Possible Roosters, Pros and Cons of These Breeds?

[3KillerBs]

You probably already know this, but for most fruit trees you need two different varieties for pollination.

...

Sorry to kind of go off topic but this brings back memories. when i moved to 2 acres in Arkansas I planted a lot of trees.

Yes!

We're planting a number of things -- fruit trees, berries, and a garden. That last to be rotated through unused chicken pens the way my daughter's mother-in-law does.

 

[jess19864]

Thinking out loud here in a place where I'll have a good record of the evolution of my ideas and hoping for input.

As the placement of our house gets closer and we start budgeting for the increase of the flock and pondering what to do if Piccata, the Silver-Laced Wyandotte or Omelet, the Light Brahma, turn out to be cockerels instead of pullets (still uncertain at 12 and 10 weeks respectively), I've more or less decided that, as much as I love Brahmas for their beauty, I don't really want one as half the genetics in my flock. Nor do I think that an SLW is the best option for me here in the steamy southeast.

In time there will probably be two or three roosters as the flock grows and gets large enough to divide, but the current plan is to start with one.

My overall goals for the flock are:

Good temperament
Vigorous good health
Relatively rapid growth/maturity (hoping to sell my extras as started pullets/butcher spare cockerels and don't want to have to wait half a year)
Good egg laying
A variety of egg colors (hoping to sell eggs at farmers' markets)
Large and extra-large eggs (because small eggs don't sell well)
Colors and patterns I find attractive (black, white, and black and white -- absolutely no red)

Other factors:

I like feathered feet
Not too flighty -- they won't free range but will be in an open pen
I will probably be ordering from Ideal and/or Cackle

My thought is to follow advice often given here by raising a number of straight-run chicks and select the cockerel(s) I like best out of the bunch. I'm considering the following breeds:

Delaware -- Large, attractively patterned birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs

Australorp -- Large birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs. Possibly less visible to hawks than the light-colored birds.

French Black or Cuckoo Marans -- Large birds, attractively-patterned (cuckoo), with dark egg genetics. Feathered feet.

Black/White/Blue/Splash Ameraucana (Cackle) -- Medium birds, blue egg genetics.

Since all chickens are awesome in the hatchery catalogs I'd appreciate feedback from people with experience with these breeds. Especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.

i know it wasnt one of your given options but i absolutely love my Easter egger roo. he is the sweetest rooster ive ever had He was a happy accident. i was supposed to have a female lol. I have heard that salmon favorolle roos are the best as far as being docile towards humans and attentive to his ladies. I had a favorolle hen and she was my favorite she had the feathered feet and puffy cheeks but she laid pinkish to light brown eggs. If you want the blue id definitely go for the Ameraucana .They are also supposed to be very sweet. I like the surprise babies that i get from his fertilized eggs. Right now i have little easter eggers and little easter egger/maran,olive egger,turkens running around so i will be interested to see what they end up looking like. One of my chicks is definitely black maran/easter egger and he went from being almost completely black with specs of grey to now having a white face and splashes of white in his wings and belly. i love my marans temperament as well. I have no experience with australorps or Delawares. I honestly just do alot of research online before picking my breeds because I don't want roos or hens that would potentially make babies that would go after the kids or pick on my other birds. Not saying thats completely full proof but my easter egger roo never tries to attack anyone. The only time he did try to peck me was when i disturbed his sleep

 

[Kellow1]

Thinking out loud here in a place where I'll have a good record of the evolution of my ideas and hoping for input.

As the placement of our house gets closer and we start budgeting for the increase of the flock and pondering what to do if Piccata, the Silver-Laced Wyandotte or Omelet, the Light Brahma, turn out to be cockerels instead of pullets (still uncertain at 12 and 10 weeks respectively), I've more or less decided that, as much as I love Brahmas for their beauty, I don't really want one as half the genetics in my flock. Nor do I think that an SLW is the best option for me here in the steamy southeast.

In time there will probably be two or three roosters as the flock grows and gets large enough to divide, but the current plan is to start with one.

My overall goals for the flock are:

Good temperament
Vigorous good health
Relatively rapid growth/maturity (hoping to sell my extras as started pullets/butcher spare cockerels and don't want to have to wait half a year)
Good egg laying
A variety of egg colors (hoping to sell eggs at farmers' markets)
Large and extra-large eggs (because small eggs don't sell well)
Colors and patterns I find attractive (black, white, and black and white -- absolutely no red)

Other factors:

I like feathered feet
Not too flighty -- they won't free range but will be in an open pen
I will probably be ordering from Ideal and/or Cackle

My thought is to follow advice often given here by raising a number of straight-run chicks and select the cockerel(s) I like best out of the bunch. I'm considering the following breeds:

Delaware -- Large, attractively patterned birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs

Australorp -- Large birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs. Possibly less visible to hawks than the light-colored birds.

French Black or Cuckoo Marans -- Large birds, attractively-patterned (cuckoo), with dark egg genetics. Feathered feet.

Black/White/Blue/Splash Ameraucana (Cackle) -- Medium birds, blue egg genetics.

Since all chickens are awesome in the hatchery catalogs I'd appreciate feedback from people with experience with these breeds. Especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.

All of your selected breeds are great! I have all but the Marans but am considering this breed for my next addition. Good luck.

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

i know it wasnt one of your given options but i absolutely love my Easter egger roo. he is the sweetest rooster ive ever had He was a happy accident. i was supposed to have a female lol. I have heard that salmon favorolle roos are the best as far as being docile towards humans and attentive to his ladies. I had a favorolle hen and she was my favorite she had the feathered feet and puffy cheeks but she laid pinkish to light brown eggs. If you want the blue id definitely go for the Ameraucana .They are also supposed to be very sweet. I like the surprise babies that i get from his fertilized eggs. Right now i have little easter eggers and little easter egger/maran,olive egger,turkens running around so i will be interested to see what they end up looking like. One of my chicks is definitely black maran/easter egger and he went from being almost completely black with specs of grey to now having a white face and splashes of white in his wings and belly. i love my marans temperament as well. I have no experience with australorps or Delawares. I honestly just do alot of research online before picking my breeds because I don't want roos or hens that would potentially make babies that would go after the kids or pick on my other birds. Not saying thats completely full proof but my easter egger roo never tries to attack anyone. The only time he did try to peck me was when i disturbed his sleep

Definiteley easter egger or Welsummer

 

[Gentillaud]

Thinking out loud here in a place where I'll have a good record of the evolution of my ideas and hoping for input.

As the placement of our house gets closer and we start budgeting for the increase of the flock and pondering what to do if Piccata, the Silver-Laced Wyandotte or Omelet, the Light Brahma, turn out to be cockerels instead of pullets (still uncertain at 12 and 10 weeks respectively), I've more or less decided that, as much as I love Brahmas for their beauty, I don't really want one as half the genetics in my flock. Nor do I think that an SLW is the best option for me here in the steamy southeast.

In time there will probably be two or three roosters as the flock grows and gets large enough to divide, but the current plan is to start with one.

My overall goals for the flock are:

Good temperament
Vigorous good health
Relatively rapid growth/maturity (hoping to sell my extras as started pullets/butcher spare cockerels and don't want to have to wait half a year)
Good egg laying
A variety of egg colors (hoping to sell eggs at farmers' markets)
Large and extra-large eggs (because small eggs don't sell well)
Colors and patterns I find attractive (black, white, and black and white -- absolutely no red)

Other factors:

I like feathered feet
Not too flighty -- they won't free range but will be in an open pen
I will probably be ordering from Ideal and/or Cackle

My thought is to follow advice often given here by raising a number of straight-run chicks and select the cockerel(s) I like best out of the bunch. I'm considering the following breeds:

Delaware -- Large, attractively patterned birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs

Australorp -- Large birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs. Possibly less visible to hawks than the light-colored birds.

French Black or Cuckoo Marans -- Large birds, attractively-patterned (cuckoo), with dark egg genetics. Feathered feet.

Black/White/Blue/Splash Ameraucana (Cackle) -- Medium birds, blue egg genetics.

Since all chickens are awesome in the hatchery catalogs I'd appreciate feedback from people with experience with these breeds. Especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.

I live in the South of France. It's hot down here and can be quite humid. I breed the local Barbezieux (black - not unlike Minorca), which are great egg layers and are highly valued for their meat by the French. However, I have in the last 2 years also started breeding a Spanish chicken called the Pita Pinta Asturiana. Coming from Spain they are used to the heat; they are much less flighty than your average Mediterranean bird; they are a good fuel purpose chicken. But above all, they are a very beautiful bird. The negra is black with white splashes - there is also a brown/white roxa an all black and all white varieties too. The roosters are magnificent, large breasted specimens with a large 7/8 lobed single comb.

 

[Dea Marie]

I love my cochins. So sweet, frizzle or not, lots of non-red colors to choose from.

 

[3KillerBs]

However, I have in the last 2 years also started breeding a Spanish chicken called the Pita Pinta Asturiana.

That is a very beautiful breed indeed.

I need to stick with chickens that are more readily available in the US for now.

 

[Mark Park]

Thinking out loud here in a place where I'll have a good record of the evolution of my ideas and hoping for input.

As the placement of our house gets closer and we start budgeting for the increase of the flock and pondering what to do if Piccata, the Silver-Laced Wyandotte or Omelet, the Light Brahma, turn out to be cockerels instead of pullets (still uncertain at 12 and 10 weeks respectively), I've more or less decided that, as much as I love Brahmas for their beauty, I don't really want one as half the genetics in my flock. Nor do I think that an SLW is the best option for me here in the steamy southeast.

In time there will probably be two or three roosters as the flock grows and gets large enough to divide, but the current plan is to start with one.

My overall goals for the flock are:

Good temperament
Vigorous good health
Relatively rapid growth/maturity (hoping to sell my extras as started pullets/butcher spare cockerels and don't want to have to wait half a year)
Good egg laying
A variety of egg colors (hoping to sell eggs at farmers' markets)
Large and extra-large eggs (because small eggs don't sell well)
Colors and patterns I find attractive (black, white, and black and white -- absolutely no red)

Other factors:

I like feathered feet
Not too flighty -- they won't free range but will be in an open pen
I will probably be ordering from Ideal and/or Cackle

My thought is to follow advice often given here by raising a number of straight-run chicks and select the cockerel(s) I like best out of the bunch. I'm considering the following breeds:

Delaware -- Large, attractively patterned birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs

Australorp -- Large birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs. Possibly less visible to hawks than the light-colored birds.

French Black or Cuckoo Marans -- Large birds, attractively-patterned (cuckoo), with dark egg genetics. Feathered feet.

Black/White/Blue/Splash Ameraucana (Cackle) -- Medium birds, blue egg genetics.

Since all chickens are awesome in the hatchery catalogs I'd appreciate feedback from people with experience with these breeds. Especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.

I have had several cockerels -- some very successful, others not so much.

The two worst cockerels I ever had were a Copper and Black Marans and a Cornish Game. The black marans was a littlw terrorist that would attack anyone who came in the run. I had to bring a rake or shovel in with me to help him keep his distance. The Cornish never did the job he was hired for and never produced any chicks. He was built for an appetising shaoe on a servibg dish and was geometrically unsuitable for mounting hens.

The Cuckoo Marans cockerels were all beautiful with black and white plumage and friendly enough abd did their job well. I got several fenerations of excellent Cuckoo Marans chicks. Contrary to whatever you may have read, although it is true that the Marans produce excellent eggs, they are not particularly good as meat chickens.

The best meat and egg chickens I ever had were Sasso chickens. Huge excellent carcasses and lots of big brown eggs, great temperament. Excellent in every way. I am nit sure if they are available in the US, though.

If I was going to raise a dual purpose flock in the US I would get Rhode Island Reds. They produce lots if good eggs, have a nice big carcass with lots of meat and are well-behaved.

I wouldn't concebtrate in fast growth too much -- I raised a few batches of Cornish Cross broikers and they are lazy and don't hold up well. They just sit around and eat and get fat and have to be slaughtered after 2 or 3 months. They're couch potatoes. The slower growing free range meat birds are better chickens. You aleo don't have to oroxess them all at once -- Feed them less and make them find some of their own living in your field or garden and just process a few at a time. A Sasso, for example, will get better and better for at least a year and a half, getting bigger and meatier the whole time.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Thinking out loud here in a place where I'll have a good record of the evolution of my ideas and hoping for input.

As the placement of our house gets closer and we start budgeting for the increase of the flock and pondering what to do if Piccata, the Silver-Laced Wyandotte or Omelet, the Light Brahma, turn out to be cockerels instead of pullets (still uncertain at 12 and 10 weeks respectively), I've more or less decided that, as much as I love Brahmas for their beauty, I don't really want one as half the genetics in my flock. Nor do I think that an SLW is the best option for me here in the steamy southeast.

In time there will probably be two or three roosters as the flock grows and gets large enough to divide, but the current plan is to start with one.

My overall goals for the flock are:

Good temperament
Vigorous good health
Relatively rapid growth/maturity (hoping to sell my extras as started pullets/butcher spare cockerels and don't want to have to wait half a year)
Good egg laying
A variety of egg colors (hoping to sell eggs at farmers' markets)
Large and extra-large eggs (because small eggs don't sell well)
Colors and patterns I find attractive (black, white, and black and white -- absolutely no red)

Other factors:

I like feathered feet
Not too flighty -- they won't free range but will be in an open pen
I will probably be ordering from Ideal and/or Cackle

My thought is to follow advice often given here by raising a number of straight-run chicks and select the cockerel(s) I like best out of the bunch. I'm considering the following breeds:

Delaware -- Large, attractively patterned birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs

Australorp -- Large birds that grow rapidly, are well-adapted to heat, and lay good-sized, medium-brown eggs. Possibly less visible to hawks than the light-colored birds.

French Black or Cuckoo Marans -- Large birds, attractively-patterned (cuckoo), with dark egg genetics. Feathered feet.

Black/White/Blue/Splash Ameraucana (Cackle) -- Medium birds, blue egg genetics.

Since all chickens are awesome in the hatchery catalogs I'd appreciate feedback from people with experience with these breeds. Especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.

Australorps are amazing and the roosters are beautiful

 

[Flockincrazy]

I have a lot of different breeds of roosters my favorite is Plymouth barred rocks and Australorp