Will These birds-of-a-feather flock-together???

[bigoledude]

I am about to buy some Blue Laced Silver Wyandottes. The Silver Penciled Rocks will be ordered soon thereafter. Then, I will have some EEs, Marans and Silkies running amongst 'em.

The BLSWs will have a tractor set-up all their own. They will start out from the very beginning, living in their own tractor, with the brooder inside the coop portion of their tractor. As they get older, I will of course, allow them into the run portion of their tractor. The same tractor set-up will be the only "home" they will ever know. Please stick with me here!

I am gonna do the exact same thing with the Rocks.

My intention is to allow them out when older, to free range, to forage for at least 5-6 hours a day, . The questions; When it becomes time to return to the coop at evening time, will the Wyandottes go to their pen and, the Rocks go to theirs? How likely is it that my Rock rooster will breed my Wyandotte hens while out foraging? And vice-versa?

The third tractor, if it's OK, will have the EEs and Silkies together. Will the EE roosters molest my Silkies?

My question, I guess, really is, if kept separately from the beginning, will they stay segregated on their own? I don't want mixed-breed chicks because I plan on selling some pure-blood chickens to help cover some of the costs.

Does any breeding take place in the coop? Would it be safe to allow them to get mixed up at night, with no crossing taking place?

If my plan won't work, what would be a better solution?

 

[Pinky]

Any rooster old enough that has the chance to mate, will do so with any breed hen.

 

[bigoledude]

Will they return to their own tractor? Will they pretty much stay in groups, according to breed, while out foraging? Does breeding usually take place inside the coop?

 

[Pinky]

If they were separated in different coops they will likely stay to the coop they have always been in. If they can see in the coop, they could mate, but it will more likely take place outside the coop. It's according to how determined the rooster is.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Maybe, maybe, and it takes place anywhere, any time, other than on the roost or nest (that I've seen thus far.)

I read all the time about chickens deciding they like another coop better than their own. They make their own groups; this is often by breed, but not always, by any means.

 

[sben451]

I have three different coops. I free range on a rotating basis--I only let one group out to free range for a few hours each day. That way my Welsummer hens are only out with the Welsummer roo, etc. And late afternoon, the group that is out for that day only can go home to their coop. Maybe not the perfect solution (I'd love to have everyone free-ranging every day), but it works for me.

 

[bigoledude]

Hey sben

That's a great idea! They would get out every third day. I mean some birds never get out at all. Now, I wonder if the EEs, Marans and Silkies would be OK together? I can't remember reading of silkies mixed with other breeds. Do they?

It would sure save me a ton of money if there was a way to let each group forage every day for while, and then herd them back into their pens. The amount of rich nutritious forage around here is phenomenal!

 

[abhaya]

roos will breed any hen they can get ahold of!!
I would think they would go back to the coop they are used to I had a hard time getting mine to go to a different coop when I integrated my flock.
as far as the silkies some people keep them with other breeds ok. mine have a coop and run to themselves as my birds free range and they are not free range. I have 2 streams and hawks so they would just have too many strickes against them.