How long to isolate for pure mating?

[cottontail farm]

I'm sorry if this isn't the proper place to post this question.
I would like to set some eggs from my little Belgian d'Uccle group as all of the hens have now started laying for the season.
They run every day in a mixed flock with other breeds of roosters, along with the Belgain d'Uccle rooster.
My question is, if I separate the breeding group off, at what point could I incubate the eggs without worrying about some other roosters genetic contribution? How long does it take to ensure that any sperm from any previous breeding is out of the system?
Thanks!

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've heard a couple of months

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

30 days is generally considered "safe"

 

[Cyprus]

At least 3 weeks, I've been told.

I'm planning to do the same for my D'Uccles this season.
What color do you have?

 

[007Sean]

Usually a hen can store the semen for 14 days and still have fertile eggs from that single mating but waiting 30 days probably wouldn't be a bad idea...most likely there wouldn't be any unwanted semen in her system.

 

[cottontail farm]

Thanks for the great information everyone. I separated them off yesterday, planning on starting to gather eggs at the end of Feb for March chicks. Ugh, chicken math!

 

[007Sean]

Thanks for the great information everyone. I separated them off yesterday, planning on starting to gather eggs at the end of Feb for March chicks. Ugh, chicken math!

Good luck!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

3 weeks is good, may take as long as 4. Basically you're isolating the breeder hens or penning up all k's and cocks. Wait over two weeks then start cracking an egg now and then to see if it's fertile. Once you've got infertile eggs from all the hens planned to breed cover them with the selected cock. Crack an egg open in two days and see if you're getting fertile eggs. Start collecting then.

 

[Gray Farms]

30 day minimum, could take up to 3 months in rare cases.