multiple breeds and rooster management??

[motherofmany70]

So i would like to keep a few different breeds and after reading about weather or not to keep them together my husband has agreed separate is best and is designing a coop and run layout of an octagon shape to keep them separate.... but my question is ... can i barrow a rooster to breed my girls in the spring and if so how long would he have to stay "the night" ? and other thoughts on the subject?

 

[DTchickens]

Depends on how your hens react to him, and how long you wish for them to stay fertile. For about a week I imagine they would probably be fertile off of the cock for at least 2-3 weeks; people who swap roosters to different hens I knew always followed the a 2 week method but a hen can hold sperm for up to 4 weeks I hear. Every 2 weeks was just to keep it fresh so to speak. A few days may even work if the hens readily submit to him.

God bless,
Daniel.