Egg fertility

[tigridia]

Hi there. I have a query. Our rooster died 20 days ago. A bantam has just gone clucky. We would like to raise more eggs. The big question is: For how long do hens lay fertile eggs after the rooster has done his work?


This is a great site! We just discovered it. Thanks for creating it.

Cheers, Tigridia, New Zealand. Araucanas, grey silkies, a ranger or 2, and barred rocks.

 

[vkp23]

I'm still pretty new at all the chicken stuff myself but I heard that the eggs will sill be fertile for a week or so after the roo is gone. AND

 

[Paganbird]

Eggs can be fertile for up to 3 weeks... try some and see how it goes!

 

[tigridia]

Thanks for the replies. We shall do as you suggest, and give it a go.

Another query: Is it true if a clutch of fertile eggs is sent by air they cannot be hatched afterwards?
Something about the changes in air pressure in a plane. . .

 

[Mahonri]

I've had eggs sent from Georgia, Michigan and Texas to here in Arizona and I got eggs to hatch from each of those shipments.

Good luck with your clucky, broody hen.

 

[mstricer]

Quote:

 

[dianneS]

Quote:
You want to know how long the hens continue to LAY eggs that are fertile and still viable for hatching, after the rooster is gone? I would like to know that myself. I just got rid of four cross breed roosters so that my hens will only have my two pure breed roosters to mate with. I'm wondering when will the "influence" of the cross breed roosters be out of the hens "systems" and when will the pure breed roosters take over? I want to set some eggs in my incubator, but I want to be sure that they were fertilized by my full-blood roosters. I don't know how long I should wait after the old rooster are gone before I have "pure" eggs again?

I know that eggs up to ten days old are viable for hatching. I have hens lay eggs and no one set them for a very long time and hatch, I've also had eggs shipped long distances and hatch, but what you're asking is how many fertile eggs does a hen lay after her last rendezvous with the rooster! I would love to know too! Sorry I'm not more help..

 

[Paganbird]

Quote:
As many as she can lay - for up to 3 weeks after the rooster has done his job.
If you are separating breeding pairs, best to wait 4 weeks to be sure that the "new" rooster is the one fertilizing the eggs.
My SLW rooster was killed in April, but I incubated some eggs in May and, turns out, he was the daddy. So... yes, eggs can be fertile for up to 3 weeks after rooster exposure.

 

[dianneS]

Quote:
As many as she can lay - for up to 3 weeks after the rooster has done his job.
If you are separating breeding pairs, best to wait 4 weeks to be sure that the "new" rooster is the one fertilizing the eggs.
My SLW rooster was killed in April, but I incubated some eggs in May and, turns out, he was the daddy. So... yes, eggs can be fertile for up to 3 weeks after rooster exposure.

Cool. I did some research and found very little info on the subject, but what I did find said three weeks as well. I'll wait at least four weeks before I set any of the girls eggs.

 

[duckluck]

Quote:
As many as she can lay - for up to 3 weeks after the rooster has done his job.
If you are separating breeding pairs, best to wait 4 weeks to be sure that the "new" rooster is the one fertilizing the eggs.
My SLW rooster was killed in April, but I incubated some eggs in May and, turns out, he was the daddy. So... yes, eggs can be fertile for up to 3 weeks after rooster exposure.

What about ducks? I've heard one person say pretty much the same about ducks, but am wondering what individual experiences have been.