how to breed with a mixed flock? seperate coops? free range together?

[jgervais]

so assuming I let everyone free range together during most of the year, and i separate the hens with the rooster I want to breed in the spring - will the separated hens and roo get depressed not being able to free range for a week or two? I feel like I would be guilty for locking them in a coop for that long... :-/ Do they mind?

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
During breeding season, we alternate who gets to free range. Dorkings get a day, then Orps, etc. It works out fine here. If they have a big enough run, they don't seem to mind. If you only have the one roo & the hens lay a different color, you can keep them together all the time and not upset their daily routine.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Quote:
Ours have attached runs, so they aren't TOTALLY cooped up, plus they can still chatter with their neighbors. Then once a week, usually Sunday when it's coop clean out time, we let all the hens out to free range while we are out with them, and the roos stay in the run/coop. Everyone seems to enjoy the break.

 

[jgervais]

Thanks to everyone for all the info here on Back Yard Chickens and the new info Ive received on the Dorking breed.
Heres my amateur take on Meat Birds vs Heritage breeds like the Dorking.
http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2011/06/heritage-or-meat-bird-cross.html

 

[tgrlily]

Very well said!

 

[dschirmer]

I realize this is an old thread, but hopefully someone will see this and reply. When you close up your free range chickens into separate coops, how long should you expect "mixed" breed eggs? How long until I can be sure that the eggs are truly from the pair that I separated?
I have buff orpingtons, silver laced wyandottes, americaunas, barred rocks and 1 lonely brown leghorn roo. I love having all different kinds, but now I want to hatch more so I'll need to separate everyone for a while. Thanks for any advice.

 

[cleansquared]

I just read a paper on test done and there seems to be a max of 33days for viable sperm although its rare it is the longest time shortest time is 3 day avarage time most consistantly was 22 days after day 3 the viability of the spem continues to go down i hope this helped