I have pure bred Buff Orphingtons and Plymouth Barred Rocks that are about the same age. They aren't laying yet, but should be withing the next couple of weeks or so.
I am disabled and therefore do things a lot slower than most. That coupled with the fact that veggies have been coming in from the garden and have needed to be put up, the yard has to be taken care of, and everything else, it has taken me quite a while to build my hen house and hen yard.
I have it built so that each breed will have 1/2 of the hen house and 1/2 of the hen yard. That way each breed can remain pure. But for now, they are each having to share the only side that is completed.
I believe that I will have both sides completed so that I can separate then before they start laying. But, if something happens and they start laying before I get things finished, I'm sure there will be some crossbreed "hanky-panky" going on. If this happens and I separate then "after the fact," will my purebred hens still be able to lay eggs that will hatch true to their breed?? Or, will they be forevermore tainted by their agressor's copulation??
Thanks in advance for any information you can lend!
Robert
I am disabled and therefore do things a lot slower than most. That coupled with the fact that veggies have been coming in from the garden and have needed to be put up, the yard has to be taken care of, and everything else, it has taken me quite a while to build my hen house and hen yard.
I have it built so that each breed will have 1/2 of the hen house and 1/2 of the hen yard. That way each breed can remain pure. But for now, they are each having to share the only side that is completed.
I believe that I will have both sides completed so that I can separate then before they start laying. But, if something happens and they start laying before I get things finished, I'm sure there will be some crossbreed "hanky-panky" going on. If this happens and I separate then "after the fact," will my purebred hens still be able to lay eggs that will hatch true to their breed?? Or, will they be forevermore tainted by their agressor's copulation??
Thanks in advance for any information you can lend!
Robert