Breeding Chickens question (I have two roosters, only wanted one for breeding)

[humblehillsfarm]

Sorry if this is in the wrong thread but I was hoping to learn from some more experienced chicken keepers what you do when you want to breed a particular rooster when you have two. I let a hen hatch some barnyard eggs from a neighbor and she hatched to little chicks, one is a cockeral and the other a pullet. The young cockeral is about 12-15ish weeks and already going to town with the ladies. He's very handsome and is showing all the signs of being an excellent rooster. However I had ordered way back in December a Maran rooster, a maran pullet, and two olive eggers. I already have some easter eggers and a welsummer, so I was hoping to breed the Maran rooster for a mix of pure bred marans, olive eggers, and other dark egg layers. The white rooster as far as I am aware probably carries a gene for a light brown egg and really don't want his genes at all.

I plan on building a new coop with a large run within the year and have a teeny A-frame coop that is about 50 sq feet of living space. They currently free range. What can I do to ensure the eggs I am setting contain the maran genes? I'd only be doing small hatches (ideally 10 or less) so I could focus on eggs from only one or two hens if need be.

Any advice/experience would be very welcome!

 

[FortCluck]

You would have to put the rooster/cockerel with the hens/pullets you want to breed. Separate them from the other rooster/cockerel.

Breeding pens are a good idea for this. Where you put the hen you want to breed with a rooster you want her to breed with. If the hen had the potential to mate with another rooster you’d have to leave her separated for a month until the other males fertilization is gone. Then you would introduce the male you want to breed with her for a week or so. Then check the eggs for fertilization.

When I bred my BJG with my girls it took over a month even with new roosters mating my girls for his fertilization to leave. Every time I had a black chick I would curse his him

 

[Quailophilic]

If you could post some pictures.............

 

[humblehillsfarm]

You would have to put the rooster/cockerel with the hens/pullets you want to breed. Separate them from the other rooster/cockerel.

Breeding pens are a good idea for this. Where you put the hen you want to breed with a rooster you want her to breed with. If the hen had the potential to mate with another rooster you’d have to leave her separated for a month until the other males fertilization is gone. Then you would introduce the male you want to breed with her for a week or so. Then check the eggs for fertilization.

When I bred my BJG with my girls it took over a month even with new roosters mating my girls for his fertilization to leave. Every time I had a black chick I would curse his him

Alright so it sounds like I'm going to have to keep my old coop and use it for breeding. That's not going to be fun to keep them separate for six or so weeks. I really thought about adding the white one to the stew pot but he's been so good I'd hate to lose a good rooster. Plus the maran has went after me three times and he's still a wee little thing..... I'm worried he will progress.

 

[FortCluck]

Alright so it sounds like I'm going to have to keep my old coop and use it for breeding. That's not going to be fun to keep them separate for six or so weeks. I really thought about adding the white one to the stew pot but he's been so good I'd hate to lose a good rooster. Plus the maran has went after me three times and he's still a wee little thing..... I'm worried he will progress.

Have you tried training him. I use a stick and keep it with me. When they get close I push them back with the stick to show them I need a certain distance. He may still try to come after you, but make yourself big. It may scare him, just do not show them fear because they feed off it.

 

[FortCluck]

I have 5 roosters... If they’re friendly I keep them. If not to freezer camp they go. I breed my purebreds together to make crosses because I truly love the coloring and variety you get with crosses. You never know what you’ll get.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Have you tried training him. I use a stick and keep it with me. When they get close I push them back with the stick to show them I need a certain distance. He may still try to come after you, but make yourself big. It may scare him, just do not show them fear because they feed off it.

I usually pick him up for a cuddle and he calms right down. He will sit in my hand. He hasn't even started crowing yet! The white one has three weeks ago and he's only 8 days older than the maran. This is my first time ever raising roosters. He has only ran at me and gave me a little bite in the mornings, never any other time so I wonder if he was trying to put me in my place? I had an adult rooster that I acquired as an adult and he would do his little morning dance presumably to show everyone he's still boss.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have 5 roosters... If they’re friendly I keep them. If not to freezer camp they go. I breed my purebreds together to make crosses because I truly love the coloring and variety you get with crosses. You never know what you’ll get.

I am definitely looking for interesting crosses and for Gen 2 olive eggs too. I figured I could easily sell the pure bred marans, welsummerxmarans, and G1 and G2 olive eggers pretty easily in my area... hopefully.

 

[FortCluck]

I usually pick him up for a cuddle and he calms right down. He will sit in my hand. He hasn't even started crowing yet! The white one has three weeks ago and he's only 8 days older than the maran. This is my first time ever raising roosters. He has only ran at me and gave me a little bite in the mornings, never any other time so I wonder if he was trying to put me in my place? I had an adult rooster that I acquired as an adult and he would do his little morning dance presumably to show everyone he's still boss.

I show them I’m the boss. I have one who tries to scare me but I chase him now he does it to just play with me, it’s a game I guess to him.