Wanted: How to choose between two good roos

[wild chick]

That's helpful. I know a ton about horse conformation after 30+ years of riding & training, so I know a lot of it is years of experience and having a good eye. I know instantly when I like a horses look or I don't. But I don't know a dang thing about chickens! I'd welcome input by Bee or anyone else. Is the way to tag someone here to hit the quote or reply button? I think the hens look round and wide, but again, I'm not sure how they compare to others since these are my first ones.

 

[Beekissed]

Keep in mind, I only have these two pics to evaluate from. And sometimes I have problems expressing what I see, into words......

The silver bird just doesn't look as balanced or pleasing to the eye. He looks too leggy, I guess. Wyandottes are supposed to be "gravy bowl shaped", with deep bodies. His front line, the chest seems shallow, for lack of a better term. There's not much breast there, it ties in high to the body. Overall he looks more upright built, not a desired feature.

The gold bird seems to have more of the classic rounded shape, although he's still a hatchery bird. His legs and back seem more in proportion to the rest of his body, making him more balanced overall.

Again, some may be the angle of the pics. You can see the birds in person and will be able to better judge them. Wider bodies are usually a good thing, so keep that in mind. How wide bodied are your hens? If they're decent themselves, you don't necessarily need to compensate for that in the next generation.

You might ask Bee if she can articulate better why the gold bird is nicer, conformation wise. She may be able to pin point something I couldn't. I just know I looked at both of them and my brain said the gold bird was a bit better quality than the silver.

You are on the right track with his shape...he's a tad deeper in the chest than the silver bird, as well as having slight, but noticeable, more width at the pelvis, as well as a wider, better furnished tail. His feathering is also more full and luxurious, with the angle of the tail better than the silver as well.

If you'll note the secondary sex characteristics~ his longer, fuller waddles and larger comb and the better, more numerous cock feathers, I'm betting on his virility and slightly earlier maturity than the silver. Neither bird carries their wings at the right angle nor are truly deep in the chest, but for hatchery stock, one can't get too picky. They may fill out more in the chest as they age...they are young still.

The silver would be a cull in my flock, even when not compared to the golden. He has a neater comb but that's about all he has going for him from my view...people who actually raise this breed could probably give a better evaluation than I on it, though.

Here's the standard pic for White Wyandottes, which will pretty much be the same standard for the golden and silvers....this shape is what you are comparing to.

 

[wild chick]

Thank you Bee - I spent a lot of time on the internet yesterday looking up standards and got the picture. And there was a thread on BYC with several people posting that the SLW is one breed to avoid from hatcheries because they have gone so far from standard. Then I looked at all my young pullets and the 3 silvers are all slimmer and longer necked than the 6 golds. So Leo will rule. Last fall I was visiting a bed & breakfast that had a dozen free-range mixed hens and the owner said she would be happy to have a rooster of any breed, so I think Blue will find a new home. Since they have no purebred chickens I don't think his genes will matter. You all are awesome - thank you for your answers and your patience with my multiple questions!