How long is a Rooster needed?

[BunsNChicks]

I'm thinking of buying a couple of Buffs that currently run with a rooster. Any idea how long their eggs will be fertile for after the rooster is taken out? Or will only the first egg be fertilized ( I am assuming this is the case)

 

[Illia]

Once bred, a hen can keep her eggs fertilized by the stored semen of the rooster for 3 weeks, sometimes more. I know one of my Polish boys can keep a hen fertile for over 4 weeks and still somehow beat a rooster who bred her after those weeks.

 

[gryeyes]

For about two weeks, perhaps as long as 3 weeks.

Your assumption is incorrect. The sperm inside the hen's body is viable and available to fertilize a whole slew of eggs.

You have objections to fertilized eggs?? Or are you starting a breeding program and want a different rooster to fertilize their eggs?

 

[BunsNChicks]

...I was hoping for fertilized eggs but didn't want to keep the rooster. I wanted to try my hand at incubating more eggs and I found a local person who has some older Buff hens they want to sell....and the chickens I have right now are only 4 weeks old and 1 week old.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

The average is about 3 weeks, sometimes shorter and sometimes longer.