Which rooster do I choose??? Any and all advice welcome!!! It's an unique situation!!!

[RCRChx]

Hi all!

TLDR;
I like the idea of keeping a rooster because it was an accident in the first place so I want to give it my best shot and I have a lot of predators in the area and I like to free range whenever I can.
Both cockerels are not really aggressive with each other, they coexist fine.
Cockerel A is currently alpha, has been crowing for 8 weeks and does not mount or chase the pullets so they are more comfortable around him, is generally less concerned about the flock but will still come over to the area when a pullet seems displeased, does NOT tidbit much for the girls, is NOT very proactive/self-sacrificing in predator situations, is slightly more human aggressive, is the less handsome boy.
Cockerel B has been crowing for basically the same amount of time, but with a much more pathetic crow, several to many times a day relentlessly chases and tries to mount the pullets so they are terrified of him (Cockerel A doesn't mind that he does this), is more concerned and obsessed with the flock, tidbits much more for the girls, is the front liner in a predator situation, has shown little to no human aggression, and is the better looking roo.
Who do I keep?
How long do I wait?
Will the girls eventually stop being scared of Cockerel B and will he become less aggressive when mating?

So the situation is that I have 4 pullets (2 RIRs and 2 black sex-linked) and 2 cockerels (Buff Orpingtons, didn't notice they were straight run when I got them as chicks). They were all brooded together, and I am a new chicken owner so no previous experience and no older hens/roosters to manage my flock.

Pullets are around 17 weeks old (Not laying, so not ready to mate), cockerels are maybe 18? The cockerels were always a little bigger from the start so I think they are a little older.

Both cockerels seem to have virtues and I do not know which one I should keep for the sake of a healthy ratio as the largest flock I plan on having is 9 total hens once I add 5 more girls next Spring.

Cockerel A is the alpha, always has been, but doesn't really bother Cockerel B, the subordinate, much anymore. They never had any bad fighting in the first place, just posturing and running up on each other occasionally, but never anything beyond that.
Cockerel A is the crower, nice strong crow, and started crowing at 10 weeks. Cockerel B followed shortly after.
Cockerel A doesn't have an issue with Cockerel B crowing, at least when they're free ranging, but Cockerel B doesn't crow much in the run, maybe he got beat up or something at some point
So as of right now, they live harmoniously with very few issues.

When it comes pullets, Cockerel B started chasing and trying to mount them about a week or so ago. From what I've read it sounds like typical cockerel behavior at this age where he chases the pullets and forcefully tries to mount them while biting them. Usually the neck but sometimes he misses and grabs a wing or something. I've seen him get some feathers in the process, but no bald spots or any real injuries on any of the pullets. Of course, the girls scream bloody murder during this and freak out. He attempts to mount the girls several times a day.
However, it's getting to a point where the pullets seem terrified of him. They skirt around him and generally keep their distance from them. It seems like they are foraging less while they're free ranging and are spending more time roosting and hanging out on pallets and spots that they can't be mounted or chased on.
Despite Cockerel A being alpha, I have never seen him attempt to mount any of the pullets yet and he does not have any problem with Cockerel B mounting them.
The girls are much less afraid of Cockerel A and don't necessarily avoid him the same way that they do Cockerel B.

When it comes to their virtues as future roosters, Cockerel B tidbits much more than Cockerel A. Cockerel A tidbits for 5 seconds and then just eats the food lol whereas Cockerel B will tidbit much more insistently for the girls.
With regard to protecting the flock from predators, Cockerel B seems braver and bolder when there's a predator. When there are friendly neighbor dogs or our friends' dogs around, Cockerel B puts himself between the predator and the flock and more adamantly challenges the predator while Cockerel A hangs a little further back with the flock. Cockerel B seems to generally be more obsessed with and concerned about the girls. When I pick up the favorite pullet, Cockerel B is the one who follows me around trying to get her back.

With humans, Cockerel A is a bit more rude. He's attacked my foot while walking by once and is generally not nice. He flaps his wings often and flares up more around humans compared to Cockerel B. Cockerel B seems more inquisitive when interacting with humans than anything else. Both bite when you try to pick them up at first. However, neither cockerel has ever properly challenged any human.

And lastly, the least relevant point, Cockerel B is more handsome, he is a beautiful, full-looking boy. I much prefer his appearance to Cockerel A.

My gut is telling me that generally, Cockerel B might end up being the better flock protector and caretaker of his the girls compared to Cockerel A. But it's really concerning to me how afraid the girls are of him at the moment. Once the girls become sexually mature and ready to mate, will he be less aggressive with mating? Given his current behaviors, do I have to be concerned about him being obsessed with mating in the future and over-mating the hens? When will he start learning to be more gentle??? Will the girls fear him forever because of this stage? And at what age should I seriously start considering getting rid of one of the cockerels or roosters?

Any advice is super welcome, I'm losing my head about this! I feel awful for the girls!!!!

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

I would personally choose Cockerel B

 

[RCRChx]

Cockerel A

My handsome Cockerel B<3

 

[lomine]

I would not keep any cockerel that shows signs of human aggression. There's lots of people on here that will say you can "train" it out of them, but I think that's a waste of time especially if you have another choice.

As far as chasing pullets, B may grow out of it. He may not. If it were my flock, I'd cull A and give B a chance. But still be prepared to cull B if he gets too rough with the girls.

 

[123RedBeard]

I'd invite A to dinner, and give B a couple of weeks timeout in a cage elsewhere ... When the pullets are more mature, bring him back ...

Cockrell's tend to be bigger, and mature faster than the pullets ...

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I really wouldnt count on a rooster for predator protection apart from warning calls

 

[C Siena]

I understand and will have to make the same decision and have made the decision last year. The girls are not ready and B may need some time out away from the girls. Not sure if you can keep both and wait a couple of weeks but might be good to see how A does w/o B around.
In my very limited experience, the teenage cockerel does not grow out of it for a long time, several more months +.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

It's been my experience that having a backup plan (and a backup rooster) is really nice to have. I don't know if you can manage that, but in the end if something happens to one you'll be glad you kept both. I've had some really great roosters in 16 years, all were great defenders of the flock, one even killed a hawk to protect the rest of the flock and lived to tell the story! I've had a few occasions where two roosters were willing to co-captain the team, which is wonderful. I know it doesn't always work out that way depending on their temperaments.

I wish you the best whatever you decide!

 

[Libertydoc]

I'm currently keeping 2 roosters. One was the father of the other. The son has become dominant. The fight was bloody. They have worked out their relationship now. The father has always been a protector as I've watched him put his body between a yard invader and the hens when a predator shows up. (We've dealt with bear, bobcat, fox and opossum so far.) Both crow wonderfully (and very early) and have done great hawk warnings when hawks are in the area. Genetically, the father (about two years old, son is one y/o) is the better choice as some of the hens are the sons sisters. Both are seem rough with hens but I may be comparing to how turkeys mate which is very civil by comparison. Bottom line, both are staying for now. If the dad attacks me too many times he may come to dinner. I'm comfortable with the hostility so that is keeping him around and I don't relish the idea of killing him when he definitely has demonstrated his willingness to protect the flock. (Heck, if irritability was the measure, someone would need to take me out.) Everyone's decision will be their own.

 

[ACS285]

I'm raising my first flock and also have shared all of your concerns with my 2 boys. I have invested a lot of time and effort to keep both Cockerels to date. My boyfriend wants them to reach their full size at least before inviting one to dinner. If we have to at all...

It's been my experience that having a backup plan (and a backup rooster) is really nice to have. I don't know if you can manage that, but in the end if something happens to one you'll be glad you kept both. I've had some really great roosters in 16 years, all were great defenders of the flock, one even killed a hawk to protect the rest of the flock and lived to tell the story! I've had a few occasions where two roosters were willing to co-captain the team, which is wonderful. I know it doesn't always work out that way depending on their temperaments.

I wish you the best whatever you decide!

I also liked the idea of a backup rooster. I do not know yet the different stages of chicken hood but I know with parrots you don't see their true personalities until their 3-5 years old depending... When a parrot goes through their juvenile stage... It can get brutal. They bite. They have attitude in spades and they're learning their place.
I understand chickens don't take so long. So I'm willing and able to ride it out. Once they get spurs then the game changes. Meanwhile...
I'm currently working at home so it's easy for me to spend a lot of time monitoring them when they're free ranging. I don't like to cage birds so they get many hours a day free. (I was the same way with my parrots) So far it's been worth it.

They're both 21/22 weeks old now. Just a couple weeks ago a hawk attacked the flock while they were dust bathing under a spruce tree. I was nearby on the porch and didn't see how it began but I saw the finish. My roosters worked together. My biggest burliest roo ran in to flush the hawk out of the spruce while the smaller one watched and paced back and forth trying to position himself. When the hawk bailed out of the tree, Baba was hot on its tail and Corney leaped as high as he could to meet it in flight and fell just short. Lucky for that hawk... Baba would have messed that bird up! Corney would have tried to help ... ... ...

My #1 roo is Baba. He's fiercely protective of his flock. He's large and in charge too. Perfect health, big meaty body, and a don't screw with me attitude. In the beginning he really harassed my poor girls and many of them would do their best to stay away from him. He used to be more friendly with me and my boyfriend but we've been running into issues lately. Recently he's started going after our feet and charging me from behind. He shows more caution with my boyfriend but he's always been more comfortable around me. Then he started standing off with me when I turn to stop his attacks. Which makes choosing the "right rooster for the job" a little bit more complicated. I thought for sure we were going to be inviting Baba to dinner for a solid 2 weeks or more. I have started to notice there's specific triggers to his behavior and I've experienced young unruly birds before. So we're working on it and I've been seeing positive results.

My #2 is Cornelius (aka Corney) and he is a wonderful goofball. Very laid back and friendly with everyone. There was a point where the hens would even bully him once in a while. He doesn't seem as alert to danger as Baba when they're all together but again Baba is so protective and constantly alert that Corney doesn't really have to be. Then there's his questionable genetics... He's a late bloomer in all aspects. I wonder about his intelligence quite often too. He also has a sort of bummed foot he'd had since he was a chick but he gets around fine. His balance while perched is only now starting to get better. He's got 2 toes on his right foot that sort of twist on him a little bit. Which makes me doubt his ability to ward off a hawk on his own.

One thing I learned so far is that they go through so many changes of personality and temperament in rapid succession too. What was true yesterday may not be true in a matter of a couple weeks. It's insane.

They had issues at 8 weeks. Corney didn't want to fight but Baba was relentless. I created a barrier in the run with garden fencing and turned a nest box in the coop into a small pen with chicken fencing. Baba stayed in the pen at night with his favorite female for company. Then I would let them out each day into the separate runs. They both got 3 females with them and I rotated which females spent the day with the other. Baba hadn't started mounting yet so the separations were peaceful mostly. It took about 3 days for Baba to relax again without wanting to attack Corney on sight. When I was satisfied with their interactions I allowed them to coexist in the run but I kept Baba in chicken jail for one additional night just in case.
When Baba did start to chase and mount, Corney didn't engage in anyway. They got along so well that they even slept snuggled up to each other, at that point. As the weeks went on their behaviors changed once again. It was very clear to me that Baba was going to be the larger rooster early on. He was always bigger than Corney. When Baba started to crow Corney did not. Not for almost an additional 3 weeks. When he did start growing it just came out as one wild scream. Then later it evolved into just a cockadoo! Instead of a full cockadoodledoo. Which is wildly entertaining. For the last 3 weeks Corney has been unsuccessfully challenging Baba for dominance and resorts to sneaking up on the girls (6 total) and mounting them when Baba isn't looking. There have been some fights but no blood yet. Corney keeps his distance when closed in with Baba in the coop/run but when they're free ranging they handle their own disputes rather briefly because Corney knows he can't stand toe to toe with Baba.

I can't say which rooster you should choose because you spend the most time with them and I firmly believe your instincts will guide you just fine. But I believe you should reserve final judgement for as long as it's possible to do so. They won't have spurs enough to harm you or anyone for quite some time. I think about a year, maybe. Baba has the show of a spur tip now but what I've read is 1 year. If you're interested in working out some of their behavioral issues, then give it a shot. It's mildly stressful but you might be surprised. Be prepared for some slightly painful bites but address it as soon as you're able and stay consistent. I spent my whole life around pet birds of all kinds but never chickens. Everything I'm doing with my roos is all trial and error. So...
If training them is not possible for you then that's fine but if you have a winter then try to give them until late fall. Then choose but don't wait until it's time to coop them up all winter if they don't get along with each other.
I mean, there are any number of reasons you shouldn't wait that long also. I understand how stressful it is to see the girls constantly harassed. (Side note, If you intervene when this is happening it can give the roosters mixed signals.) If it's too much then it's too much. You should enjoy being around your chickens and not constantly guarded or on edge. Some roosters mellow out but some definitely don't. I got lucky and Baba is seeming to be more gentlemanly with the girls. He gives them his treats when they come calling. It's adorable.
You also don't want to let aggression get out of hand. They can still do damage to one another without spurs. And if that one cockerel gets even more aggressive with people and clearly isn't going to change his mind then you may as well put that friendly roo in charge sooner than later so you get a chance to see who he'll be out from under the shadow of the other rooster.

I wish you the best.