How do you separate your breeds?

[roamingchick]

I want to hatch but my flock is all together they free range during day and at night share a house where I lock them in for their own protection. My question is about hatching chicks I don't want mixed chicks I know that I want to separate breeds for two weeks before collecting eggs for hatching but short of building a new housing unit I am not sure where or how to separate, anyone else have suggestions?

 

[JetCat]

2 weeks isn't long enough to assure no mixed chicks, you need at least 30 days and 6 weeks would be even safer. no choice but to provide separate breeding pens, or at least remove all roosters except the desired sire and then just incubate eggs form same breed of hens.

 

[roamingchick]

30 days really?

 

[FridayYet]

I've heard that at 3 weeks you still have a chance of chicks from the old rooster, so at least 4 weeks is best if you want to be sure. You can always separate your girls out first, and then put your rooster in with them for "dates"

 

[JetCat]

a hen can continue producing fertile eggs for 4-6 weeks after being removed from a rooster.

 

[roamingchick]

Thank you learning something new everyday!