Which rooster to keep

[Ridgerunner]

I had one that did that at five months, really surprising. Another took 11 months. For most of mine it's around 7 months. Others, of course, have other results.

Something that I think gets lost in this is that the girls have a part to play too. I've had hens that will squat for practically anything in spurs. I think that 5 month old benefited from that. I've had some hens that resist being dominated by any male. The 11 month one ran into that but he was weak-spirited anyway. He was one of my mistakes from behaviors but he had the other genetics I wanted.

 

[Folly's place]

As RR said, it just depends. I keep multiple roosters, usually two for each of my three breeding groups, and they must all get along. For me, human aggression or injuries to hens or pullets are cull points, and I after years of waiting to see if an individual cockerel will 'improve' his behavior, he goes instead, sooner.
Right now I only have three roosters in my smaller flock, because of predation issues last year. And chicks in the brooder from Cackle, a broody hen, and more chicks coming in May. Lotsa boys included! I'll be watching and choosing all summer, so this winter I hope to have the three roosters and three cockerels as backup.
Watching flock interactions is fun! And this year especially it's going to be major home entertainment, rather than trips to where ever.
Mary