How long does a roosters gift remain viable in a hen?

[Coopscraft]

It’s definately rooster damage. The story is that the RI and the two mongrels were together with 11 hens. I split them up. One mongral is destined for dinner. One will live and mate the leghorns and the red will mate what looks a lot like barred rock and araucana hens All the roosters are mature but not old. The mongrel who will survive has red stripes on the skin of his legs. He might have Ri red in his ancestory as well as Delaware.

 

[EggWalrus]

I'd give it 3 weeks to be sure, but 2 weeks is about how long sperm can survive in a hens reproductive tract.

I've had hens hatch eggs when they haven't been with a rooster in a month. Only about half the eggs are still fertile, but that wasn't bad after a month of being penned up without any rooster "gift".

 

[Coopscraft]

I don’t have a lot of pictures yet but here’s a few of Mr Wooster with his groopies. I suppose I should get some of Mr Rhodie as well. I will take that project up another day as it is late here.

 

[Rose Quartz]

I've had hens hatch eggs when they haven't been with a rooster in a month. Only about half the eggs are still fertile, but that wasn't bad after a month of being penned up without any rooster "gift".

That's good to know. I'd only ever heard up to 2 weeks.