Setting up breeding.

[iaechickens]

How do you set up breeding pens, or rotate cocks?

I have two cocks I wanted to try on my hens. My current plan is to collect for a week with cock 1 then set. pull cock towards end of collection, Put cock 2 in and not collect for a week.  then collect eggs from cock2 and set bascily two weeks later.  My understanding would be set two should be from cock 2 but there's a slight chance still fertile from one.  

Is this a good plan?

 my first two sets were infertile, but I was able to note which hen almost all eggs came from.  Being from a cattle breeding background knowing the pedigree to me seems pretty important.  And at this point, I have the time to do it.   Now, If I am successful with those two hatches,  use pedigree baskets for hatching, and use numbered zip ties for ID, how will I evaluated the offspring with the two week age difference. 

[d12chandler]

How many hens do you have and are they bred alike? If so I would put some with one male and some with the
other guy. I toe mark all my chicks with my pen number. I have used wing bands before but I like the toe marks.
2 weeks isn't much age difference to me. They have to get older to do much culling. That is one problem with
orps they are slow to develop. You can read on BYC and they claim if a pullet don't lay by 5 months they
should be culled and not used as a good breeder. In my buff orps, laying isn't my main thing. I would like
to show them and have good type and condition. You said your eggs wasn't fertile, have you trimmed of plucked
any feathers around there vents?

[iaechickens]

d12, thanks for responding.

three pullets, and two cockerels, all BO LFs. Yes, After I found that they weren't fertile, I trimmed vents.  Not sure if I trimmed tight enough or big enough area.  Uh, after this event, It made sense I didn't have any fertile.  LOL  I cracked a few the other day and I think I've at least got one fertile.  So I'm going to collect again. (put two in the incubator to test) These birds also came from a show strain, and while we intend on our kids showing in 4-H, I'd like to have usefull birds also.  I'm glad that our supplier sent two cockerels, so I have a backup, but being new I question wether I'm using the "right one" I do know the males came from the same breeding pen and the females came from a different pen.

[d12chandler]

Did you get your birds from a breeder or hatchery?

[chicksooner]

I might be mistaken in this but I would not expect the new roosters sperm to be doing the fertilizing for at least 2-4 weeks after changing them. 4weeks is the safest bet. If you have low fertility you need to trim up the feathers around the vent on the hens and rooster.

[iaechickens]

They came from a reputable breeder. yes they are trimmed now.  Maybe one week off laying before collecting would not be enough.  I have read that many times.  I have also read that some have switched.  One of my problems is so far I "have only read".  In the future,  I'll be able to have some more breeding pens, I hope.

[d12chandler]

I know if you are doing the 4-H deal you need early chicks. Those county fairs come early. Don't know where
you live, but in western Oklahoma we have had the crappiest weather. 68 one day and the next 15 with 30mph
wind. This don't help on fertile eggs. I have about 50 buff hatched and on hold now. If your close let me
know and you can come get some if you get in a bind.

[iaechickens]

Yes, the early fair does have me worried. The original plan was my breeder was going to get a hatch about Dec 1 but got messed up due to that snow storm you had down south. I'm from NE birds are from AR. And as far as fertility and weather goes, it was terribly cold during the first collection period Jan 6-12. I was always close so eggs to not get cold but I know it wasn't "ggod weather" these are an april hatch, so youth isn't helping out much either.

This is the roo I chose.  He was more mature in the comb and wattles and heavier in muscle.  as he's grown the last month, he's really stretched through the neck and shank.