New Rooster. Fertile eggs when??

[Tripp16]

Alright! So I finally gave in to my "stray" rooster. (Long story)

Anyways I let him in two days ago and he bred them like crazy the first day. I have some fluffy butt girls so how long will it be until I can hatch the eggs? I would really like to hatch my own eggs so how long until he gets the deed done?

He is such a pretty boy and well mannered to.

Thanks in advance!

Big Man before I let him in with the girls.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Maybe in as little as two days though you'd be better off waiting until a week or so has passed.

In a day or so crack a few eggs then start looking for the "bullseye" which indicates a fertilized egg.

Review the photos in this thread to learn what to look for.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[darin367]

if he's taking care of business you're good to go in a week for sure....... if he's well mannered, i'd keep him.... or maybe he decided to keep you since he just showed up!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tripp16]

if he's taking care of business you're good to go in a week for sure....... if he's well mannered, i'd keep him.... or maybe he decided to keep you since he just showed up!!!!!!!!!!!

He did. He just showed up and waited outside the girls run for about a month and he was well mannered so I let the big guy in. The girls seem to not mind him one bit they actually seem happier with him showing them treats! Lol

 

[darin367]

it's been my experience that a flock is happier with a roo around..... i know the wife loves having the roo, she loves watching the roo find treats, call the girls to certain areas etc..... just alot more fun with a roo.......... keep him..... plus you can now hatch some of your own chicks, then you'll really be hooked on a roo......

 

[Tripp16]

it's been my experience that a flock is happier with a roo around..... i know the wife loves having the roo, she loves watching the roo find treats, call the girls to certain areas etc..... just alot more fun with a roo.......... keep him..... plus you can now hatch some of your own chicks, then you'll really be hooked on a roo......

The fertile egg thing and thinking my girls eggs can be babies! It excites me! Now if I can get someone to go broody.....

 

[darin367]

what i do is collect 8-12 eggs, keep em in the fridge until you get 8-12, do not wash............ pile them up in 1 nesting box..... takes a day or 2, but 1 of them hens won't be able to stand it and will start setting....... works everytime for me............ some people say not to refer your eggs,,, i do and usually get about 75% hatch rate under a broody...... plus letting a hen raise them is wayyyyyyy easier, no temp worries, no introducing them, etc etc........ i will add, after you hatch, put the entire flock on flockraiser food.... and put oyster shell in a dish, the hens that are laying will eat the shell for calcium....... don't let the chicks eat layer food..... this is how i go about it, and it works great..... i'm sure others do it different....

 

[Mattemma]

In a few days I had the telltalle sign in the yoke.It has been a year now that we got the roo,and not every egg we crack open is fertile.That is surprising,because our boy likes the ladies.

 

[Tripp16]

what i do is collect 8-12 eggs, keep em in the fridge until you get 8-12, do not wash............ pile them up in 1 nesting box..... takes a day or 2, but 1 of them hens won't be able to stand it and will start setting....... works everytime for me............ some people say not to refer your eggs,,, i do and usually get about 75% hatch rate under a broody...... plus letting a hen raise them is wayyyyyyy easier, no temp worries, no introducing them, etc etc........ i will add, after you hatch, put the entire flock on flockraiser food.... and put oyster shell in a dish, the hens that are laying will eat the shell for calcium....... don't let the chicks eat layer food..... this is how i go about it, and it works great..... i'm sure others do it different....

Well I have 14 eggs in one nest and my Barred rock hen sits on them everyday and she screeches and squawks but after a few hours she is up and out. But my little BB Red hen! She is a handful and she just got done raising chicks now she stole two of my BRs eggs and is sitting on them. She isnt fully broody because she isnt screeching like usual but I know in a few more days she will get down to business.....

 

[Davaroo]

7-10 days, for reliable viability.
The fertility that results from mating lasts as long as 21 days, too.