Does the rooster have to be the same breed as the hen?

[goldnchocolate]

I just have chickens for the fun of it so I don't mind that my EE roo really loves my RIR's. One of my RIR's has hatched 3 eggs out of 6, so far, since yesterday and 3 of the eggs will be EE/RIR cross and 3 will be just EE's.

 

[TreeHugger]

They don't have to be the same. However, be nice to your girls & make sure you don't get to large of a rooster. A large roo could be very rough on a bantam size hen.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
This is really good advice. I keep my bantams and standards separated. My massive BLRW roo would kill my tiny BTWJ hen. She is about the size of his foot.

I know for some it works, I just won't take that chance. Oh, and I DO keep some separate by breed, too, just for the pure eggs, but that is just because I want to. A lot of people will make deliberate crosses just to see what they can get. It really can be a lot of fun.

 

[Chotii]

All he has to be able to do is reach.

That's funny - I was at "The chicken lady's" house recently (that's where I got my pullets) and spent 5 minutes trying not to laugh at a little banty rooster trying desperately to mate with a hen three times his size. He got so frustrated and began abusing her, pecking her, pulling out her feathers...and she just stayed there crouched with her tail up *trying* to accommodate him. But he never could reach, and eventually gave up and chased some other hens. But you know, she was willing.

 

[JewellFarm]

And