New Rooster Frequency?

[redoak]

How often should someone get a new rooster for breeding hens? As soon as his offspring grow up and become breeding age? Also if you get a new rooster should you order from a different hatchery then the ones your hens came from? Thanks in advance for any answers/advice.

 

[MissPrissy]

Roosters are fertile a long time. If you get a new one he will have to be integrated into the flock with a 4 - 6 week quarrentine away from your hens, then a week or two penned where they can see him and get used to him before putting him in with the flock. After that it will take a while before the hens will let him mate -if they let him at all. Hens will not automatically let a rooster mate.

What makes you think you need a new rooster?

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't really think you need to change roos out as long as your roo is healthy. I had a roo spin off spring chicks till he was about 7 years old... probably could have gone longer but he passed over a harsh winter.

 

[redoak]

Main concern was rooster mating with his offspring and any if any genetic defects that may occur with inbreeding several generations of chickens.

 

[speckledhen]

Linebreeding is an acceptable form of breeding in chickens. It's better than brother-sister, even though even that can be done for a bit, supposedly before you need new blood. I'd think you'd be fine for quite a while with him mating daughters and granddaughters, etc. You could always bring in a second rooster and keep him in a separate bachelors quarters and rotate them with the flock.

 

[BaronRenfrew]

According to a book I have about breeding, you should introduce new blood every 4 years into your line.