Which male would you choose? Light Sussex

[5Australorpasaures]

B, he's sportin' those feathers nicely.

 

[Galaxy_rules]

Our goal is SOP and we are so close, the judges only feedback for improvement on this year's stock was tail set just needs to be a tad lower.
Anyways our current Rooster has won champion at numerous Ag shows this year and we plan to put him in a state sussex show next month to see how he goes. But, I don't like his hackle colouring being so dark it's the only thing I'd change if I could. He has impeccable manners literally will stand and let you pick him up ect without fuss.
I want to keep one of his offspring from last year just in case something happens as we have extra pens and the space ect.
Which one would you choose? And why? Their temperament is the same both are calm boys hatched Dec 22 so approaching 30w and still aren't crowing but their father was also a very late maturer (re crowing) not a bad trait to pass down for meat birds?
View attachment 3545192
These are the current faults I can see just visually,I'm not sure if they will improve... I think it's unlikely and will be picking a better one from this year's hatch when we cross father with better hens.
View attachment 3545193

Cockeral B

 

[Galaxy_rules]

Our goal is SOP and we are so close, the judges only feedback for improvement on this year's stock was tail set just needs to be a tad lower.
Anyways our current Rooster has won champion at numerous Ag shows this year and we plan to put him in a state sussex show next month to see how he goes. But, I don't like his hackle colouring being so dark it's the only thing I'd change if I could. He has impeccable manners literally will stand and let you pick him up ect without fuss.
I want to keep one of his offspring from last year just in case something happens as we have extra pens and the space ect.
Which one would you choose? And why? Their temperament is the same both are calm boys hatched Dec 22 so approaching 30w and still aren't crowing but their father was also a very late maturer (re crowing) not a bad trait to pass down for meat birds?
View attachment 3545192
These are the current faults I can see just visually,I'm not sure if they will improve... I think it's unlikely and will be picking a better one from this year's hatch when we cross father with better hens.
View attachment 3545193

This is a girl I used to have

 

[everyday_farmlife]

How were the birds you started with? You seem to have made some really nice progress in 2 years! Do you only keep lights?

The birds in my profile pic were our original 2. The hen came from hatchery stock, but, she was the only one we bred from out of the 4 we had.
In saying that though we went to a lot of shows and asked lots of questions to know what to look for and breed towards. The stewards (esp the elderly ones) and judges were so helpful and encouraging as my son is nearly 6 but has a huge interest! He bought our originals as day olds with his xmas money when he was 3 and has spent his birthday money ever since on fertile eggs

 

[Amer]

Oh really! Yes I know it is common hence my hesitation keeping him but my hens lack some black in the tail so hopefully we can get a happy medium
Our show team is quite small only 3 Pullets and 1 Cock this year... there are 5 girls we are happy with but I always keep one at home just in case something happens. It would be the worst to lose your whole line to some freak disease which is always a risk...
View attachment 3546191
A photo of one of our girls, one of the two who stayed home actually hence why she isn't clean and shiny

Just gorgeous

Amer what do you think of this pullet (above) is she too full in the breast?

She appears to but she also gives the impression that she is crouching
It’s kinda flattish in the front instead of rounding off, but that is probably because she is crouching
Is her crop full in that pic?

 

[everyday_farmlife]

Just gorgeous

She appears to but she also gives the impression that she is crouching
It’s kinda flattish in the front instead of rounding off, but that is probably because she is crouching
Is her crop full in that pic?

Yea she was crouching, haha probably they aren't ever empty it seems well except on show day as we take the food away the afternoon before so they don't mess themselves, then feed them after judging.

This is her full sister with an empty crop. Sorry it's terrible angle

 

[Amer]

Yea she was crouching, haha probably they aren't ever empty it seems well except on show day as we take the food away the afternoon before so they don't mess themselves, then feed them after judging.
View attachment 3547179
This is her full sister with an empty crop. Sorry it's terrible angle

Nice!

 

[everyday_farmlife]

So proud of these 2 girls! They were against 27 soft feather entrants