I have several three and four month old cockerels and pullets that I'm looking at, and trying to get an idea wether or not to keep. I know that I won't be getting rid of any of them until they are full grown and have shown their max potential, but I'd like to get a head start on opinions. I already have an idea of who I do and don't like, but I'd like to hear what some other breeders have to say as well-especially on the wyandottes as I am not nearly as familiar with the breed as I am with bantam cochins.
All opinions are welcome, any input it appreciated
*I'm going to be getting more shots of the birds and adding them tomorrow or monday.
Cochins- Cockerels
no. 1
This one I am pretty sure I'm not going to be keeping. He just isn't "full" enough for his age, in my opinion, but I hope his body type changes. Plus he is a little bit aggressive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as far as vitality goes, but I already have one cocky rooster, and if this little dude doesn't have the quality to go with the attitude then he's out. (he's three months old)
no. 2
I'm not sure how I feel on no. 2. He has nice tail carriage, but again his body type is narrower then I would like. His leg feathering is amazing though, but I wish his shanks had the nice, dusky coloring (no.1 does have this) and I think he's a bit leggy. I'm really hoping he'll explode into a ball of feathers within the next five months. he's got an OK disposition. Four months old.
no. 3
As you can see, he has a slight twist in his comb which I'm hoping will straighten itself out in time-but his type is so nicely developing right now I might just keep him anyways. He is standing upright, so he has nice short little legs and a squat body type. I personally cannot tell when he's standing or when he's sitting. Right now he's my main choice, even though he is a bit pale on his legs and beak, but he's starting to get the lightly grey scales on his toes so that's good. 2 1/2 months old.
Cochin pullets: I'm not really a fan of any of the pullets I have under four months. But time will tell.
A three and a half mo blue mot. She's ok, imo, but her undercolor is weak and her type isn't the greatest. Nice little bird though. Four months old.
I think out of the pullets I'm listing this is the one I'd keep, I wish she was older so I could see wether she'd become a more black bird or she'd become a way mottled bird. Three months old.
And I think this one will be a cull. I'm not liking the way that tail is coming in, but maybe with time it'll turn into a nicer cushion. I've noticed with my birds that the ones who develop almost no cushion early on have the best type later. She's also skiddish and a little turd. Three months old.
I like this pullet, but I think it's pretty bizarre that her baby feathers came in blue barred, some of which you can still see on her saddle. Her teen feathers are coming in a nice light blue though. Three months old.
Wyandottes:
Like I said, I don't have much breed experience with wyandottes, but the parent birds came from Dan Jerome and Maplewinds poultry. So the parents are nice atleast.
I couldn't have asked for better gender percentages is I was a commercial producer-one cockerel to four pullets.
Cockerel-
I couldn't get any of these little buggers to stand very well as they are all fairly skiddish, so I apologize for the pics where they look like they aren't behaving
3 months old
Pullet no. 1
Three 1/2 months old
Pullet no. 2
Pullet no. 3
I'll get more pics tomorrow. Thanks to anyone who looks
-Mottie
All opinions are welcome, any input it appreciated
*I'm going to be getting more shots of the birds and adding them tomorrow or monday.
Cochins- Cockerels
no. 1
This one I am pretty sure I'm not going to be keeping. He just isn't "full" enough for his age, in my opinion, but I hope his body type changes. Plus he is a little bit aggressive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as far as vitality goes, but I already have one cocky rooster, and if this little dude doesn't have the quality to go with the attitude then he's out. (he's three months old)
no. 2
I'm not sure how I feel on no. 2. He has nice tail carriage, but again his body type is narrower then I would like. His leg feathering is amazing though, but I wish his shanks had the nice, dusky coloring (no.1 does have this) and I think he's a bit leggy. I'm really hoping he'll explode into a ball of feathers within the next five months. he's got an OK disposition. Four months old.
no. 3
As you can see, he has a slight twist in his comb which I'm hoping will straighten itself out in time-but his type is so nicely developing right now I might just keep him anyways. He is standing upright, so he has nice short little legs and a squat body type. I personally cannot tell when he's standing or when he's sitting. Right now he's my main choice, even though he is a bit pale on his legs and beak, but he's starting to get the lightly grey scales on his toes so that's good. 2 1/2 months old.
Cochin pullets: I'm not really a fan of any of the pullets I have under four months. But time will tell.
A three and a half mo blue mot. She's ok, imo, but her undercolor is weak and her type isn't the greatest. Nice little bird though. Four months old.
I think out of the pullets I'm listing this is the one I'd keep, I wish she was older so I could see wether she'd become a more black bird or she'd become a way mottled bird. Three months old.
And I think this one will be a cull. I'm not liking the way that tail is coming in, but maybe with time it'll turn into a nicer cushion. I've noticed with my birds that the ones who develop almost no cushion early on have the best type later. She's also skiddish and a little turd. Three months old.
I like this pullet, but I think it's pretty bizarre that her baby feathers came in blue barred, some of which you can still see on her saddle. Her teen feathers are coming in a nice light blue though. Three months old.
Wyandottes:
Like I said, I don't have much breed experience with wyandottes, but the parent birds came from Dan Jerome and Maplewinds poultry. So the parents are nice atleast.
I couldn't have asked for better gender percentages is I was a commercial producer-one cockerel to four pullets.
Cockerel-
I couldn't get any of these little buggers to stand very well as they are all fairly skiddish, so I apologize for the pics where they look like they aren't behaving
3 months old
Pullet no. 1
Three 1/2 months old
Pullet no. 2
Pullet no. 3
I'll get more pics tomorrow. Thanks to anyone who looks
-Mottie
