Fertility

[IamRainey]

Can anyone tell me how long a hen is capable of laying fertilized eggs once she's serviced by a rooster? Does one encounter = one fertilized egg? Or does he deposit enough sperm for the eggs she'll lay over a period of time? Does a rooster attempt to fertilize every hen in his flock? Or is he happy once he finds a willing hen and continue to fertilize her alone?

When a hen goes broody does she have any way of knowing which eggs are fertile? Or does she just sit on whatever eggs are available? How many eggs could a broody hen hatch? Would she collect eggs from a number of nesting boxes or just choose a nesting box with whatever eggs are in it? How long can a fertilized egg sit in a nesting box unbrooded before it gets too cold to be viable?

Sorry I don't know the proper medical terms but I hope the questions are clear in any case.

Thanks for explanations.

 

[Chicks 'n ducks]

I've heard that one mating will allow for fertile eggs for 2 weeks. Hens have know way of telling which eggs are fertile, my broodies would be happy to sit on golf balls for 3 weeks. Chances of an egg hatching after sitting out drop considerably after 10 days. I think a full sized hen can hatch 10-13, bantams maybe 6-7 for a bigger bantam like a silkie and 3 for a smaller one like a dutch, OEGB, japanese, ect

 

[sylviethecochin]

Can anyone tell me how long a hen is capable of laying fertilized eggs once she's serviced by a rooster?

Up to a month.

Does one encounter = one fertilized egg? Or does he deposit enough sperm for the eggs she'll lay over a period of time?

One encounter should equal far more than one fertilised egg. How much sperm is deposited depends on the rooster himself (breed, age, health, etc.)

Does a rooster attempt to fertilize every hen in his flock? Or is he happy once he finds a willing hen and continue to fertilize her alone?

He'll attempt to fertilise the entire flock. Most of them will have favorites, however, and sometimes, there are hens that the rooster won't touch.

When a hen goes broody does she have any way of knowing which eggs are fertile? Or does she just sit on whatever eggs are available?

She has no idea. I've heard of hens kicking out infertile eggs. I've never had it happen; mine'll sit on a nest of cracked, frozen eggs for weeks if I don't catch them and exchange for healthy eggs.

How many eggs could a broody hen hatch?

Most hens can fit about thirteen of their own eggs under them. I've had a cochin bantam set ten large (leghorn-sized) eggs; I've had a similarly sized hen unable to cover more than eight of her own. It depends on the hen, and it depends how well the nest is constructed, and it depends on the ambient temperature. Silkies have feathering problems, so they generally can't set as many as other fowl would, especially in cold weather.

Would she collect eggs from a number of nesting boxes or just choose a nesting box with whatever eggs are in it?

Many hens collect eggs and set in the nesting boxes, uncaring of whose eggs they are. Others will go off on their lonesomes, construct a hidden nest, and lay until they have a number that makes them happy. The hen'll set wherever she's laid her eggs.

How long can a fertilized egg sit in a nesting box unbrooded before it gets too cold to be viable?

That's not how it works. Eggs--think of them as seeds. They wait until the proper conditions happen, and then they grow. If those conditions leave after they've started growing, they'll die. If those conditions don't happen, the eggs will eventually dehydrate or be invaded by bacteria, or the zygote will begin to degrade, and they'll die.

Most eggs can sit at about 60 F for two weeks before fertility begins to significantly decrease. (which is handy, as most hens set on two weeks worth of eggs.) A lot of people won't set eggs after they're a week old; I find that so long as the eggs have been stored in good conditions, they're fine even at three weeks.

 

[IamRainey]

Thank you both for all that info.

Amazing!

 

[aart]

5 Gold Stars and Huge Kudos goes to @sylviethecochin ...
....for answering all those questions and doing it so well!

 

[sylviethecochin]

5 Gold Stars and Huge Kudos goes to @sylviethecochin ...
....for answering all those questions and doing it so well!

Thank you. I think I'm actually blushing.