Mixed Flock and Roos

[hwxeper]

I am a little confused when it comes to mixed flocks. I have seen many pictures where members have multiple breeeds of chickens within a flock and multiple breeds of roos. How do you keep the chickens from cross-breeding? Is there a secret to this I haven't picked up on? For example, if I were going to have a mixed flock of dominiques, orpingtons, and dorkings, for the purposes of this thread it will be a rather large flock, and I wanted to breed each of these breeds true...how would I go about making sure of that?
I hope my question makes sense! I will try to rephrase if it doesn't.
Thanks!

 

[Teach97]

you put them in different pens

if you run one type with another you will get mixes...

 

[hwxeper]

Thanks! I am not as slow as some of my questions might lead one to believe! Just starting from scratch. What about keeping bantam breeds with standard ones? Is that a no-no?

 

[Zanna]

I have a large, mixed breed flock with several roos. When I want a particular mating, I separate the back 1/2 or 1/4 of my coop with heavy deer netting and lock in the particular roo and hens that I want to breed. I wait 14 days before I collect the eggs for the incubator (collect the earlier ones to eat!), then you are usually assured the locked up roo is the daddy. My chickens free range all daylight hours so when they get locked up they are not too happy for the first few days but then settle down and accept home........When I let them loose again I have had no problems with them getting along again with the rest of the flock.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I can't afford, and much less get the guys to build me 20+ different coops so it's kind of a "Must" for me. I get some "Purebred" chicks such as Buff Orpingtons or EE every once in a while, but most of the time they're all cute lil' mixes.

 

[AllCoop'dUp]

I read that hens can hold sperm up to 30 days, wouldn't you need to keep the hens separated for at least that long, then introduce the rooster for them to breed true?

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

AllCoop'dUp :

I read that hens can hold sperm up to 30 days, wouldn't you need to keep the hens separated for at least that long, then introduce the rooster for them to breed true?

Yes, 14 days isn't long enough, you might still be getting mixes.​

 

[hwxeper]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies! It makes alot more sense now.
Chicken paradise is getting clearer and clearer