Which Rooster to Keep??

[lauranickerson]

Okay, so in March I bought 6 Production Red pullets, 3 "High production" pullets (Buffs), and 8 Barred Rock straight runs. I later bought a Wh. Leghorn pullet.

They are still a bit young to determine the age, but I have my eye on a couple that might be roosters. There is one BR that is much bigger than the rest, with bigger feet. All the other BRs are smaller. I guess they could be roosters, too, but who knows yet. I also noticed a certain Production Red pullet that has about 3x the size comb and waddles as it's "sisters," and is already turning pretty red. All of my Reds are red and white, but one is all red, and the one with the big comb is red with black tail feathers and speckles around it's neck. Looks more like a New Hampshire Red, with the black feathers and all. (I got all the reds from the same trough at Tractor Supply.)

What are the chances of getting a rooster out a pullet trough?

Also, with the P. Reds and BR pullets I DO have, which of the two possible roosters would be better to keep if I ever wanted to hatch the chicks? Will a certain mix get me more pullet chicks? And better laying pullets chicks? I haven't' really looked into genetics, yet, so yeah. I'm curious.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[lauranickerson]

Oh, and one more thing about the proposed PR rooster. He is seriously a 'chicken' and runs away when any of the hens stand off with him. lol.

 

[pastorwalt]

Nothing is going to change the 50% / 50% ratio of males to females
though, in the short run, you may get more or less of one or the other.
A production red rooster over the barred hens will give you black sex links.
the males will have a white spot on the head and feather out barred
the females will not, and will be black with red leakage.
maybe they will be better layers
but probably any combo of these breeds will be good IMO
A barred rock rooster over red hens will get you all barred black chicks
probably the same with the buffs but maybe not.
You don't know what went into them.
with the leghorn, chicks will be mostly white.

chick sexers make mistakes. 1%? 5%?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Nothing is going to change the 50% / 50% ratio of males to females
though, in the short run, you may get more or less of one or the other.
A production red rooster over the barred hens will give you black sex links.
the males will have a white spot on the head and feather out barred
the females will not, and will be black with red leakage.
maybe they will be better layers
but probably any combo of these breeds will be good IMO
A barred rock rooster over red hens will get you all barred black chicks
probably the same with the buffs but maybe not.
You don't know what went into them.
with the leghorn, chicks will be mostly white.

chick sexers make mistakes. 1%? 5%?

And since the troughs were open, the store employees or other customers may have placed a chick into the wrong trough after handling it...

 

[lauranickerson]

If I posted a picture, would you guys be able to give me your opinions? I know this isn't quite the right thread for this, but worth a shot, right?

 

[lauranickerson]

Nothing is going to change the 50% / 50% ratio of males to females
though, in the short run, you may get more or less of one or the other.
A production red rooster over the barred hens will give you black sex links.
the males will have a white spot on the head and feather out barred
the females will not, and will be black with red leakage.
maybe they will be better layers
but probably any combo of these breeds will be good IMO
A barred rock rooster over red hens will get you all barred black chicks
probably the same with the buffs but maybe not.
You don't know what went into them.
with the leghorn, chicks will be mostly white.

chick sexers make mistakes. 1%? 5%?

So would you suggest the Red rooster, if it is in fact, a rooster? Would 2 roosters with that many hens be a problem? I was really only was planning on keeping one, maybe rehoming the rest...like to a family friend who wants one. Potentially eating a few if the BRs end up being mostly roosters.