egg gathering for hatching

[cmobley]

I have 11 hens and one rooster cots. I put him in with them 4 days ago i get 11 eggs every day. I want to start gathering eggs for hatching is 4 days long enough for him to do his job or should i wait. How many days should i wait before gathering eggs for the best hatch rate?

 

[torilovessmiles]

They don't mate every hen every day, and it takes about 3 days after a hen is mated for her to start laying fertile eggs. The rooster also may be hesitant to mate at all until he has established himself as head of the pecking order. Give him a couple more weeks, maybe three, to make sure he has mated all of the hens and they're laying fertile eggs.
Good luck!

 

[cmobley]

Wow 3 weeks i never would have guessed that long wish i would have put him in sooner. Would i be better off seperating him and maybe 6 hens out or do you think hes ok with all 11.

 

[kingmt]

I doubt he can take care of 11.

 

[torilovessmiles]

He can probably handle all 11 but it will take longer. You could separate him with just a few hens, and check for fertility by checking the yolks for the "bullseye." Once you have a good percentage of fertile eggs, start collecting for incubation
After they are mated, a hen can store sperm and produce fertile eggs for up to 3 weeks.

Wow 3 weeks i never would have guessed that long wish i would have put him in sooner. Would i be better off seperating him and maybe 6 hens out or do you think hes ok with all 11.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It is unlikely that he will reliably cover that many females - reducing the ratio will help to increase your overall fertility rates. Integrating the group will take some time and he will have to be comfortable in his role as the male of these females before he begins to cover them and fertilize their eggs. *I* would create a smaller flock and then monitor for mating behavior. Once you see him actively covering the females give it a week or so and then crack a couple days worth of eggs to check the fertility.

 

[cmobley]

Thanks yall i think ill try that put him with 5 or so. He started mounting when i put him on that day so he knows what to do lol.

 

[kingmt]

I found 6 to 1 to work best for me.

 

[cmobley]

Thanks kingmt i went out and seperated 6 and him into their own pen ill give em time to adjust and go from there. Probably wouldnt be a bad idea just to buy another male and put in with the other 5.

 

[kingmt]

Or just raise one from your first hatch. They grow quick. You always have extra males.