Which Wheaten to keep?

[Linda Ferguson]

Could I please get some opinions on which of these two Roosters/Cockerels I should keep?  I'm selling one in the morning.  I was going to sell #15 and keep #14 but at the last moment I'm not sure.  We discussed #15 back in August when he was 6 months old.  #14 was awkward looking as he grew up but I think he's turned out better than #15.    Any thoughts on which is the better one?   #15 does have a nice muff but the feathers have been apparently pulled out.  Thanks - Linda

[Mike Gilbert]

Are these all #14?   If not, which is which?   If so, we need pics of #15 to evaluate.   It looks like 14-6 has been posted twice.

[Linda Ferguson]

Thanks Mike.  Here are 2 pictures taken this morning of #15.  Are these two photos enough to get an idea?  Linda

[Mike Gilbert]

If you must cut down to one rooster, which is usually not a good idea, I like #14 better based on the photos shown.  Are they both about the same weight?    Is the mother of one a better layer of nicely colored blue eggs than the mother of the other?   There is more that goes into these decisions than sometimes meets the eye. 

[Linda Ferguson]

I have one more Wheaten Rooster so I'll be keeping two.  I only know who the father is but not the mother.  None of my egg color is spectacular.  Both roosters are about the same size/weight and same age within a couple months.    #15 does have a nice wide chest but he's almost fluffy looking as you were mentioning in another post.  If I can get another pose of #15, I'll post it.  Linda

[Linda Ferguson]

Here are more photos of #15 at different angles to give you a better idea.   What I notice is the bulky comb which was mentioned back in August, too much black in the hackle and more orange ticking in the rear than I like.  But he does have a nice chest.  I'll save my egg color comments for another post but the bluest eggs I have are from birds I plan to cull because they aren't up to the standard.  Thanks for the help.  Linda

[Mike Gilbert]

There seem to be a lot of hens in the pics that are not wheaten, but more wild-type.    Are you sure both these roosters are out of a wheaten mother?
 Because the males from both color hens would be very similar in color. 

[Linda Ferguson]

The mothers were Wheaten or Blue Wheaten for both roosters.  Everybody free ranges together a lot here.  The hens that aren't Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Ameraucana are crosses between Wheaten/Blue Wheaten and either Welsummers or Black Copper Marans to get my olive egg layers.  When I'm gathering hatching eggs I coop the girls I want separately.  When they free range it's only Wheaten Roosters free ranging with them.  The only other rooster I have is a little Red Silkie and the Silkies are kept separate.  Linda   

[Mike Gilbert]

Okay, I was just wondering.   So which #2 rooster to keep?   I like the type on #14, and the tail on #15 is carried too high.  But your call, as they are your birds. 

[Linda Ferguson]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my post Mike.  I like the overall look of #14 also.  Linda

[Tailfeathers]

I'll throw my 2-cents in and that's about all it's worth.  Let me start by saying that it's pert neardt impossible to make a true critique from a pic as it's only a snapshot in time.  Having said that take all the following with that in mind.

Not quite where to start so I'll just jump in and say overall I like #14 better.  Those pics are harder for me to see detail because of the shadows and when I click on them I can't move around to various sections.  So, from what I can see I like his topline the best.  Pics #14-1 and #14-3 being the best.  I'd like to see just a little longer back on him.  He does have a nice full and clean tail but I think it's a little long and even in those pics it's a little higher than what I'd like.  He also has the nicer frontline and bottom line to me.  Appears to have a nice deep chest and good width.  Comb is a little big but that's a half point to maybe a full point deduction.  Beard is better.  Leg color and thickness is good.  Can't really tell about the width and station.  Wing bow and wing bay seem better. 

I don't care for #15's topline at all.  The back is just opposite of what it should be with it being elevated toward the tail instead of the shoulders.  Some of this is likely due to the sharp break of the tail which is way too high.  It's also not as full as #14's which may be why Mike asked if they're the same age.  Beard isn't near as full colored and he looks like he's missing color in the wing bay.  He also doesn't have the depth of chest that #14 does.  Making for a much more narrower frontline.

I think that's the best feedback I can give ya without actually seeing the bird and getting my hands on him.

[Linda Ferguson]

Thank you Royce I appreciate your point of view.  The pictures are the best I could get today and I know it's hard to tell from a picture.  But the comments I received from both of you confirm my first thought to let #15 go and keep #14.  There are so many details to consider, tail length, color in the wing bay, etc.  You see a narrower front line on 15 and I thought his wide chest might be a reason to keep him.  A prominent chest and a wide chest may be two different things.  It may be photos as opposed to viewing in person, but the feedback is still extremely helpful to me.  A lot of #15"s muff feathers have been pulled out by the hens I guess.  He did have a full muff.   I knew 15's tail angle was too high and 14 is much better but may still be a little over 45.   Thanks again for the help - Linda

[Lee G]

#14 would be my choice out of the two as well. His feather quality looks nicer and he has a good head from what I can see. His tail angle is a bit jarring though. But paired with the right mate(s), (I’m thinking lower tail sets and full, round chests) their offspring may be pure magic.  Can't wait to see anyhow!

A prominent chest and a wide chest may be two different things.

I think you're onto something here Linda. Because I've had males with nice width, but shallow, sunken in chests. So one doesn't always equal the other in my experience. 

And I don’t worry about beards/muffs around this time of year because most of my male birds have none after getting penned with the females!  Lower ranking pullets also tend to get over-groomed through winter. It’s a good thing muffs and beards grow back, haha…still I find it an extremely annoying habit of bearded fowl. I wish I knew how to make them stop, besides separate pens for everyone. One nice thing is you can tell right at hatch who will be bearded and who won’t, so no need to guess down the road. Nothing sweeter than a puffy cheeked Ameraucana chick either. 

[Denise Baker]

#14, for all the reason Royce pointed out.

[Linda Ferguson]

Thanks Denise it's good to have your input on Wheatens.  I did keep 14.  And Lee G. thank you for acknowledging the muff and beard feathers can be pulled out by the hens.  I didn't know chickens would do that but couldn't find any other reason for muff/beard feathers missing on just a couple of the birds.  Linda