Which Roo would you keep for a mixed flock (Orps, SS, BCM, RIR)?

[Kytera]

Which Roo would you keep for a dual purpose mixed flock (Orps, SS, BCM, RIR)? I have 8wk old chicks - Buff Orp, Choc Orp, Speckled Sussex, and RIR. A few pullets and quite a few roos. The two BCM ended up both being Roos, one of which is super sweet and friendly.

I would like to keep 2-3 Roos in with the girls for now and decide the keeper once they are fully mature. Right now, I already pulled the nicest boy of each breed and have the rest into a "destined for freezer camp" group. I know I will end up with a bunch of barnyard mutts but I would love pretty ones lol I do want to add in a BCM hen and maybe a Cream Legbar or Ameruacana.

I am still trying to understand genetics, but I don't think any of these current combos would yield sex linked or autosexing babies, right? I know Chocolate + Black could. Would BCM over a chocolate hen work too?

For temperament and dual purpose breeding, what Roos would you keep?

 

[DemeterAD9]

Dual purpose meaning you want a relatively meaty body but also eggs, go for the largest roo but also be sure to give them a feel to see if they are fleshy rather than lanky. Of course they will all feel lanky right now because they are still growing, might want to wait till they are about 15-20 weeks old as they should be filling out by then. You can also look at their stance, a wide bodied bird with feet farther apart is going to have more meat than a thin one. Don’t let height fool you, a tall bird doesn’t mean a heavy bird. Figured that out when I butchered a 1yr old BJG who only weighed 6.5lbs live! Thought for sure he would weigh at least 10…

Behavior is probably the most important thing to consider. At 8 weeks they won’t be showing their true colors but once those hormones start kicking in look out! I also have a separate pen for my 10 week old cockerels and a couple are testing me with pecks already. I swatted one yesterday for biting me, he’ll be the first to go. As for colors, personally I’d probably go with BCM because the copper neck feathers often shows through on mixes and the darker egg color will likely pop up in the daughters as well.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Dual purpose meaning you want a relatively meaty body but also eggs, go for the largest roo but also be sure to give them a feel to see if they are fleshy rather than lanky. Of course they will all feel lanky right now because they are still growing, might want to wait till they are about 15-20 weeks old as they should be filling out by then. You can also look at their stance, a wide bodied bird with feet farther apart is going to have more meat than a thin one. Don’t let height fool you, a tall bird doesn’t mean a heavy bird. Figured that out when I butchered a 1yr old BJG who only weighed 6.5lbs live! Thought for sure he would weigh at least 10…

Behavior is probably the most important thing to consider. At 8 weeks they won’t be showing their true colors but once those hormones start kicking in look out! I also have a separate pen for my 10 week old cockerels and a couple are testing me with pecks already. I swatted one yesterday for biting me, he’ll be the first to go. As for colors, personally I’d probably go with BCM because the copper neck feathers often shows through on mixes and the darker egg color will likely pop up in the daughters as well.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Dual purpose meaning you want a relatively meaty body but also eggs, go for the largest roo but also be sure to give them a feel to see if they are fleshy rather than lanky. Of course they will all feel lanky right now because they are still growing, might want to wait till they are about 15-20 weeks old as they should be filling out by then. You can also look at their stance, a wide bodied bird with feet farther apart is going to have more meat than a thin one. Don’t let height fool you, a tall bird doesn’t mean a heavy bird. Figured that out when I butchered a 1yr old BJG who only weighed 6.5lbs live! Thought for sure he would weigh at least 10…

Behavior is probably the most important thing to consider. At 8 weeks they won’t be showing their true colors but once those hormones start kicking in look out! I also have a separate pen for my 10 week old cockerels and a couple are testing me with pecks already. I swatted one yesterday for biting me, he’ll be the first to go. As for colors, personally I’d probably go with BCM because the copper neck feathers often shows through on mixes and the darker egg color will likely pop up in the daughters as well.

Yes, definitely look and pick up the chickens. Last year had a Chocolate Orp hen who was huge, but when I picked her up she was all feather and no meat, and the icing on cake was she wasn't laying at all. Did the bone/ figure test, and she never would have laid any eggs.

 

[Folly's place]

Temperament is #1, and it's early times yet. 'Friendly' cockerels can become bad boys, because they are fearless and actually sizing you up as someone to push around later.
Do you have adult hens or roosters, or is this your first batch of chicks? Having adults around to 'civilize' cockerels is a good thing! And if these are your first ever cockerels, there's a learning curve coming up, as behaviors develop.
As long as they are getting along and not causing stress for the pullets, watch and wait for now.
Any that you just don't like, for any reason, are the first to go. Any with conformation flaws, not so much about show type, but unsoundness, also not keepers.
Then behavior, which actually may not be obvious for a few more months. You might have several possible keepers, or none at all.
Mary

 

[kattabelly]

I would like to keep 2-3 Roos in with the girls for now and decide the keeper once they are fully mature.

How many pullets do you have and how much space are they kept in?