how long to separate hens with rooster for hatching?

[Minky]

Hi there
I'm going to hatch out some eggs using an incubator for the first time. I usually just wait for a broody...

I have separated the rooster I want to use (RAINBOW) with a group of hens I want to use. Until today another rooster also had "access" to them. How many days until I know that only Rainbow's genetics are in those eggs?? Is it 2 weeks? Until those 2 weeks could they get fertilized by either sperm? How does that work?
Thanks

 

[sdm111]

I'd do 3 weeks to be safe
Not that his is in but that the others is out.

 

[Minky]

got it thanks. I guess that'll give me time to read about hatching with an incubator!

 

[Eggscaping]

got it thanks. I guess that'll give me time to read about hatching with an incubator!

Is this your first time incubator hatching? It will be for me...but in my case the eggs are coming in the mail. Are you excited? I know I am!

 

[Minky]

Hi Eggscaping- yes it will be my first hatch with an incubator. will give us all something to look forward to ! Who doesn't like a baby chick? I am very excited and it was a loaner incubator so Im hoping it all goes well. 42 spots to fill!!!!

 

[LittleDinosaur]

What I do is isolate the hens I intend to breed and every day I crack their eggs to see if they are fertilized. Once all the eggs are not fertilized, I add my roo into the isolation coop. I then crack the first set of eggs to be sure he did his job. After that, I fill the incubator.

 

[Minky]

LittleDinosaur- I like that idea. I will do that next time. In your experience of doing that- approx how long before all the eggs come clear of unwanted sperm and you can let in your roo?

 

[LittleDinosaur]

LittleDinosaur- I like that idea. I will do that next time. In your experience of doing that- approx how long before all the eggs come clear of unwanted sperm and you can let in your roo?

Usually10 days, but sometimes more like 14 or sometimes way less. All depends on when the hen was last bred and whether or not she liked that roo. Since hens can expel the sperm of a roo they dislike, I always crack the first set of eggs after introducing the breeding rooster to make sure they will even bother laying his offspring.

 

[Minky]

Ok, so I have another question for you.

I feel like they LOVE free ranging and all race out when I open the door.. even though all the food and water etc is inside... so I feel like I am punishing the hens I want to breed by locking them up with the breeding roo... and like they are depressed being in the barn when everyone else is outside.. (their coop is inside a dark-ish barn) It has lighting, but I couldn't read in there. Should I reverse it and just lock up the hens I dont want to breed (without a rooster) and leave the breeders and their roo to room free?
Now that I've actually written it- it really does seem that is what I should be doing...

 

[Finnie]

Ok, so I have another question for you.

I feel like they LOVE free ranging and all race out when I open the door.. even though all the food and water etc is inside... so I feel like I am punishing the hens I want to breed by locking them up with the breeding roo... and like they are depressed being in the barn when everyone else is outside.. (their coop is inside a dark-ish barn) It has lighting, but I couldn't read in there. Should I reverse it and just lock up the hens I dont want to breed (without a rooster) and leave the breeders and their roo to room free?
Now that I've actually written it- it really does seem that is what I should be doing...

I know this is a late response, but something you could do in the future, or for anyone else reading this, is alternate which group gets to free range. Then both groups are only locked up every other day.