Hi all,
I have 6 cockerels at the moment. 4 have been selected for freezer camp, but I'm not sure which of these two to keep. I'm raising chickens for meat and eggs. Both are roughly the same size and weight. I'm planning to add straight run chicks this fall and then make final selections next spring, but I want to keep a roo from this batch since I have no idea what I'll get from those.
The white one is dominant, crows daily but is quite attentive to the pullets. The blue is subordinate, hasn't crowed to my knowledge and wants to be attentive but the white one is firmly in charge. The white one immediately responded to a pullet who was still in the coop and encouraged her to come out this morning. He'll break up fights but he doesn't run down the offender and try to beat them into submission. He's a good flock leader.
Appearance wise I like the white one more and his comb is nice and straight.
Based on appearances though, the blue boy was suggested as the keeper by someone who knows my breeding goals. I'm just not sure the blue has the leadership qualities.
Here's a caveat...I'm also keeping a tiny guy from this batch for a bit. He's a slow feathering boy with a very naked neck and chest. I plan to pen him next spring with a few girls before processing to see if I can get some pullets with that feathering for future breeding.
Thoughts? TIA.
I have 6 cockerels at the moment. 4 have been selected for freezer camp, but I'm not sure which of these two to keep. I'm raising chickens for meat and eggs. Both are roughly the same size and weight. I'm planning to add straight run chicks this fall and then make final selections next spring, but I want to keep a roo from this batch since I have no idea what I'll get from those.
The white one is dominant, crows daily but is quite attentive to the pullets. The blue is subordinate, hasn't crowed to my knowledge and wants to be attentive but the white one is firmly in charge. The white one immediately responded to a pullet who was still in the coop and encouraged her to come out this morning. He'll break up fights but he doesn't run down the offender and try to beat them into submission. He's a good flock leader.
Appearance wise I like the white one more and his comb is nice and straight.
Based on appearances though, the blue boy was suggested as the keeper by someone who knows my breeding goals. I'm just not sure the blue has the leadership qualities.
Here's a caveat...I'm also keeping a tiny guy from this batch for a bit. He's a slow feathering boy with a very naked neck and chest. I plan to pen him next spring with a few girls before processing to see if I can get some pullets with that feathering for future breeding.
Thoughts? TIA.