Which rooster would you keep?

[rodeorulz]

Those are single combs. Not even close to being pea combs. They are definitely not from a 'pure' flock. There are other things that have been crossed into those guys. The pea comb gene and the blue shell gene typically inherited together. So neither is likely to have a blue shell gene to pass to offspring.

My hen out of the same batch definitely has a pea comb though (I realize genetically speaking she must have gotten the "correct" genes for hers to display as it should). There was only one rooster used to father all the chicks and I imagine the hens originated from the same flock the rooster came from. I don't disagree that they must not have came from a genetically pure line of EEs (sounds funny saying that since they are crosses! lol). Perhaps it is a "modified pea comb"/"modified single comb" (maybe that's what you're getting at?). I have other breeds that have single combs and they do not look the same as these. It is good to know though that I should stick to a rooster with a more obviously correct (standard-wise) pea comb if I want to have a good chance of the blue shell gene showing up. My point of all this I guess is that if we're going to get technical I just don't think it is accurate to call it a single comb nor is it (after I've learned and researched some more) fair to call it a pea comb.
So what I've learned from our conversation is that if I want that blue shell gene and to be more in-line with the "breed standard" I should send both to the freezer and find better replacements down the road. If I'm just looking for a good flock rooster then none of this really matters as long as he does his job. Thanks for the help and education!

 

[rodeorulz]

For conformation I look at over all balance. How clean is that top line from head to tail, how developed is the breast, how do they carry their wings and tails, how do their feathers lay over the shape of the body, do their legs look proportional to their size, how handsome is their face shape including comb and wattles, how expressive are the eyes, does the bird just have that extra something.

Thank you for breaking that down for me, I really appreciate it! I may send you a private message down the road to ask for some help evaluating more roosters so I know how to evaluate them better myself.

 

[junebuggena]

Hatchery sourced Easter Eggers aren't mixed breeds at all. They just haven't been selectively bred to meet a particular standard. It's a common misconception that all Easter Eggers are mixed breeds.

 

[Stayc]

I chose by personality. The keeper was less agressive to me and the hens. Best of luck to you

 

[rodeorulz]

@junebuggena I did not know that. Thanks again!

 

[rodeorulz]

UPDATE: Both went to the freezer...as did the Cochin. The other roosters were really turning him into a flighty mean thing Surprisingly he didn't have much if any more meat on him that the EE roosters did! I guess he was more feather than meat!!
@junebuggena I also looked at my EE hen from that same bunch and I stand corrected...she too has somewhat of a "modified" pea/single comb. I guess I hadn't noticed how much it had "grown"!