Will breeding Orpingtons and Pekins in the same space work?

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

I have 2 pekin hens and will be getting a rooster for them next week. I was wondering whether it would work if I put my pekins in the same enclosure as my large breed orpingtons. The lavender flock is already familiar with the pekins and my orpington rooster is a true gentle giant who has never started a fight so I’m fairly certain that they’ll get along but just want to find out if there might be any issues when it comes to breeding though.

 

[aart]

The males will probably fight.
....and if you want pure breeds, best to keep them separate anyway.

 

[Velociraptors]

Even if a rooster is a sweetheart, chances are he may see another rooster as competition. I’ve just had to separate one of my young ameraucanas from the rest of my young chickens because he was picking on one of the other (much bigger) males. Despite the fact that they grew up together. Hormones do the talking a lot of the time, and housing roosters in the same space could result in eventual fighting as they try to assert dominance and secure their place in the pecking order. And, if you want to keep lines pure, separating them is probably the best bet! This prevents cross-breeding and you won’t have to worry about surprise “mutts” when you incubate eggs or let the hens set their own.

Roosters held in the same pen/coop can also gang up on hens, which can cause a lot of damage or even kill the hen(s). It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m fairly certain that they’ll get along

You never know what will happen with living animals but please be prepared to separate them on a moment's notice.

but just want to find out if there might be any issues when it comes to breeding though.

A huge problem if you want pure breeds. Chickens don't see breeds, they see chickens. A rooster of any breed will happily mate with any hen of any breed.

From your post I assume your Pekins are bantam. Bantam and large fowl will crossbreed or at least try and are often successful.

 

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

From your post I assume your Pekins are bantam. Bantam and large fowl will crossbreed or at least try and are often successful.

Yes they are so I’m not worried about the bantam rooster fertilizing the orpingtons’ eggs since they’re way too big for him but my rooster weighs over 4kg and could harm my pekins if he tries to mate with them which is my main concern. In my very mixed flock I currently have 1 mature rooster who sticks to hens his size so hopefully that’s the case if I put pekins and orpingtons together or else I’ll separate them.

As for the possible fighting problems, the roosters will be slowly introduced through a fence at first and then I’ll see how it goes. The Orpingtons don’t really have much of a pecking order currently but I’m aware that introducing new chickens could change that. If the roosters fight too much, injure the hens or start competing in some way they’ll be separated.

If it doesn’t work out I have another enclosure for the pekins but it’s much smaller and not as properly suited for housing chickens as the orpington enclosure right now which is why I’d prefer to keep them together and then use the smaller enclosure for more flighty bantams since I’ll be able to make the enclosure much more fun and entertaining for than some other breeds who prefer to stay near the ground

 

[aart]

If it doesn’t work out I have another enclosure for the pekins but it’s much smaller and not as properly suited for housing chickens

I'd start working on that now.