Welcome to BYC! I used to put mine out by 8 weeks...as long as they are fully feathered. One thing I love about this age is that they sleep all flopped over on each other like puppies! So cute! Eventually they roost and don't do this.
First of all, how many chickens do you have? Were the feathers from the same chicken or multiple chickens? What type of environment do you live in? A neighborhood or rural? Are there trees and woods the chickens may have fled to? They may not all be dead or taken but hiding instead.
Welcome to BYC! When I boil eggs, I poke a pin hole in one end of each, place in boiling water for 10 minutes, then plunge into cold water until cool. I almost never have trouble peeling the eggs using this method.
Welcome to BYC! I'm not sure of the best type of rooster. I only know raising them from chicks and handling them a lot as they grow helps with any aggression they might develop later...though not a guarantee! Ideas anyone?
I only ever had one problem with chicken saddles. It was was when I had an unused hook in the ceiling of my coop and a hen wearing a saddle got the saddle strap caught on it and spun and spun trying to get down...how long she was caught I don't know...she recovered fine bit ever since I don't...