Brooding period? And fertilization questions?

[emimiller8]

How long will a hen brood for? My australorp started brooding last week and I want to put some fertilized eggs under her but don't want her to stop in the middle of brooding.

Also, how old does a rooster have to be to fertilize hens eggs?

 

[ECiesielczyk]

My Maran hen was broody for a week before I put eggs under her (same as my Black Jersey Giant). I waited a full week to make sure that she would stay broody. Both successfully hatched the eggs. Go ahead and get some eggs for her and she should be good. I don't know about the rooster question. Does he mate with your hens?

 

[Quail Keeper]

It depends on which broody hen you're asking

Some hens stay broody longer than others and some hens give up the broodiness within a week or two of starting. My broody (she was a bantam; she's brooding right now) was/is a really determined mother. She sat for about 2 MONTHS before I put any eggs under her to hatch. And yes, she had great success! I even moved her one time and put golf balls under her and incubated some eggs and slid them under her when they reached 18 days. This time, I waited about 2 weeks before letting her brood the eggs. If it was up to me, I would put some eggs under her and see what happens! If she stays on them, great! If not, that's okay too! It helps if you have an incubator on hand to move the eggs into if the hen decides she doesn't want to be a mother.

Now for the question about the rooster: a young rooster, called a cockerel is usually ready to mate at the age of 5-7 months. If the rooster is crowing, he's most likely mating with the hens. I would watch, though, just to make sure that he is mounting them and even crack open an egg to see if there is a blastoderm, indicating fertility.

I hope this helps! Happy hatching!

 

[emimiller8]

Thank you for both responses. I only have hens so I don't know if the rooster is mounting or crowing yet. I am gonna be getting the fertilized eggs from my friend.