breeding question.

[tobyerick]

Ok so I have a mixed flock. I have Austrolarps, easter eggers, bards, and some buff orpington. Now all are mixed in the pen but are pure (hatchery) and I have several roosters witch I did for genetic diversity.....it's what I tell my self but really they are just pretty birds lol. So here is my question I have a bard rooster also a pretty sexlink roo that would produce bards, and hens and I also have buff orpington roos and hens. How long would I have to pen the breeding birds separately and not incubate the eggs before I was sure they were only fertilized by the chosen roo?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

When you say "bard" - are you referring to Barred Plymouth Rocks?

To the question - I would wait three weeks after separation before considering any eggs to be from the breeding you are wanting.

 

[donrae]

At least 2 weeks, 3 is better.

Just an fyi, your black sex link rooster will only give 50% barred offspring.

 

[centrarchid]

When I have a genetic marker to work with I get away with only a week. Second rooster dominates through sperm competition after only a few days based on what happens with American Dominiques crossing with American Games. Game roosters have better sperm so more competitive. I have two markers; extended black, sex-linked barring, and rose comb. The markers can be used to detect slip ups at hatch which are the small minority. Barred Plymouth Rocks give you to of the same markers.

 

[tobyerick]

They are barred rocks. I was hoping it would only be a few days. Oh well I'm still going to build a second yard and give it a shot I would like to get more barred rocks and orps. I wanted true amuricanas (sp?) But got easter eggers so not to worried about keeping them going true. And the Legg horns and Austrolarps don't have a roo and the Legg horns can go for all I care to fine of a bird for my purposes.

 

[centrarchid]

With the possible exception of your sex-linked you may still have markers that help. When rotate an American Dominique hen between cocks of same where markers do not apply I allow second bird to cover her for 14 days before collection of hatching eggs by second male commences.