Can you take a hen to a rooster for "stud" service?

[scullybird]

We live in the suburbs, and have all hens (we hope... they were sexed, but, you know). We couldn't have a rooster here.

Next spring, if we'd like to have a batch of chicks, can we take a few hens to hang with a rooster for a day? Will they... aquaint... that quickly? Some friends of mine live in the country, and do have a rooster.

What are your thoughts?

We have:

barred rock
RIR
black sex link
white leghorn

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Yes, that will work.

Edited to say, I would leave them for a couple of days if I took more than one hen.

 

[hatchcrazzzy]

yes it will work but it will take a couple days

 

[swtangel321]

It would work, I would just make sure all the other birds at the farm are healthy. I would be worried that they could get sick, JMO !!

 

[Dirt Road]

I suppose it could vary from rooster to rooster, but any one of mine would have 3 or 4 new hens fixed up in under an hour. The first one in less than a minute. I can't imagine why it would take a couple of days but then I've never tried an arrangement like that.

Jim

 

[gabrielle1976]

umm how about could you get the roosters goods for AI then you woudnt need to take the chicken to him?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
Because a rooster can shoot blanks, and does after the first couple of tries. If you left'em for a few days, that would ensure a much improved chance of fertile eggs.

 

[melissaowens]

SHOOT my rooster is a tagging machine, as soon as a new hen hits the pen he is taking care of her. bojangles (my rooster) ain't shy he gives his stuff out to all the girls i have 27 eggs in the bator from his pen and lookin like all are forming well.

i agree though i would leave them in for a couple of days to make sure he is taking care of your ladies. no chicken is alike, he might have to warm up to the ladies first, you know what i mean

 

[swtangel321]

gosh, before we know it this is going to be a "brag about your roosters stuff" thread !!!

 

[scullybird]

LOL!! You guys all give very educational, yet humorous, advice!

I guess another question would be... how long does a "servicing" last? For how long will they lay fertile eggs? I know that, fertile or not, the hen has to have the instinct to go broody. But, at what point would I say, "OK, the spark of life is gone from the womb."?

gabrielle... nah. I don't want that intimate a relationship with the birds. I'll pollinate my pumpkins and kiwi's by hand, but that's the only interspecies sex I'm wiling to play a third-party in!