Can I keep a rooster if I want eggs?

[festivefeet]

Hi there.

I am pretty sure I have an Easter Egger Rooster. We were supposed to have gotten six sexed pullets. But the characteristics are definitely that of a rooster.

We got these chickens for the fresh eggs and the joy of backyard chicken farming

.

So, how will having a rooster affect eating fresh eggs? I was told by a friend that I cannot keep a rooster with my chickens if I want to eat the eggs, due to fertilization (that there would be blood in the eggs).

Also, if in the future we want to hatch chicks, can an Easter Egger mate with a Buff Orpington and Silver Laced Wyandotte? If so, what will the chicks be?

Thanks.
Jessica

 

[Marlinchaser]

Your friend has no clue, she should be giving out advice at the feed store.

As long as you gather often you will not even know if they are fertile or not.

Yes a EE can breed with any hen he can get to. They would be just like him a crossbreed chicken.

 

[Bridget399]

I plan on both eating my eggs and keeping the rooster! I want a protector over my girls! I don't see why you couldn't either.

 

[patandchickens]

You have to know exactly what to look for in an egg to know whether it's fertile or not -- it has nothing to do with blood spots or meat spots. (Assuming you've collected your eggs promptly and refrigerated them).

I was leery of the idea til I got a rooster. But honestly I have to look REAL REAL CLOSE to tell. No biggie at ALL. My sister, who was visiting last week, was grossed out too til I cracked open half a dozen eggs (we were making cheesecake

) and challenged her to tell which were fertile. She couldn't of course. They all looked exactly the same as what she'd get from the store.

So, really. Collect eggs at least once a day, store in the fridge, and omelet away

Have fun,

Pat

 

[kingmt]

I have been told that if they are fertile that they will not keep as long but I have had mine in the fridge @ 50^ for 4 weeks & they were great when I cooked them. I would suggest cracking them in a bowl before putting them in your skillet if they are that old. My grandpa always said to through it away if the yoke bust coming out of the shell.

 

[enola]

Some people think fertilized eggs taste better.

Some people think brown eggs taste better.

Some people don't believe me that my hens lay green and blue eggs.

Some one even told me once that brown eggs are brown because they have poop on them.

The same person also told me that is why she only eats white eggs.

I asked her if she could tell the difference between brown eggs and white eggs after they were out of their shell. She said OF COURSE I CAN.

Some people crack me up

 

[digginchicks]

Haha I love having my roosters with my hens one of my roosters runs the dogs off

 

[swedishfish]

Occasionally I've gotten eggs with blood in them, but I just throw them out and start over with whatever I was making. If you're really worried, then crack the eggs in a separate bowl one at a time to avoid anything eating you don't want to eat!

 

[speckledhen]

Blood has nothing to do with fertilization. See these pics I took of eggs after a hen had incubated them for over 24 hours? No blood at all.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=179839

 

[festivefeet]

Thanks for all the comments and replies. I am glad to know that I can keep my rooster

. He can stay, as long as he is nice to my hens. I don't want bald rear ends.