What Breed of Rooster would YOU get?

[Dottie the Chicken]

Alright, so, I want to get a rooster next year. I've had what breed I'm going to get "figured out" more than once... My mind keeps changing! So, here we go..

If you wanted a rooster that was beautiful, good at protecting his flock-yet not aggressive towards people/or his hens, carried good egg laying genes, and wasn't very flighty, what breed would YOU get?

Please give me some ideas! Or just share breeds that have worked out for you (why you like them as well), are popular on the selling market, ect.

Thank you!!
Dottie the Chicken

 

[Orpingtonsarecool]

I have always wanted a silkie rooster

 

[featheredplanets]

Do you have anymore specifics? Egg colour, bantam, large fowl, light weight or heavy, does he need to be pure? My choice would be from Marans, Orpington, Sussex, Welsummer. I had a Silkie roo and Ayam Cemani roo and neither were that great imo. I also had a Turkish Aseel roo and MGB roo, big difference in size but equally great with their girls. With your specifics though I’d chose one of the other breeds I listed. Just my 2 pence

 

[BantyChooks]

Oddly enough, the best rooster I have ever owned was a hatchery line silkie. However, I would not recommend silkies as a whole; the other roosters of that breed which I have owned were about as smart as a bug on a window screen. As far as consistency goes, large fowl chanteclers have been quite lovely, and the white Plymouth rock I currently own is also a capable flock leader. Whether they carry good production genes depends somewhat on the line you purchase from, but I have found my white rock hens to be competent layers.

Pet-quality partridge chantecler cockerel

 

[neo71665]

I like my Rhode island red but they can be hit and miss on being aggressive. They have all the rest of the traits you like. Plus they are good eating.

 

[Compost King]

For flock protection in an egg flock with good egg laying genetics etc.. Rhode Island Red Bantam roosters seem ideal. I like to bring down the size of birds in an egg flock without too much loss on egg size. Rhode Island Red would be perfect for that and eventually lead to a better next generation. Smaller Roosters eat less and forage better than larger ones. I finally bought me one (with a female RI Red Bantam) If you have the right hens they are great at making Sex Links. My favorite size of Chicken is halfway between a Bantam and a large fowl bird. I call them 3/4 sized birds.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I'd say large fowl only for now, heavy-maybe, I don't want so heavy that he'd hurt smaller hens when he tries to mate. I'd like pure, unless I go with an Easter Egger.

 

[The Happster]

The breed I have always had good experiences with is Buff Orpington. Or just Orpington.
As a rule, the roosters are very docile.
All five of my pure buff cockerels have been the sweetest ever.
It does depend on what breeds your hens are. You do not want a stompy Orp cockerel in with bantams.
They do an awesome job though.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

More info:
I sell eggs. Currently I have 78 chickens- all standard, no bantams. Here is my breed list: ISA Browns, Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers, 1 Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Reds, 1 Calico Princess, Sapphire Gems, Salmon Faverolles, Silver, and Golden Laced Wyandottes, and Speckled Sussex.

Anyone ever had experiences with Wyandotte roosters?

 

[neo71665]

My grandmother had some. They were always fighting her other roosters (she free ranged on her property of 5 acres) so they never lasted long before turning into dumplings.