Can someone explain the process?

[CalliBee]

Hey all!
So this is my first year owning a rooster, and I know I have a ways off before I’ll start seeing any baby chicks around, however I would love if someone could explain the process?
So my silly question is, when a roo mates with a hen, does the hen lay all fertilized eggs at once? Or 1 fertilized egg per day?
I’m thinking the answer is 1 per day, but I’ve seen people say they hatch on day 21, but really wouldn’t it be they START to hatch on day 21, plus a day for each egg in the clutch?

Also, will he mate with other hens? I’ve heard they have favorites, but does that mean only she will have a clutch?

Any tips on how to tell if a hens eggs are fertile? If my hen is broody, should I just assume her eggs are fertile?

And lastly, my hens always lay in the same 2 spots, will a broody hen laying fertile eggs choose her a new spot or will she just lay where she’s use to?

Sorry that’s a lot of questions and most of them are probably a “depends on the hen/roo” kind of answer but I’m curious of everyone’s personal experience.

Thanks!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

He will usually breed with every hen he can.
Hens lay once a day, but don't start brooding until they have a certain number (3-8 usually, 12+ for mine).
Multiple hens will lay in one clutch usually.
Hens will go broody without fertile eggs, and just because the eggs are fertile doesn't mean that they'll go broody

 

[sourland]

Hens will lay an egg a day or perhaps every other day. Eggs will not develop until the hen goes broody and sets on them. Then it is necessary to make sure that other hens do not add eggs to the clutch. Eggs will hatch 21 days after the hen starts setting. Do an on site search of 'bullseye fertility' - threads will appear. If the rooster mates a hen she will remain fertile for a minimum of two weeks.

 

[HappyClucker7]

So my silly question is, when a roo mates with a hen, does the hen lay all fertilized eggs at once? Or 1 fertilized egg per day?

She will lay 1 egg per day, and only start to brood once she has enough eggs. So they will still all hatch at about the same time.

Also, will he mate with other hens? I’ve heard they have favorites, but does that mean only she will have a clutch?

A rooster will have favorite hens that he mates with more often, but he will mate with any hen he sees. Only if you have many, many hens to one rooster will some hens not get mated with enough to always lay fertile eggs.

Any tips on how to tell if a hens eggs are fertile? If my hen is broody, should I just assume her eggs are fertile?

If you crack an egg open, there is a white dot on the yolk. If the dot is solid white, it is infertile. If it's a bulls-eye, then it's fertile.
A hen will go broody with no eggs at all, so that won't tell you if the eggs are fertile.

And lastly, my hens always lay in the same 2 spots, will a broody hen laying fertile eggs choose her a new spot or will she just lay where she’s use to?

This depends on the individual birds. Some will just claim a nest box, and others will go find a more secluded area.

 

[CalliBee]

Yes I’ve had many of hens go broody with no roo! I’m happy this year I finally have one for my gals. It was a happy accident! TSC gave me a pullet that ended up not lol

But if she doesn’t go broody until 3 or so eggs, if she even goes broody at all, how will the first 3 or so eggs survive without a constant heat source? I’m not planning on incubating. (If it happens it happens!)

Also, how come it’s important to not let other hens add to the clutch as sourland mentioned above?

 

[CalliBee]

Oh no I just thought of another absurd question…
What happens if 2 or more hens go broody at once and decide to lay in the same spot?

 

[007Sean]

You quoted:

I’m thinking the answer is 1 per day, but I’ve seen people say they hatch on day 21, but really wouldn’t it be they START to hatch on day 21, plus a day for each egg in the clutch?

Usually, if hatching by a broody or in an incubator, x number of eggs are accumulated, then if a broody, she will set, and start incubating. If you are incubating them in an incubator you would collect x number of eggs before you started to incubate them...the seniro you described is if you do a staggered hatch, which is not recommended, even with those who have alot of experience in hatching eggs.

If you set an egg everyday it was layed, then that would fit the seniro you described. 21 days is the normal amount of time it takes for a chicken egg to develop and hatch. If the temp in the incubator is a little high, say 101 or 102°F, then they would hatch earlier than if the temperature was consistent at 99.5°F for the incubation period. If the incubator was running a little low in temperature, 96 to 98°F, they would hatch later.

 

[HappyClucker7]

But if she doesn’t go broody until 3 or so eggs, if she even goes broody at all, how will the first 3 or so eggs survive without a constant heat source? I’m not planning on incubating. (If it happens it happens!)

Also, how come it’s important to not let other hens add to the clutch as sourland mentioned above?

Eggs are still viable 7-10 days after being laid.
If other hens lay eggs into her nest, then you will have a staggered hatch, and the mother hen might leave the nest before all the eggs are hatched, or abandon chicks that hatch late.

 

[HappyClucker7]

Oh no I just thought of another absurd question…
What happens if 2 or more hens go broody at once and decide to lay in the same spot?

Then you can give each of them eggs. Sometimes hens will work together to raise chicks.

 

[Battlepants]

So, one strategy that I would suggest about getting a successful clutch, if you have a broody hen, let her sit on golf balls for a day or two while you gather the eggs you would like to hatch. Then replace all golf balls with all eggs at once. This will start the development of all of them about the same time, so should have a good hatch rate. The big thing to remember is that development is based on how long the egg is at proper temperature, not when it was laid. This one threw me for a loop the first time.

Additionally, with the golf ball method. Having golf balls in nest boxes can also help to trigger a brood as the hen will see the nest box getting full. Golf balls can also be used to train "lay your eggs here" behavior.

With great golf balls, comes great responsibility.