Breeding... Separate, together, roos, etc.

[Julie_A]

Those of you who breed chickens...

Do you run your hens together with all the roos when you aren't setting/saving eggs?

I have some really nice BRs I'd like to keep eggs from. Also have several sexlink and RIRs that I don't care to breed.

Do you keep your breeds separate all the time or just when saving eggs? If together and the birds are of similar size, do you put all the roos in with them or keep the roos in a separate pen altogether?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Katy]

I keep mine seperate all the time in their own pens. P I T A sometimes...especially in the winter when I have to carry water to each pen.

 

[Julie_A]

I know what you mean. We have two pens now. Young pullets and a PR roo and the other pen with BRs and the RIRs. Selling the adult RIRs this weekend. Thinking about putting the PR in with those BR hens for the time being. Hatching out sexlinks, welsummers and BRs today.

I would love to have a flock of Welsummers, of BRs and my sexlinks and mutts.

 

[Julie_A]

Katy, what all do you have?

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I've got them all listed in my signature line.

2 pens of BBS orps
1 pen of BBS wyandottes
2 pens of Blue laced red wyandottes
1 pen speckled sussex plus 4 buff orp pullets in with them
1 pen wheaten Marans
1 pen cuckoo Marans
1 pen call ducks
2 pens of growing out chicks
1 pen of Silver laced wyandottes

Yes, I'm nuts!!

 

[Julie_A]

Yep, totally nuts. That's a lot of water to tote.

I have a question for you. I have what I thought was a BR with feathered legs. She's built just like my Cuckoo pullet, except for shank color. Are all Cuckoos white-legged?

Quote:
I've got them all listed in my signature line.

2 pens of BBS orps
1 pen of BBS wyandottes
2 pens of Blue laced red wyandottes
1 pen speckled sussex plus 4 buff orp pullets in with them
1 pen wheaten Marans
1 pen cuckoo Marans
1 pen call ducks
2 pens of growing out chicks
1 pen of Silver laced wyandottes

Yes, I'm nuts!!

 

[Katy]

Yes, cuckoos should all have white legs.