Which rooster to keep? (GLW)

[punnett]

This is my first question after lurking a long while, so thanks retroactively for all your help!

I have a small flock of 10 golden laced Wyandottes as I learn the lay of the land. I got them as hatchlings with "1" rooster, but now in their 3rd month as they get their secondary sex characteristics, I find there are actually two.

I intend to keep a meat-and-eggs flock, and want to keep a rooster so that I can keep "birds in the flock" effectively constant, having a consistent supply of eggs, and converting to meat if the flock gets too large. But 2 roosters in 10 seems outweighted--they are not fighting yet, but I presume it would start soon.

So: the birds are consistent in form (to my novice eye). One has a single comb, and one has a rose comb. I live in a cold climate, so I do want to lean in to the rose comb. But I've read about sperm motility issues in rose combs (ie) , and don't want to fry the single only to find the rose won't produce.

All else held equal, I'd like to optimize for good form in case the kids (some day) want to show birds in 4H. But I imagine the comb is my primary "decision maker" here?

-what would you like to see pictures of to help make a choice?
-would you keep a rose comb or a single comb to be the breeding rooster for your GLW flock?
-any other thoughts or things I'm missing?

I'm happy to take pictures as requested.

 

[HappyClucker7]

Pictures of both roosters would be good.
Wyandottes are supposed to have rose combs, not single combs, so if you're breeding to the SOP, and intend on showing eventually, I would pick the rose combed rooster.
You also have to consider their temperaments and how they treat the hens.

 

[punnett]

It is a very windy day, their feathers do calm down better than this. I haven't noticed much difference in disposition yet; the rose approaches me faster about 80% of the time. The single's tail feathers seem pretty mussed up just now, so maybe they did have their first fight this morning?

When should I dispatch the one I choose to dispatch, speaking of? I assume I have another ~2 weeks to make this decision, but I'd appreciate feedback.

Single comb:

Single form: (am I taking "form" photos correctly? Happy to get insight)

Rose comb:

Rose form:

And here they are standing center of the reclining flock together, as they were evaluating (again) whether I was friend or foe:

 

[Buckingham Palace]

You have very handsome Roos.

 

[punnett]

You have very handsome Roos.

At this point it's all thanks to a good hatchery

 

[DarJones]

The straight comb bird has weaker lacing and his head is not quite wide enough.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have hatched a bunch of chicks and narrowed the flock down to one rooster. I didn't choose him, I let a hen choose him. they walk around together, I call him Choice, and her, Joyce.

 

[punnett]

I have hatched a bunch of chicks and narrowed the flock down to one rooster. I didn't choose him, I let a hen choose him. they walk around together, I call him Choice, and her, Joyce.

well is that ever adorable!

 

[punnett]

The straight comb bird has weaker lacing and his head is not quite wide enough.

Thanks Dar! I admire your work. Out of curiosity, do you mean "too narrow" like the diameter eye-to-eye, or the diameter crown-to-chin ?

 

[Amer]

If your kids decide to start showing in 4-H, buy some nice birds from a breeder. A hatchery bird won’t be able to compete with show birds because they aren’t bred to the Standard of Perfection. Show quality birds may require you to drive a distance to acquire but it’s worth it because they are affordable, saving years of work and feed in breeding up low quality stock. Additionally, buying, breeding and showing birds preserves beautiful genetics for future genetics and gives them exposure.
That said, I haven’t seen good gold laced Wyandottes in person, so if that is the breed you want a project involving breeding up hatchery gold laced or crossing them with silver might be in order, depending on where you live.
If you just want to manage this flock for meat and eggs, good, just hatchery birds are fine. (Though it is my opinion that show birds will produce a superior carcass.) Sperm motility isn’t so much of a concern, so go ahead and pick the rose combed cockerel since rose combs are what you want.
The profile picture of the single combed bird is a perfect photo for showing type.
The rose combed one actually has good width, however, hatchery Wyandottes tend to far too small to meet the Standard of Perfection by which all show birds are judged.