too short to put up with an aggressive rooster with a bad attitude.

I'd be changing his name pretty darn quickly to Lunch, Snack, Din Din or Stewpot.



John

 

[BarredBuff]

Well I thought about it.....but the more I thought about it the more it didnt appeal to me:cd