Just added a rooster how long before I can incubate?

[Redheadhomestead]

I have just added an 8 month old welsummer rooster to a mixed flock. The integration has been pretty seamless. How long before nature starts to pop off and I can assume my eggs are being fertilized, obviously if I see the act then this would be a lot easier to assume.


1 rooster 13 hens


Second question is I have some new layers in there as well. Their eggs are still small and growing can I incubate those fertilized eggs? Or should I wait a few months until the eggs are coming out standard size?

 

[SilkieFamily]

I've had success with 9 month old birds mating and producing. Usually 10 days or so after mating eggs are fertile for a couple weeks. After you have watched successful mating begin collecting those eggs after day 10 and incubate if you don't have a broody hen. Also a standard incubator is death for eggs, it requires too much attention. Spend the $90 or so to get one that monitors humidity and controls egg rolling. Here's my favorite one from "LA Shops" online. Hatced more chicks in one term than my Styrofoam beginner did in a year.

 

[aart]

I have just added an 8 month old welsummer rooster to a mixed flock. The integration has been pretty seamless. How long before nature starts to pop off and I can assume my eggs are being fertilized, obviously if I see the act then this would be a lot easier to assume.


1 rooster 13 hens

You can check yolks as you break eggs open to eat.

Second question is I have some new layers in there as well. Their eggs are still small and growing can I incubate those fertilized eggs? Or should I wait a few months until the eggs are coming out standard size?

You can incubate smaller fertile pullet eggs, but there may be problems with development and if they do hatch the chicks will be smaller, but will catch up in size as they grow. It's best to wait until the egg are of a larger size.

 

[Redheadhomestead]

Thank you for both tidbits of that information. I’ll wait until the eggs mature in size. I’m excited to breed this welsummer with my bluebells to add some olive to the basket!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I added an 8 month old rooster 2 weeks ago after 2 weeks of being shy, I set some eggs last night, I see a light colored egg I can see in side, is feritle, (I can tell they are fertile after one day, but I have been seting/hatching eggs for a very long time.) up until now he was not fetilizing.

Above in the center you can see if you look hard, a dark red shadow circle, I call them love dots.