How long will a hen stay bred once isolated?

[heymikey]

I'm looking at a hen(ameraucana) that has been in a mixed flock and would like to breed her with a pure roo. If I remove her and isolate her any idea how long she will stay bred from the mixed flock?

 

[Chickndaddy]

I believe 4 weeks is the recommended time frame before you collect her eggs for hatching. I always waited 4 weeks and never had any surprises. I know others who go longer, or shorter but I would say 4.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

I agree with chickndaddy. Normal length is four weeks before you can be relatively sure that the new roo is the only fertility.

 

[Kittymomma]

I agree with 4-weeks. If your antsy to get started though don't put the new roo in with her and check her eggs for fertility. Once you get 3-4 days in a row of unfertile eggs I think you would be good to go.

 

[heymikey]

Quote:
Great Idea, I didn't think to wait then check the eggs for fertility. Thanks ALL!!

 

[SoCalChick]

- interesting - but what if you just have one roo and want to hatch eggs from a particular hen. If i isolate her, will her - how long will the eggs be fertile - or do i need to keep her with the roo?

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
You'll probably have fertile eggs for the first week and likely the second as well. After that I don't think it's worth trying to incubate. The 4-week rule of thumb is to ensure you're not getting a cross you don't want, but fertility from 2-weeks on is a crapshoot.

 

[SoCalChick]

Thank you kittymomma!

 

[S&N Livestock]

I always thought it like this not sure im right but i went with it anyway week 1 and 2 almost 100% fertile thru week 3, 50% and thru week 4, 25% fertile

Chickens have several sperm sacks they release sperm as needed to fertilize the eggs

 

[windyridgefarm]

This may sound like a newbie question -because it is- but.... How does one go about checking for fertility in an egg as mentioned above?