How long does it take

Longevity · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:34 pm **Posts:** 5

How long does it take for a new rosster to fertilaise all the eggs a hen lays? I want to set some fresh egg from my new rooster pairing but dont want to set all in fertile eggs. Thye have been together 5 days.

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

I'd start collecting the eggs now for setting. If your hens were with another rooster beforehand wait two weeks (minimum) before you start collecting eggs for setting

Longevity · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:34 pm **Posts:** 5

No I didn't have a rooster with those hens before so I will start today.
Thank you

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:16 am

Longevity,

The rule I use is, if a hen is laying and it takes approx 26 hours for an egg to develop and be laid, then any egg laid from day 2, will be fertile. Noting the hen was laying prior to the rooster being introduced, and the hen hasn't been with another rooster. I have set up to 18 days after the hen was last with a rooster. The hatchability of the chick was not great for the eggs laid after day 10, but they were still fertile. Based on this I believe you need approx 3 weeks between roosters.

I would be collecting and setting all eggs the hen has laid, at worst you have an infertile egg or two, remove on first candling.

Rhode Red

Longevity · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:34 pm **Posts:** 5

Thanks Rhode Red

byhookorchook · **Joined:** Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 571

I really didn't want t comment here as once before on the old Chook Shed it caused a storm amongst the old timers.

The germ cells of a rooster are active, ala they are excited as new. As they age, the become less active. Progressively, this means after around day 14 onwards, fertility is poor as inactive germ cells even if not dead themselves are practically unable to penetrate a develping egg. As said above, usually between day 14 and 18, virtually no egg is fertile. There are always exceptions.

Keeping eggs in a stable environment, around 16 degrees ensures its longevity, but this is a fertilized egg itself.

The cross over point in a pen that had an established rooster to which a new rooster is substituted is around the fifth/sixth day depending on how often the hen ovulates and what time of the day on day one you made the substitute.. This is because new active germ cells being much more exited than existing old ones, will penetrate a newly forming egg as a priority. The slower moving older germ cells will get there, but usually to an already fertilized egg.

I hope this has been of some help.

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:46 am

byhookorchook,

If I were flock/pen breeding happy to add a new male and start collecting eggs with in a weeks change over. However when it comes to line breeding you do not want any "mistakes". I have hear stories from experienced breeders that they can tell this bird is the father of the chickens simply looking at them, "not sure on that one". Unless your lines have very distinctive traits that breed true, nature and genetics will always give you a throw back every now and then to test that theory.

In Rhode Island Reds you generally get a variation in colour from the one mating, i.e. some birds will have better marking than is full brother or sister. This is the joy and advantage of the breed, not need to double mate.

Generally when using two males for the season to particular hen are normally from differnt lines. You don't want to be guessing who's your daddy. I like to single mate and toe punch all chickens. If I have a chicken that I am unsure of its heritage it goes un toe punched and is treated as an outcross bird, fortunately this does not happen very often.

As all good things in the poultry world, we are all not the same, will have different opinion and each person can do what they want, and develop a process / plan etc., that works for them within their own capabilities, needs and requirements. Its all trial and error until your find what works for you, but knowledge is grand, the more information you have the better.

Rhode Red.

byhookorchook · **Joined:** Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 571

You are spot on. When line breeding, you cannot afford to mix and match or have mistakes. Excellent point because newer breeders may not recognise new chicks as experienced breeders do, knowing straight away to cull them out. Personally I just seperate them into other brooders as my wife always at me for xbred hens for her eggs.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

byhookorchook wrote:

I just seperate them into other brooders as my wife always at me for xbred hens for her eggs.

yeah she sure is :lol:

Longevity · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:34 pm **Posts:** 5

Excellent information and I thank you all

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

How long does it take

Who is on the Forum