Breeding methods

[johndeerematt]

I've been asked to hatch out some chicks, and I want to this spring. I want to breed one particular hen and rooster, because I have such a mixed flock. A silver polish-buff Orpington would be a bizarre chicken! Thinking of crossing a black jersey giant roo with a Rhode Island Red hen, and a white rock roo with a buff Orpington hen. So, what will these mixes look like, and will it work? Also, how can I segregate the particular birds I want? And also, how long does the rooster have to be with the hen to fertilize a whole brood?

 

[Jessshan8]

Sounds like allot of work initially if you are up to it, Firstly you need to build several small holding pens and houses for the pairs you want to breed to separate them from the rest of the flock. It will take approximately two weeks to ensure the eggs are fertile from the chosen male and not another. Then you would be set to go. as far as the crosses go I have personally bred a jersey giant roo with a rhode island red and the cross came out looking like a black copper maran with a black body and sparse red feathers on the neck and it ended up being rather on the large side with medium brown large eggs, laying three to four eggs a week. As for the rest of the crosses you can look at this breeding chart and kinda figure out the possibilities although I have not had luck figuring it out others rave about it. here is the link.

http://www.mechelsekoekoek.com/breedbook/?action=geneticscalculator

or this one

http://home.kpn.nl/h.meijers69/kruising.html

 

[johndeerematt]

Also, how long would the hen have to be only with the particular rooster to ensure he is the parent and not another one?

 

[Jessshan8]

about ten days to two weeks.