She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[dan26552]

 

[WVduckchick]

This is a good situation to explain how I would sell them. Just assume they are typical laying hens at layer prices
So I have 4 hens and 5 cockerels...
2 trios @ $30 each which is basically $15/ hen and the rooster for free
3 roosters for $15
So you wind up with $75 for 9 birds, or a little over $8 each

If I sold them separate, I would get a minimum of $12 each/ hen, so that's $48. The cockerels may, or may not, sell. When left with way too many roosters, I have sold them as low as 5 for $20 just to keep from feeding them any more, and some I have had to slaughter myself, or give away, because they just don't sell.
My first choice for rooster culling is temperament, then SOP. Damien was gorgeous, but a vicious rooster. My BCM rooster has a faulty comb and narrow body, but is a wonderful rooster. I'll take a good rooster over a perfect rooster any day. With the Ameraucanas, I am hoping I get a perfect rooster with a good personality

So you made a mistake keeping Damien for his looks??! So what makes a "good" rooster? Good looks, nice and friendly, yet not too rough on the girls? I still want one that will protect his girls. I guess there is a happy medium there somewhere.

 

[WalnutHill]

I'm thinking I will have to give up a couple of lavender orpington cockerels too. I hate to, because they are sooo handsome. But I think I can get a little more money out of them. I haven't really compared them to SOP, but they look really nice to me. I just can't decide which one to keep. The nicest/friendliest one has a darker comb, but he's a bit of a wuss. And I noticed a little blood spot just above his beak the other day. I think he is getting pecked a lot, so he probably isn't going to be the flock protector. Ugh.

So what does everyone look for when determining which males to keep?

Attitude (or lack of it) around people, good social skills within the flock (alerting to food, not hogging it), and moving toward a threat rather than running away. After those are met, it's all about looks. Conformation, color, and size are what the roo brings to the table.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Maybe

(The rabbit was a hint)

Ummmm I won't asl

 

[scflock]

So you made a mistake keeping Damien for his looks??! So what makes a "good" rooster? Good looks, nice and friendly, yet not too rough on the girls? I still want one that will protect his girls. I guess there is a happy medium there somewhere.

Silas is the best rooster I have ever had, or ever will have. I will cry if anything ever happens to him. He calls the girls to food, won't eat before they eat, takes treats from my hand and drops them for the girls and the chicks, is the first to call out any time a hawk flies over, and has never been the least bit aggressive towards me. I love this rooster. He is a little rough on the girls, but he only has 6 right now, so that's my fault. When I get him about 6 more I think he will be perfect.
I don't know if Damien was a mistake or not. He was very friendly until the girls started laying. I don't know if he was an aggressive Polish, or if Polish are aggressive. They don't sell for me, so it's a moot point now. I have good roosters in all 7 pens, but the silkie and Silas treat the girls the best

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Little hint, and don't

me, because I'm serious. Little cockerels are a tough sale. Not saying it can't be done, but not easy. Don't ask too much for them. If they haven't sold in a month, offer them all as a group at a discount price, and don't ask any questions...

Are you kidding, I offer as a group from the beginning. My first lot of boys I gave away and wished I had kept my polish silkie and my silkie. The last lot I sold the barnyard mix roos with the extra girls I decided I didn't want. One buyer took all. The Spitzhauben boys and one girl I sold all together and got $5/bird. Then when I found out that almost all the ones I kept of Spitzes were boys, I let my sister have the extras. These guys are only 6 weeks. There's 4 that I am fairly sure at this point are little roos, another couple I have my suspicions on, but I'm going to wait on them cause they are nns. I have a strict don't ask don't tell when it comes to getting rid of extra birds. LOL My sister is/was supposed to take my aggressive nn roo, I already know that he will be supper wether they take him or I find alternative suckers.

I'm thinking I will have to give up a couple of lavender orpington cockerels too. I hate to, because they are sooo handsome. But I think I can get a little more money out of them. I haven't really compared them to SOP, but they look really nice to me. I just can't decide which one to keep. The nicest/friendliest one has a darker comb, but he's a bit of a wuss. And I noticed a little blood spot just above his beak the other day. I think he is getting pecked a lot, so he probably isn't going to be the flock protector. Ugh.

So what does everyone look for when determining which males to keep?

Personality and looks. I like lots of color and variety. If Raven hadn't been such a suck up I probably never would have kept her because she's pretty much just black, but she' such a personable bird, I couldn't let go. I'm shallow, an like the pretty ones....lol

 

[scflock]

Ummmm I won't asl

See, you're making me talk above your and BR's heads

That's ok, though, I'm finding the challenge makes it more interesting

 

[dan26552]

Silas is the best rooster I have ever had, or ever will have. I will cry if anything ever happens to him. He calls the girls to food, won't eat before they eat, takes treats from my hand and drops them for the girls and the chicks, is the first to call out any time a hawk flies over, and has never been the least bit aggressive towards me. I love this rooster. He is a little rough on the girls, but he only has 6 right now, so that's my fault. When I get him about 6 more I think he will be perfect.
I don't know if Damien was a mistake or not. He was very friendly until the girls started laying. I don't know if he was an aggressive Polish, or if Polish are aggressive. They don't sell for me, so it's a moot point now. I have good roosters in all 7 pens, but the silkie and Silas treat the girls the best

Oooh! Pretty

 

[silkiecuddles]

Ummmm I won't ask

See, you're making me talk above your and BR's heads
That's ok, though, I'm finding the challenge makes it more interesting

okay then

 

[dan26552]

okay then

x2