How long to clear a rooster's sperm?

[Roan]

I'm probably going to be caught by the spam filter on that S word in the subject.....

I recently attended a chicken health workshop and learned fascinating things about the reproductive system. According to these veterinarians, a chicken can STORE sperm up there in a little pouch thingy in her oviduct for awhile and release it for each egg that passes by.

My question is: does anyone know how long before she "runs out" and I can be confident that any babies will be from the dad that I sequester my hens with?

Also, on a side note, did you know that those little whitish twisty things on the yoke get "put on" early during the oviduct process, and the reason for them is so that when a hen turns the egg in the nest, the baby automatically rotates on that twisty thing (don't remember the name) so that they stay "right side up" at all times? I don't know what right side up IS, but isn't that amazing?

PostCarbon

That's a very interesting fact! I've often wondered exactly what purpose that served. I actually thought for a long time that it was the actual chick, the yolk was the food and the white was the cushion. Guess I should have paid more attention in science class. lol

As for the "roo goo" (a disgusting term, I think, but funny lol), I had read somewhere that it was 2 weeks but since theoretically it can be up to 6 according to posts on here, that changes my schedule...a lot! Time to re-think my strategy.

On the other hand, when we got Big Daddy Crow, our hens were in with a couple of Ameraucana brothers. We removed them immediately and waited 2 weeks to incubate any eggs. All six of the eggs that hatched (out of 25, I know very poor hatch rate but I'm learning) were definitely Big Daddy Crow's brood so perhaps it's different per rooster?

He's a mature BA and they were young Ameraucanas but very sexually active and over a year old. Next to them, he is very laid back in the love-making department. In fact, I wasn't even sure he was successful at all since the ladies would see his big hulking shadow fall on them and be like "oh I don't think so!" But he was definitely working some kind of magic in private because he produced 6 dino birds!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Also, on a side note, did you know that those little whitish twisty things on the yoke get "put on" early during the oviduct process, and the reason for them is so that when a hen turns the egg in the nest, the baby automatically rotates on that twisty thing (don't remember the name) so that they stay "right side up" at all times?

chalaza/chalzae

*I* always use the 30 day rule - 30 days after the last possible exposure from the old roo - and start collecting eggs two weeks after the 30 days has passed so it actually ends up being 6 weeks.

 

[vehve]

What I've heard is that the fertility rate will drop dramatically after 2 weeks. But like others have posted, it doesn't mean it wouldn't be possible to have some of the semen left still after 4 or even 6 weeks.