Fertility from older hen's eggs?

[bobbi-j]

I agree Song of Joy, sometimes God just blesses you. And to the rest of you, I think I will set those eggs, just waiting for spring.

Will be waiting to hear what the outcome is!

 

[centrarchid]

With my games fertility / chick quality from older hens, when male they are bred to is young, does not decline until sometime after five years of age. When the hens approach ten then there is an appreciable reduction in fertility with at least some hens and a reduction in egg output in all.

I have not had enough experience with American Dominiques other than to say five year old hens may already be experiencing a decline in fertility. It takes a lot of hens and some time to see what the pattern is.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... I think with the slowing of production, the fertility would drop.... So, your hen, at 2 years old, would provide you 10 out of 12 eggs that would hatch.... at 3 years old, it would drop to maybe 6-8 out of 12 would hatch....

A more likely scenario is older hens and roosters (say 4 years old) breed together the hens would only lay 8 eggs instead of 12 but the hens would only manage to hatch 3 out of the 8 eggs.

 

[everyday_farmlife]

Sorry I know this is an old thread, but, thought it better to add to it then start a new one!
Has anyone had experience hatching older hens eggs since this post?

This was today's eggs... only 2/3 of the hens are laying. #02 has only laid twice starting yesterday... This was yesterday's eggs...

Now before you all think I'm weird for documenting this ...I have no idea How old these hens are but their legs are massive (and really gnarly, cankles comes to mind ) compared to my 13 month old LS Hen.
I'm hoping they can still lay fertile eggs, given their age or do All eggs have the possibility of being fertile?
I will google that in a minute
Breeder (who actually got these girls with no history, as rescues) said she doesn't even know if the peckin was able to really do the deed given the size difference. I have only seen my cockeral successfully get one, the others don't seem to have accepted him yet and no I don't remember which one it was (probably the one who isn't laying )