Which EE roo should I keep?

[emjay]

I have 7 EE and EE/mix roos. They are leaving me on Saturday for a new home, all get to live. Yay. they lucked out. I am debating on keeping one. As a flock protector, and if I want to sustain new birds for my egg pen. But, I want to keep one that will give me new color.

I have ruled out several I don't want. I've narrowed it down to the following,

this fella , not sure who his mom is, I think, but, not positive, that his mom is a buff orp/white leghorn, dad is an EE for all the babies.

the buff fella, same parentage as above. He's got a nice beard going on.

this is a calm roo, very sweet natured, yet to see him fight the other boys. He looks like a sussex. His parentage, same as above.

this guy is sweet, but, has been getting into some fights lately. His parentage, same as above. He is mostly white with some very light tan coming through on tail feathers and wings

this guy, more of a fighter, but, kind to the girls. Not sure who his mom is, I think my EE partridge colored hen.

I am partial to either of the white ones. what do you all think? who would you keep?

 

[joedie]

They're all pretty but I like the third one, the Sussex mix!

 

[dsqard]

I would say depends on what attributes you want the most. Of course behavior is the most important. Do you want the offspring to have pea combs, muffs or size? Once you decide on that, pick the one that meets what you want and has the color you like the best. On looks alone, I like either number one or number 4.

 

[xyresicchick]

i like the 3rd and 4th ones

 

[Kittymomma]

I like the last two the best. If you're worried about keeping the green egg color for future pullets you'll probably want to go with the one that you're pretty sure has an EE mom.

Lovely roos! We're keeping a youngster that looks very much like your last photo--He was in the pullet bin and my kids got attached to the pretty white pullet before I figured out he was not a she. Oh well, we're fortunate enough to have 9-acres, be zoned ag and not subjected to any hoa's so as long as I don't get carried away to the point of the hen's having problems an extra roo or two isn't much of a problem around here.

How were you able to find so many homes for your extra boys if you don't mind my asking? We mostly send ours to freezer camp, but occasionaly I have a super sweet boy that I'd like to find a flock for. I've not had much luck with it though since most of mine are barnyard mixes.

 

[emjay]

I want to keep the muff/beard look. and they all have it to some degree. the buff colored one and the first one has the best so far, the white one is pretty good too.

Temperment is important also, the sussex colored one is the calmest. The first two are from my garage babies, so have a special attachment to them.
They are roos though, so I am thankful the home they are going to, they will be with their own girls. They won't get eaten, except by maybe predators. Not sure of the guys setup. SO, at least I have that.

 

[Cat Water]

I like 3 and 5

 

[emjay]

Quote:
I answered an ad, for someone looking for 'free' roosters. I emailed and asked what he was using them for. as he stated in the ad, 'not for eating, or fighting'.
Apparently, I've met him before, I gave him a SLW roo, that was supposed to be a pullet.

He says he has 400 chickens and wants one roo per 5 hens for fertility. so, I asked if he'd be interested in my boys. and he is.

the ones that have EE moms, not liking them, the one is black and white and brown, but has a not so nice face. looks mean.

the other one is red and black. not liking it either.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If it were me, I would keep the sweetest roo. Because I have been brutally attacked in the past by a roo.

 

[mamabigbird]

I vote for pic #5 and second favorite pic #4 ... I love how proud and clean #4 looks but prefer the markings on #5.