How long to separate birds for breeding.

[PunkinPeep]

If i have several breeds of hens and roosters, and i would like to periodically separate a few hens and a rooster of a particular breed - for breeding, what is a good time frame schedule to use? How long do the hens need to be separated from the other breed rooster to ensure that the resulting chicks are the desired breed?

I hope this question makes sense.

Please lend me your wisdom.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm planning on doing that this Spring too. All the reading I've done so far says anywhere from two to four weeks. I'm planning on penning the hens up with no roo and checking for fertility from two weeks on. I'll introduce the roo back into the pen when I haven't seen a bullseye for at least a week.

 

[Mahonri]

I've got mine separated out now into three groups.

I'll start gathering the eggs I want to incubate about the first of December and turn them two to three times a day until they go into the bator

I'll start the incubator on the 8th or 9th.

When I'm certain that temps and humidity are stable, I'll put the eggs in that I'm going to incubate on the 11th.

I'm hoping for MANY new chicks on January 1st, 2010!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thanks!

Kittymomma,

Is it 2-4 weeks that is how long it's supposed to take before breeding will be pure? Am i understanding that right?

 

[Katy]

I keep mine seperated for 4 weeks to make sure.

 

[Shiningfeather]

You will actually need at least 21 days, but some times that is not even enough. I saw a recent post on here where someone had their breeders seperate for I think over 3 months and still got a mix roo from eggs the hatched. The theory was that the hens could still have some sperm from a previous mating before being confined. I have my EEs in a breeding pen now for over four months. I put 26 in my incubator and all are developing

Good Luck!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

4 weeks is what i've heard from many.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
Yes, that seems to be the average range. There are always outliers of course, hens who stay fertile longer or shorter than the average. That's why I plan to pen mine without a rooster and then check their eggs until they're no longer fertile. I'll put the roo I want to breed with in with the hens at that point. I'm hoping there won't be too many integration issues since the breeding pens will be out where the flock usually free ranges and they'll be able to see the roo and other chickens thru the fence daily. Here are some pictures (someone else's design) of the pens I plan to build for breeding and brooding this spring.

 

[logan]

now we have 14 frizzel eggs 9 she is sitting on and 5 in the incebator

 

[trilyn]

Kittymomma, thanks for posting those breeder pens, they are fab! I will definitely be making a couple of those in the spring for a couple different uses. But breeding is definitely one of them....now to get my hands on some Maran and Ameraucana eggs! bwhahahaha