Bringing hens to roos for breeding

[Backyard Farm]

I saw a post recently where someone had their roos in their own pens and brought hens to the roo's pen for breeding. One hen per day, I think. (i've lost track of the thread)

Does anyone have experience with this?

How often do you bring a hen or two hens to the roo?

Do you leave them for just one day?

do you notice a change in egg laying?

Do you put the roos back together after breeding season... and to you have much trouble with fighting after roos go back to the "general roo pen"?

thanks for any ideas for experience on this

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

to answer your questions
Does anyone have experience with this?
(1 yes bred pure bred chickens many decades

How often do you bring a hen or two hens to the roo?
(2 you will need to bring the same hen to the rooster every 4 days and leave her till that nite

Do you leave them for just one day?
(3 yes basically I would take them out by the that nite

do you notice a change in egg laying?
(4 no not really

Do you put the roos back together after breeding season... and to you have much trouble with fighting after roos go back to the "general roo pen"?

(5 NO the roosters need to be left alone the rest of their life except when breeding fenales

(6 the roosters will fight till death. so don't try this method of keeping chickens

 

[Backyard Farm]

Interesting approach... thanks for all the info.

 

[init4eggs]

Glenda,

I had seen somewhere saying you can keep multiple roos together and put them in one at a time with the hens. Have you tried this approach and does it prevent fighting?

 

[ShadyGlade]

Quote:
I'm not Glenda but I keep roosters together separated from the hens. My Potential breeders and breeders not currently "working" share a pen. I have used this approach for about five years. I learned it from another old-time breeder when I traveled to his place to get birds from him. HOWEVER if you decide to try this approach let me warn you that not all roosters are capable of bachelor style living. While some pecking order fighting is inevitable when new birds are added to the group you want to watch very carefully for several days to be certain that the new guys fit in okay. It has been my personal experience that adding more than one new rooster at the same time means less severe fighting damages overall. Make certain that there are NO hens in sight of the bachelors or nasty fighting is likely to break out. Keep their environment enriched and move their "chicken furniture around" to keep them mentally stimulated. Also don't mix different sizes together, as a matter of fact if I can I try to keep only the same breed of roosters together once they mature. This is just my person system and as I said not all birds can adapt to it. I hope this helps.

 

[Backyard Farm]

Thank you....
very helpful!
... when you say "no hens in sight" ... do you mean at all times or just when introducing a new male or two.

I am guessing you mean at all times. Does the pens have to be far away from the hens area or can you have solid side - about 3 ft up so they can't SEE the hens but are aware of the hens?

 

[ShadyGlade]

I keep mine in another part of the property altogether now. At first they could hear the girls nearby & see them from their roosts I'm sure. But I was having issues with the top dominate roo or two in the pen. And they would (especially if 'romance was goin' on next door) get ugly sometimes. That's not much of an issue anymore. But if a hen gets out of a pen and strolls by - LOOK out they all act like hormonal teenage boys at a riot.

 

[Backyard Farm]

OK!!! LOL
I get the picture!! LOL

Thank you, Shady for your help.

 

[ShadyGlade]

Quote:
de nada

 

[init4eggs]

thanks Shady
So you can keep multiple roos together, but it depend on the mix. Keep the hens out of line of sight to keep them inline.

When they are "working" do they stay working with the hens for a few days or just for the day?

Do you allow your hens to free range or are they always in a pen? I heard it is good to have a rooster with the hen when they are free ranging.