How long will rooster's sperm stay active in an egg-laying hen?

[Redhead Rae]

I've put the breeding group I wanted in a separate enclosure and then waited a month before collecting eggs to hatch. That way, the hens have time to get used to the new/single Roo before I collect eggs from the breeding group.

 

[Dachshund lady59]

I am here to tell you that it lasts for at least 2 weeks - I am now the proud momma (or maybe I am g-ma...? Lol!) of a baby chick from 3 eggs I reserved to experiment with.
Let me explain; I got 4 hens and 2 came with chicks and they are all some of the best layers and mommas the lady had. We very careful to transport the hens "gently" ad to keep things as calm as possible and I was sooo happy when we had an egg the very first night - and 2 more the next day to! Well, I told my mom how well the girls were doing and that they would keep a good eye on the nest, etc. and she said; "Honey you know that the hens can keep the rooster's sperm in them for a long time, right?" Well - No I Didn't Know That!!! Hence my "experiment".
I am going to see if I can see any more than the 1 baby I saw a couple of hours ago. Is it alright for me to lift the hen up to see? I do not want to cause her any un-necessary stress. Also, I didn't see the baby when I looked in on them a few minutes ago - is it alright for her to have the baby under her? (I guess the hen knows what she's doing, eh? Lol!)
I think I'm being a "worry-wart".
Any in-put would be appreciated y'all!!!
Thank you.
Chihuahuas and Chickens

It is perfectly normal for the hen to keep the chick under her or even tucked into her feathers. I lifted 1 of mine up & was counting the number of eggs still to hatch when a baby fell out of her feathers. Luckily I wasn't holding mom very high

 

[Joani Gust]

I just lost my favorite rooster so I am very glad that it stays a while in this case. Thanks for the great info everyone! You give us hope. (crossing my fingers & toes that I can get another Blue Andalusian from the eggs) PS anyone else having problems with people steeling chickens? (I lost 2 of my friendliest chickens - worried that a person is walking off with them so I bought 3 surveillance cam's - Coronavirus is making people crazy So sad - I would have 'given' them the eggs ... they took my granddaughters 1st chickens -- 5 yr old Americana and Buff Orpington .. sad thing is they aren't going to get eggs and they will probably try to eat them and they won't be good either since they are old, but the "Mama Brynn" Americana was one of our flock favorites