Can Hens Be Taken To Another Farm To Be Bred?

[farmgirlsomeday]

I hope this question isn't totally dumb, but here goes ;-)

I know that cattle and horses are routinely trailered to a different location and left on site for days to even weeks to be bred by a particular bull or stallion before being brought back to their owner's property to gestate and give birth. Is this same sort of thing ever done with hens? I ask because I have a purebred Ameraucana hen who lays THE most gorgeous eggs, and I'd love to have some hatching eggs from her before her egg laying days are over, but I live in a town that strictly forbids roosters. So I can't have a rooster for her here at my place. Does anyone ever take their hens to another place where a rooster is available to be bred before bringing them back home to lay the fertilized eggs from that mating?

FYI, here's one of her eggs with no color retouching done to the photo. The blue color she produces is so pretty and true, but what really makes her eggs extra gorgeous in my eyes is that the shells have a shine like lacquer.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I've never thought about that but I would think No. Bringing a chicken to another chicken farm and bringing it back is a high risk for bringing back diseases from the other flock, even if the owner has no clue about them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

@Chicks Galore3 it does seem like disease transmission potential would be a major concern. On the other hand, wouldn't that also be the case with goats, cats, dogs, zoo animals, horses ... All the other types of female critters who are often taken to spend time with a male of their species at another location and then brought back home? Just thinking out loud...

 

[HeIsRisen]

Hoping somebody else chimes in on this as well. Aside from the potential disease transmission, which seems a bit dramatized above, as we take birds ti vets etc. I don't see why not.

I have an Isbar i feel the same way about.

 

[Fred's Hens]

This is more common than you might think.

The problems associated with moving the females is that this often throws them off laying. Bringing them back throws them yet another curve and they may not lay for up to 10 days upon returning home. This is precisely during the time when you would be wanting to collect the fertile eggs.

It is easier, frankly, to bring the cockbird to the hens.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I didn't mean to make in sound like the hen WILL die from some disease, just wanted to point out the possibility clearly. Yes, it is possible for every other animal that visits other farms, but chickens a bit more complicated, I think, because they aren't as common and we don't know their diseases as well and there isn't as many shots/vaccinations for them to protect them against disease. Thinking out loud here to!

 

[HeIsRisen]

This is more common than you might think.

The problems associated with moving the females is that this often throws them off laying. Bringing them back throws them yet another curve and they may not lay for up to 10 days upon returning home. This is precisely during the time when you would be wanting to collect the fertile eggs.

It is easier, frankly, to bring the cockbird to the hens.

Fred, Yeah, and the rebel in me wants to just bring the roo and throw caution to the wind. However, the Christian in me says I must obey the law. We can't keep roosters in town either. Thanks for the input. I have a pretty hardy layer as she has been moved twice and has not missed a day laying yet. Hopefully I can get out of Suburbia soon!

 

[lazy gardener]

Could you bring him for a clandestine meeting in your house or garage? All it would take is a one night stand. He is Risen Indeed.

 

[HeIsRisen]

I'm ignunt in the ways of chicken breeding. What's the likelihood of a proven breeder getting the job done in one night?

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I'm ignunt in the ways of chicken breeding. What's the likelihood of a proven breeder getting the job done in one night?

Very good