Tell me why you keep Roosters...

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

My new Ameraucana roo - He's a sweetheart to the girls, and beautiful to behold!

He is pretty, but his comb is in correct for an ameraucana and he had extremly large wattles for an ameraucana. the only thing that is keeping me from saying he is an easter egger is, I cant see what color his legs and bottoms of feet are.

 

[NYREDS]

He is pretty, but his comb is in correct for an ameraucana and he had extremly large wattles for an ameraucana. the only thing that is keeping me from saying he is an easter egger is, I cant see what color his legs and bottoms of feet are.

His comb isn't correct for ANYTHING.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

His comb isn't correct for ANYTHING.

I know its a very odd mutation. I say he is an easter egger, definatley not purebred ameraucana

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

He is pretty, but his comb is in correct for an ameraucana and he had extremly large wattles for an ameraucana. the only thing that is keeping me from saying he is an easter egger is, I cant see what color his legs and bottoms of feet are.

He has slate legs & feet. Bottom of his feet are white. This is why I thought he was Ameraucana. I found several photos of Ameraucana roos that look just like this one. His comb is certainly unique, but I have seen other combs like this one before.

The people I get him from are not "breeders." They breed simply to sell extra chickens to pay for the feed for their own layers. The chickens they raise & sell are for backyard flock purposes only. Their stock is not breeding quality, which they make very clear to buyers. I've noticed a lot of trait issues with their other breeds too, like their FBCMs.

If he's not pure Ameraucana, then he is a cross between Ameraucana & EE. These people had both in their pen, so it wouldn't be a surprise if it's an EE, or an OE.

Not that it really matters, since I won't be breeding my chickens to sell. My chickens are used for eggs, and I will breed them to hatch out replacement chicks each spring, for eggs & for meat.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

I found another pic showing his feet & legs this time. He just finished molting recently, so his feathers aren't as they normally look:

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I found another pic showing his feet & legs this time. He just finished molting recently, so his feathers aren't as they normally look:

he looks remarably like a blie wheaten, but his comb is wrongs so he is an ee

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

he looks remarably like a blie wheaten, but his comb is wrongs so he is an ee

Hmm. Yea, that was what I thought - blue wheaten. Could the comb simply a genetic mutation due to poor breed quality?
I can't even find a picture of a comb like his. It's 3 rows, with the middle row taller than the outer rows. Each row is spiked like a single comb, but placement is like that of a pea comb.

Weird.

 

[jenschix]

Roosters are awesome. My rooster "George" was the first one to greet me at the gate, only chix to jump in my lap like a dog but then he turned. In the last 4 months I daily got new bruises from hip to ankle where he attacked me with his 2inch spurs. He made a noise that had the hens scatter to the tree line and stopped me in my tracks - I can't say what the sound was but it truly made 10 old hens take notice. He was old and watchful and is now in the crockpot cause he drew blood down my leg today. Moral of the story - keep one rooster. No matter how mean, since he will protect the flock but don't turn your back on him.

 

[LibRat]

Ever since Pigpen was a baby, we would put a finger under his foot just to see him curl his toes because we thought it was funny. I know, we're easily amused lol Now, he thinks he has to put his big ole feet on our hands all the time. So my sweet roo will hold your hand...

 

[mmorgan79936]

I am down to 4 roos from my original 7. I have my maran, an EE, a white Cochin and Partridge. I love them all and wouldn't get rid of any of them by choice. They do very well protecting the flock and they keep the hen fights down to a minimal especially when I add a hen into the flock. I just had to add an injured hen today that was attacked by a dog from his last home and my Maran roo is protecting her. My snowballs do not like her at all so he keeps things quiet by chasing them away. I also love the beauty that my roos bring in the run. Their feathers just have a beautiful shine of erotic colors that stand out for people to see when they drive or walk by our house. I always get comments on their beauty. My Cochins love to mimic anyone that will dance. The boys also greet me every morning at the gate when I come out which brightens my day, they make it so hard for me to go back inside. My roos are so calm no aggression at all and love to be around us. And I love that I don't have to set an alarm clock anymore I have 4 right outside my window