Fertilizing chicken eggs??

davedavey · Nov 8, 2015

I have 8 buff Orpington hens. Our city does not allow roosters. My questions are. Can I get a rooster off craigslist or borrow one from someone. And just keep it locked inside the hen house with the hens for 2 days? Then I would return the rooster or stew him. And how long will the eggs be fertile after mating assuming he mates some of the hens?? Also are the eggs fertile 2 days after mating??? Thanks for your help

Pork Pie · Nov 8, 2015

I would not advise going down that route as a new flock member could introduce disease or other unwanted nasties. Why not find someone selling fertile eggs and buy some once a hen has gone broody? I used to have cockerels for breeding, but i wouldn't anymore as they can be more hassle than they are worth. Next time i will just buy fertilised eggs.

CT

MeepBeep · Nov 8, 2015

You could do that, but as said you could spread disease as well, it's best to quarantine any new arrivals before introducing them to the flock...

With that said, if he does his thing and the hens accept his donation (the hens have the ability to divert his donation to storage for fertilization or dispose of it if they find him undesirable) then the hens will be fertile for the next egg cycle (that could be the next day or the day after depending on her egg cycle and the mating time) and they will continue to be fertile for about 2 weeks and sometimes up to 4 weeks...

davedavey · Nov 9, 2015

Thanks for your help!! I'll just look for hatching eggs. That is where I got these birds I hatched my own. Thanks

gimmie birdies · Nov 9, 2015

If you are not worried about disease, then same day, or next day and up to 2-3 weeks the hens will be fertile

RetiredRon · Nov 9, 2015

CTKen said:
I would not advise going down that route as a new flock member could introduce disease or other unwanted nasties. Why not find someone selling fertile eggs and buy some once a hen has gone broody? I used to have cockerels for breeding, but i wouldn't anymore as they can be more hassle than they are worth. Next time i will just buy fertilised eggs.

CT

My hen hatched 3 cockrell 3 pullets in April. We lost 2 cockrell and 1 pullet to predators. I'm thinking Hawk.
My cockrell is awesome. He crows at hawks, when strangers come around and when he wants my attention.
The city ordinance on the cockrell is probably because of the crowing.. luckily my neighbors like it. Having one in the cage won't help.
I agree with getting the eggs as now the 5 chicks newly hatched will be related to the cockrell. Also, that is a great point about introducing new chickens into the flock.

Fertilizing chicken eggs??

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davedavey

Songster

Pork Pie

Flockwit

MeepBeep

Crowing

davedavey

Songster

gimmie birdies

Enabler

RetiredRon

In the Brooder

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