People with multiple roosters, advice needed.

[NatJ]

Hm so one of my Rhode Island Red hen and my little Cochin had a roo that’s red with a sprig of black, he looks like his mama. So what is passed from my little Cochin rooster? I mean what do the males pass along? Or is it that specific?

Really short answer: it's complicated.

Little bit longer answer: given what you've seen so far with that rooster, he probably has a bunch of recessive genes, so his chicks will often look like their mothers. Some other roosters have a bunch of dominant genes, so their chicks will often look like themself (common example: solid black roosters). Some roosters have a mix of dominant and recessive genes, so their chicks will match them in some traits and not in others. The same goes for hens, so some hens will usually produce chicks that look like themselves, some will usually produce chicks that look like the fathers, and some produce chicks that look like mixes.

If you want a more thorough answer, I recommend the genetics section of the forum. Similar questions have been asked before. Examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...aits-or-roosters-or-are-both-the-same.201268/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-and-what-wil-the-hen-pass-to-chicks.681856/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-and-what-wil-the-hen-pass-to-chicks.681856/

There are probably quite a few more, but if you don't see any that put the answer in a form you can easily understand, try posting a new thread with your question. Questions posted in different years will tend to get answers from different people, which means it gets explained in slightly different ways.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Agree with all the above..

I've learned that a spare coop and run (2 would be better) is a must have. This is where multiple breeder pens come in handy.
I hatched out 14+ boys last year, which isn't a lot for breeders standards hatching hundreds (I'm small time), but they were spaced far enough apart that I could select thru them, sell, rinse and repeat, 7 was the most at one time and that maxed out the coop so I need to space out my hatches. I've got the 2 I kept for BCM breeders plus the White for this season. The 3 youngest in that photo I posted I need to select thru yet in a week or so.
Last year was my first year in full bore breeding to SOP (standard of perfection) so I'm still learning and winging it thru help of others more experienced. I find what works and what doesn't, and adjust accordingly.

 

[wrathsfarm]

So is kinda like.. ok my Snow White Cochin bantam and my cream crested legbar had (pic included) an obvious barred. I have 0 barred chickens. So somewhere there’s barred in someone’s line. Or is it like 2 brown eyed ppl can have a blue eyed baby but 2 blue eyed ppl can’t have a brown eyed baby.

@NatJ could you help with this one also for her, please.

Don't quote me on this as again I'm not an expert. But I believe the barring is from your Legbar.

Edited to add. Especially coming from the hen as she would pass it to her son's.

This was my short uneducated enough of an answer.

Corrections welcome.

 

[NatJ]

@NatJ could you help with this one also for her, please.

This was my short uneducated enough of an answer.

Corrections welcome.

You are correct. The Legbar hen gives the barring gene to her sons.

 

[z3lda3]

Really short answer: it's complicated.

Little bit longer answer: given what you've seen so far with that rooster, he probably has a bunch of recessive genes, so his chicks will often look like their mothers. Some other roosters have a bunch of dominant genes, so their chicks will often look like themself (common example: solid black roosters). Some roosters have a mix of dominant and recessive genes, so their chicks will match them in some traits and not in others. The same goes for hens, so some hens will usually produce chicks that look like themselves, some will usually produce chicks that look like the fathers, and some produce chicks that look like mixes.

If you want a more thorough answer, I recommend the genetics section of the forum. Similar questions have been asked before. Examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...aits-or-roosters-or-are-both-the-same.201268/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-and-what-wil-the-hen-pass-to-chicks.681856/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-and-what-wil-the-hen-pass-to-chicks.681856/

There are probably quite a few more, but if you don't see any that put the answer in a form you can easily understand, try posting a new thread with your question. Questions posted in different years will tend to get answers from different people, which means it gets explained in slightly different ways.

Thanks for the info! It actually doesn’t really matter, I’ve got a mixed flock just for myself and family. Eggs and entertainment purposes. I was just curious. Now I’ve got a hen, a bantam Cochin just like the rooster except she’s a frizzle. She’s sitting on 3 of her eggs, do you think they’ll be frizzles like mama or smooth feathered like daddy? ( is it called smooth feathered? You know “normal” feathers.)

 

[NatJ]

Thanks for the info! It actually doesn’t really matter, I’ve got a mixed flock just for myself and family. Eggs and entertainment purposes. I was just curious. Now I’ve got a hen, a bantam Cochin just like the rooster except she’s a frizzle. She’s sitting on 3 of her eggs, do you think they’ll be frizzles like mama or smooth feathered like daddy? ( is it called smooth feathered? You know “normal” feathers.)

With one frizzle-feathered parent and one parent with normal feathers, about half of chicks should be frizzles and the other half should have normal feathers.

 

[z3lda3]

With one frizzle-feathered parent and one parent with normal feathers, about half of chicks should be frizzles and the other half should have normal feathers.

Ah a toss up with just 3 eggs. I’m excited to find out! Thank you

 

[Charlene W]

Hi, let me start this by saying I love roosters, I think they’re awesome. I’m in a pickle here. I’ve got 23 hens, and 5 roosters. My primary rooster is a bantam Cochin, my secondary is a huge brahma. My third in command is a bantam old English. And 2 cockerels about 4 months old. The cockerels are in that horrible amped up “randy” stage, so I’ve separated them from the flock. My Brahma roo has been bucking up on my primary bantam. He could kill my little Cochin, so he’s in with the cockerels. (They don’t fight, they actually get along). My old English doesn’t do much of anything except dance around my hens. Even if he was to buck up on my little Cochin, they’re almost the same size, with little nubby talons.
Anyway my question- is it possible to have a bachelor flock as well as a regular flock? I’d separate the flocks of course. I’d like to keep all my Roos, any ideas? I’ve got plenty of yard space, 3 coops, and a run about 4x10x30. My two cockerels hang out there during the day.

I have 3 and one is not a great rooster. He is locked up in a large pen when not outside. Beautiful black austrolorp but the the number one Copper Marans and number two Americauna chase him. Would be nice to get him his own group of hens but they all live together and free range. We can't get rid of him because our flock is being treated for mycoplasma and that is something that can't ever be eliminated permanently so guess he will just live here the rest of his life. If yours are happy together in a separate run, go for it! They are pets.

 

[NorthernHomestead]

Oh man. I'm only a year in, but I remember when the six roos from my straight run came "of age". ALL my hens didn't start laying and hid from them. When the boys couldn't find hens, well... they started to attempt mating with weaker roos. A week after thinning the roo population, the hens started laying eggs.

In essence, keep your eyes open on how the boys treat each other during their adolescence.

 

[Double Yolked]

I don't comment here much any more. I've retired and have been traveling for a couple of years. No chickens. Just moved into a new forever-retired home on 5 acres. My neighbor, bless his heart, keeps us supplied with eggs. He's a gentle soul who releases spiders and never butchers his excess roos. Until this year.
His new straight run flock of chicks last summer were 18 roosters and 2 hens. By the time they got to 8 months old he totally lost it. 18 roosters, all fighting, all crowing, bullying the dogs, attacking his wife, couldn't be allowed near the hens. He got rid of all but 1 of them and does not speak of it... Ever.