These are my #4 choice on the left and #3 choice on the right. I numbered off a poster board in inches. They sure didn't want to cooperate by lining up on the numbers. Hah! #4 needs more brick shape maybe . #3 has more substance.
#4 choice
#3 choice. He spent a week with hens and lost his tail condition quickly. I'm not hatching eggs from him this year.
#3 from the top. These boys don't fit in my old LF show cage.
Charging my battery. I'll cage up my #1 and #2 choices later today.
He #3 does seem to have that small hump on his back. No matter what angle I took his picture. I appreciate the feed back. It is obvious to me that these four males I kept are strong in some points and weak in others. Trying to learn as much as possible before putting breeding pen #1 together. Everyone has told me it takes a year for this old strain to mature. I had to cull fourteen to four because I couldn't afford to feed them all through the winter.
With knowing the stages that mine went through, I can't really pick any of them apart because they go through so many stages. They all have nice dark color to them, all seem to have good wing carriage. Most are showing good structure and for leg color on all of them I know the camera lightens up the legs, combs and wattles. I think you are going to have a rough time on which ones to keep and which to sell or eat. lol I go through this same thing. If you have room it would be a good idea to hold onto them as long as you can. They really do change from month to month a lot.Ok... let's pick these apart... these were 26 weeks old last weekend.
They are at a bad time in feathering right now, but... just curious what folks will do with critiquing what they can see.
I should have penned them... didn't realize how difficult it would be to get good shots when they were loose.
1 Okay, what I'm going to say is going by my RC. This boy has nice brick shape, nice length and straight back, looks like he will have good tail set, I'm not saying anything about leg color because I know what happens with pictures. Appears to have good wing carriage and is showing good color for coming out of molt. I think he will turn out to be a good one.
2 This boy doesn't seem to have as much length but it could be the picture and the way he was moving. Color I know was from sun or flash. I've had this happen so I know that is what it is
3 Seems to have better length to the comb. Nice width all the way back.
4 The way that this boy is standing, I can't say anything other then he appears to have decent color. Bad picture.
5 Will fill out more with age.
6 Nice looking boy but looks a little narrower in the back end on this picture.
7 Give these two their boxing gloves and let them get it on. ha,ha,ha
8 This boy (going by the picture) looks to need more brick shape and more defined keel. Again, it could be the way he is standing. Seem smaller featured then some.
He #3 does seem to have that small hump on his back. No matter what angle I took his picture. I appreciate the feed back. It is obvious to me that these four males I kept are strong in some points and weak in others. Trying to learn as much as possible before putting breeding pen #1 together. Everyone has told me it takes a year for this old strain to mature. I had to cull fourteen to four because I couldn't afford to feed them all through the winter.
These next two are my top picks but I really want more feed back from the knowledgeable here. I am a beginner with this breed. Bob started me out last year by private messages and a breeders list that he had and gave me. I chose Ron F. birds because I love their looks and dispositions. Bob and Ron F. told me not to be in a hurry to cull.
#1 choice is on the right. He has been with the layers for four days and was a real pain to catch. (for me and him both) He is riled up and his wings are askew. I had to really struggle to hold on to him and get him in the cage. He would like to take the head off of boy #2 on the left.
#2 choice on the left is alpha cockerel of all others. He crows all day and is the largest of all the males. I keep him in the barn so he remains safe and leaves the hens alone. His comb comes up in back.
All four have good and not so good points. Which should go with my pullets for 2014 is the question.
