I feel naive asking but...how is it done?

[rodriguezpoultry]

You should really hold off putting the rooster #2 with her for at least 3 weeks, 4 if you feel like it, to be certain his sperm will be taken.

 

[insiderart]

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So if for example a hen was with Rooster #1 for a few days, through mating, and taken away, her eggs would be fertile with...umm...his offspring. If the hen was put with Rooster #2 for a few days and the next few eggs after mating with #2 were incubated, would they dad be the older rooster (#1) or newer rooster (#2)? I've been biting to ask.

If a hen mates with another rooster within 3 weeks of mating with the first rooster the offspring will be a paternal mix. Meaning she will lay fertile eggs which will have a mix of fathers. Some eggs will have been fertilized by sperm from rooster #1, some by rooster #2.

 

[Kev]

Yes a mix.. however sperm also actively compete with sperm from different roosters so if Rooster 2 is left with hen for rest of the time, it could be that most of the chicks wold be Rooster 2's but there definitely would be some chicks from Rooster 1 popping up for about 2-3 weeks after he was removed.

It will be very obvious if the 2 roosters have several important & visible differences.. for example if hen was single combed, one rooster had single comb, the other was pure for pea comb. Any chicks with pea comb will be the latter rooster's even if it hatched from an egg laid 3-4 weeks after the pea combed rooster was removed.

 

[CallyB57]

Run, hen, run.

 

[rancher hicks]

What difference does it make? You don't have to get involved. Good garden o' peas! Does man have to be involved in everything? Just be glad they do it or you wouldn't have any chickens. You could of course pluck your chickens and then...........oh never mind.

 

[CallyB57]

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[insiderart]

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If you are interested in breeding for certain characteristics it's very important to know. If you are interested in buying eggs from a certain rooster, important to know... There are many reasons to know this information. If you just want regular ol' chickens not important. But if you are a serious breeder, 4H breeder, or even a casual breeder working towards a certain type, again might be important you know this information.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Ah, thanks. The Rooster # thing helped.

 

[insiderart]

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You're welcome.

 

[threehorses]

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I had NO idea it was that long! Good to know if one lost a prized rooster.