Which male would you choose? Light Sussex

[everyday_farmlife]

Our goal is SOP and we are so close, the judges only feedback for improvement on this year's stock was tail set just needs to be a tad lower.
Anyways our current Rooster has won champion at numerous Ag shows this year and we plan to put him in a state sussex show next month to see how he goes. But, I don't like his hackle colouring being so dark it's the only thing I'd change if I could. He has impeccable manners literally will stand and let you pick him up ect without fuss.
I want to keep one of his offspring from last year just in case something happens as we have extra pens and the space ect.
Which one would you choose? And why? Their temperament is the same both are calm boys hatched Dec 22 so approaching 30w and still aren't crowing but their father was also a very late maturer (re crowing) not a bad trait to pass down for meat birds?

These are the current faults I can see just visually,I'm not sure if they will improve... I think it's unlikely and will be picking a better one from this year's hatch when we cross father with better hens.

 

[Amer]

Cockerel B is better because he has a more developed breast and much better hackle coloring. He looks much more like a Sussex overall.
If you were to show him just pull the extra feathers, but it is something to look out for in future generations.
The back of A is a little nicer but B is still fine.
Nice pictures, btw.

 

[everyday_farmlife]

Cockerel B is better because he has a more developed breast and much better hackle coloring. He looks much more like a Sussex overall.
If you were to show him just pull the extra feathers, but it is something to look out for in future generations.
The back of A is a little nicer but B is still fine.
Nice pictures, btw.

Thanks Amer, appreciate it

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

I agree! I don't know anything about the SOP, but my initial impression was that B has a much fuller breast. Gorgeous birds!

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I would choose Cockerel B for the black in his hackles.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I agree with cockerel B because none of mine have hackles that nice
I have actually seen someone show a light sussex bantam with the extra black in the feathers. He told me it's a pretty common fault.

 

[everyday_farmlife]

I agree with cockerel B because none of mine have hackles that nice
I have actually seen someone show a light sussex bantam with the extra black in the feathers. He told me it's a pretty common fault.

Oh really! Yes I know it is common hence my hesitation keeping him but my hens lack some black in the tail so hopefully we can get a happy medium
Our show team is quite small only 3 Pullets and 1 Cock this year... there are 5 girls we are happy with but I always keep one at home just in case something happens. It would be the worst to lose your whole line to some freak disease which is always a risk...

A photo of one of our girls, one of the two who stayed home actually hence why she isn't clean and shiny

 

[everyday_farmlife]

Cockerel B is better because he has a more developed breast and much better hackle coloring. He looks much more like a Sussex overall.
If you were to show him just pull the extra feathers, but it is something to look out for in future generations.
The back of A is a little nicer but B is still fine.
Nice pictures, btw.

Amer what do you think of this pullet (above) is she too full in the breast?

 

[everyday_farmlife]

I agree! I don't know anything about the SOP, but my initial impression was that B has a much fuller breast. Gorgeous birds!

Thankyou, we have only been working on this breed for almost 2 years so we still have a ways to go but happy with our progress so far

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Thankyou, we have only been working on this breed for almost 2 years so we still have a ways to go but happy with our progress so far

How were the birds you started with? You seem to have made some really nice progress in 2 years! Do you only keep lights?