ilovechickens Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Hi folks, I currently have a lovely lavender Araucana cockerel who looks after the ladies well and does not crow to loudly-however he has also just fathered two chicks with my silkie, who if girls I will keep -so thinking ahead we will be parting company with 'Buckbeak' (thats his name, my girls thought he looked like something from Harry Potter!) because of future breeding issues sometime in the future. I like the dynamic that having a man around has brought to my chicken community so will be looking for another lad-any suggestions on what type I should go for-my neighbours are ok with crowing but nothing too loud! Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I'd keep him if he isn't to loud and you only want cross breeds. it's any sons that will need to be 'sorted' one way or another as brother sister crosses aren't really a good thing it could be a good reason to get an Araucana lady for him plus a white egg layer for blue egg laying daughters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovechickens Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks for that-yes I do really like him, although he has just pecked my foot-went out to put them all to bed and the little monkey went for my foot-although I did go out wearing flip flops!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I'd also keep him and arrange a plan for any sons A good cockerel is worth keeping. breeding related chooks isnt nearly so much of a problem as people may imagine, some breeders wont have bought any new blood in for decades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovechickens Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Oh ok you guys have twisted my arm-to be honest it didnt need much twisting!!-I do really like him and he seems to be a calming influence on the 8 ladies-when I got him I thought he was a she, he also came with a little bantam faverolle and she adores him-follows him everywhere chattering away so it would be wicked of me to spilt them up! oh dear think we may just need a bigger house and garden to fuel my obsession!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Father to daughter (and grandfather to granddaighter) crosses should be OK as long as the birds are OK. Brother/Sister crosses should be avoided (assuming that you are keeping the offspring rather than rearing for the table, where is it less of an issue), as any recessive problems will be magnified. If he's a good cockerel, I'd keep him. You will only realise how lucky you are when you've had an aggressive or noisy cockerel to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Wish I could have kept my Lavendar Araucana Cockerel, he had a lovely nature, although he was still very young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovechickens Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Hi there Duncan, they seem to be nice birds-he was/is my first experience of Araucanas and so far I am impressed! Hopefully his chicks (2 weeks old) will both be girls and both be blue eye layers! not asking for much am I!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I will keep my fingers crossed for those for you. Need a big influx of cash I think so I can escape to the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I agree with everyone else on here - keep the nice lad as you clearly like him and he sounds a real gent (flip-flops apart). Can we have a pix of him? Please I always think we don't have anywhere near enough pictures of cockerels on here and they are so glam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovechickens Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 as soon as I can I will upload photos of my little bunch and bore you all silly with them! However I believe I need to post a certain amount of posts before I am able to put piccies on here-think I have not even reached 20 yet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganymoo Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Flip flops in January? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 although I did go out wearing flip flops!! Flip flops in January? Doesn't sound strange to me... Of course, I'm in Florida! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
