Two roosters, possibly three? Which to keep?

[Ladybug2001]

I bought two buff orpingtons, two cochins, and two sex links.

I know for sure my two sex links are hens and my brown cochin is definitely a hen.

From a few weeks after having them I've thought both my buff orpingtons were roosters, and was told that others on this site thought so as well.

I am now thinking my white cochin is a roo as well.

So I need to know for sure, hopefully anyway, how many roosters I have. After that I need to figure out which one I want to keep, and would like help on that.

Both orpingtons.

White cochin



All three.

 

[FlCountryGirl]

Depends on age, but I'd say all 3 are roos.

 

[Ladybug2001]

They are three months old I believe.

 

[donrae]

Yep, the buffs and the cochin are roosters.

As far as who to keep....if you're new to chickens I'd say don't keep any roosters. Get rid of them and look for some hens to replace them. Roosters aren't pets and you'll probably be happier with an all female flock.

 

[FlCountryGirl]

If you end up keeping a roo. I'd go with whichever one has the best personality, can be handled and is good to your hens.

 

[Ladybug2001]

This is my third year of raising chickens, I would love to take a step up with a rooster. So far they all have really good personailities and they seem to rule their own hen, but are never very violent and they rarely fight with each other. The only one that stands out is one of my buffs, he always comes up to me when I go out there, and when he was a chick he would jump on my shoulder. I only will have enough hens to definitely keep one rooster and might see if someone will trade me two hens for two roosters some how.

 

[donrae]

I'd go with the cochin. They're generally the most docile. I would strongly advise not to let any of the roosters jump on you or be overly friendly. You need to start establishing your dominance, making them yield to you and move away from you when you walk through the flock. This board is rife with stories of "the best, nicest, friendliest rooster in the world trying to kill me when he turns six months old".