Intoducing a roster to hens

[th_roster]

I have three hens one of them has been laying for about two weeks. Now I would like to buy a roster to mate with the hens. Here is where I need help. I have read that a roster needs more than just a few hens. but can I mate the roster with a hen for a few days, then keep the eggs from that one hen? And If I do that will the hen store the rosters "stuff" or will I need to keep letting them spend time together? I eat my eggs. and I dont know if I can eat a fertanized egg?

 

[Paganbird]

Quote:
I have some roosters with only one or two hens... they do fine. It could depend on the breed, though.

Quote:
If you can determine that the eggs came from that one hen... if she's running with others, you may not be able to keep track.

Quote:
Hens can lay fertile eggs for up to 3 weeks after mating with the rooster.

Quote:
Yes.

Also... read this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

 

[th_roster]

I have Red Island reds. And about how long should I let the roster and hen stay together?

 

[th_roster]

I have Rode Island reds. And about how long should I let the roster and hen stay together?

 

[Paganbird]

My roosters and hens are together all the time.
Unless you have a reason to keep them separate, why not let them stay together?

 

[th_roster]

Thank you very much for inpu and the link.

 

[Paganbird]

You're very welccome!

Good luck with your chickens.