How long/often should they be together to ensure fertile eggs?

[Debbienmousey]

I've searched the forum but I can't quite find the right answer to this question.

I have a BO hen which I would like to breed but I don't want to keep her in with the rooster. The main reason this is is because I would like to use my friends rooster as the dad. We're taking care of their farm ATM so we go over there everyday for about 45 minutes to an hour. I would prefer just bringing the hen over and separating the rooster from their flock while we're there, put them together, and then take our hen home and hope she lays fertile eggs.

So my main question is, how many matings do the birds need to do before the eggs are for-sure fertile? And should I wait a few days after the breeding to start collecting eggs for hatching, or should I just crack the first egg she lays after the breeding and try and tell whether or not it's fertile? My hen doesn't lay many eggs so I figured I would need to collect them for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks to get a nice size hatch. How many times should I put the hen in with the rooster during this period?

Thanks a ton!

 

[becky3086]

Is your hen in with a rooster right now. If so, it will take several weeks before you can be sure that you will get chicks from the new rooster.
I really don't have an answer to how many matings it would take, I believe it could just take one, but I would mate them as many times as I could.
I am really not sure whether it would work or not. I guess it depends on how well they get along but try it anyway and see how it goes.
Good luck.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I understand your plight.
One mating (if it is a good one) can fertilize the next days' egg and following eggs for 3-ish weeks.
If the hen was exposed to a different rooster previously, check the calender as he could have fertilized the coming eggs for that same time-frame.

Lisa

 

[Debbienmousey]

Thanks guys

Actually this hen has been away from roosters for over a month, so she should be laying non-fertile eggs ATM.

So if I take my hen over today, then I should have fertile eggs for about 3 weeks? That's good to know

.

Thanks again and I'll post later to tell you how it went

 

[Debbienmousey]

Okay, we took our hen over today and separated her and the rooster from the rest of their flock. He is a very pretty and heavy bird. We decided to leave our hen there overnight and maybe all of tomorrow also.

I saw him mate her once but she didn't really like him too much (lol I can't blame her, he's huge)..So hopefully they'll warm up to each other a bit and I'll be getting fertile eggs!