How long does a rooster have to be with a hen for fertile eggs??

[aShMaNv]

I have two roosters with my flock. I am ready to hatch eggs this spring. I was wanting to use a certain rooster so i penned one up. I did this yesterday morning. How long do i have to wait before i can be sure the eggs i am getting are fertile by the rooster that is with the hens now??

 

[Mattemma]

I would wait a few days.Crack one and check for the white spot in the yoke. My roo has been with the ladies for almost a year now,and not every egg I use is fertile.They get down to business quickly once they make clear their position in the flock,lol.

 

[sourland]

Hens readily retain sperm for two weeks. After two weeks a rooster's 'influence' diminishes but some fertility MAY remain up to 4 weeks. If you wait 2 weeks after the removal of the undesired rooster, MOST eggs will probably have been fertilized by the present flock rooster.

 

[lambchicks]

Hens readily retain sperm for two weeks. After two weeks a rooster's 'influence' diminishes but some fertility MAY remain up to 4 weeks. If you wait 2 weeks after the removal of the undesired rooster, MOST eggs will probably have been fertilized by the present flock rooster.

 

[donrae]

What they said.