How long after you put a rooster in with a hen will eggs be fertile?

[Vnctan]

I am getting my first chickens this week

, a 1 yr old Silkie hen and a 1.5 yr old mottled Bantam Cochin hen. What I'm wondering is how long after I put them in a coop with a roo will their eggs be fertile?

 

[tnchickenut]

2 weeks.... that is the text book answer. I took out my old silver sebright roos and put in SQ boys... it took 3 weeks... but the SQ boys were kinda young still.

 

[greathorse]

about three or four days has been my experience. The unhatched eggs can become fertile on the first mating. This is of course assuming that the cock goes to work immediatley