Does isolating hens/roo in breeding pen mess up pecking order?

[chicklets81]

Id like to learn more about breeding. I have a mixed flock and would like to possibly breed some pure bred chicks. I have about 5 roosters now, and 18 hens at the moment. I know I'll have to get rid of 3 roosters at some point, just haven't decided yet. None of them are mature, so I've got some time.

For each rooster I have, I've got 2-4 hens of the same breed.

I've been reading about breeding pens, and isolating the rooster that I want to breed with the hen, but how does that work? Doesn't a pecking order get established with chickens missing from flock?
Wouldn't you mess up their order every time you took some out and then put them back in? I'd love to hear about how this works. Thanks!

 

[simplify]

Hi chicklets,
Seems I am constantly moving my flocks around for different reasons, if my roo is wearing the hens out, changing numbers in the flock for better free ranging, brooding, etc.
My first hand experience is this..
All the squables with the hens are minor and don't seem to last more than a few days. The rooster is ready to mate as soon as she gets in the pen.
Once a mature single roo has a flock of hens he will not accept sharing with another, even if he has roosters that he was raised with. Some roosters will chase the intruder and some will fight til the end.
I move my broodies as soon as signs of broody starts if I can and keep them from the flock until the chicks are bout 6 weeks or fully feathered. I then put hen back in the main flock to get her back to layer food and laying, havent had any real problems with this. The chicks stay in their pen until they come off chick food and I add them into the flock. I think it helps if lots of space.

This year I plan to put all new hatch cockerels with my main breeding flock once they are 6 weeks and move the old rooster out. Then I will keep 2 for breeding 30 hens. I hope the brothers will have plenty of hens and space to share. If not I will separate them. The old hens will keep them in check until breeding age.
I love to read all the issues and experiences that everyone shares on this site.
Good luck on you adventure.

 

[chicklets81]

Thank you so much for writing! I am very interested in the breeding process, and tried to learn from some of the breeders I've gotten eggs or chicks from, and both of the breeders seem to not care about "making friends" after the sale. So here I am, trying to learn more, hoping to find some friends who can help me! Thanks

 

[The Moonshiner]

Every time you add or remove a bird the pecking order is changed. To what degree depends on a lot of things. It all depends one the individual birds, the size of the flock, whether its a hen or rooster, young or old, space your flock has, etc. etc.
Sometimes you wont notice much commotion other times it can lead to injuries or maybe even death.
Roosters are usually the biggest issue but ive had some nasty hens also.
Its really a trail and error with every situation. Ive removed hens that were on the bottom of the pecking order or close to the bottom and then had every hen beating up on the new bottom hen just to show her she was on bottom. Ive removed top hens to have about every hen fighting to be the new top hen.
Ive had a couple roosters fight so much that i couldnt leave them together and other times ive moved roosters and had no fighting at all.
Room means a lot. Moving birds around in breeding pens is a world of difference then moving them around in our free range flock.
I do what works for me and sometimes its not what works for others. I have several breeding pens with two roosters in them without issues. But i know if i remove one for even a day then return him that theres a chance they will not be able to live together ever again.
Theres not a clear cut answer but many of us do it all the time. If you want to breed you can make it work.