Newbie question: fertile vs infertile eggs?

[fiddleblue]

A very basic question from someone who at this point knows very little about chickens: I'm assuming that, just as with humans, if there is no rooster in a flock and a hen doesn't mate, then all the eggs she produces would be infertile. So what is this I'm reading about "broody" hens? Is it that they "want" to be mothers and want their eggs to be fertile and are acting as if the eggs would hatch? If there is a rooster in a flock, does that mean that the hens would mate constantly and all the eggs would be fertile? If not what causes some eggs to be fertile and others not?

 

[trilyn]

The rooster picks who he wants to mate with, so not all the hens eggs will be fertile. Broody hens don't know whether their eggs are fertile or not, it is just their maternal instinct kicking in. If you can get ahold of some fertile eggs and want to hatch some under her, you probably could!

 

[cmom]

I agree. A hens eggs don't have to be fertile for her to go broody. Many people buy fertile eggs and put them under their broody and let her hatch them.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
A hen who wants to hatch eggs is called a "broody".
A hen who want her eggs fertilized is called a "tramp".

 

[Ridgerunner]

if there is no rooster in a flock and a hen doesn't mate, then all the eggs she produces would be infertile.

Correct

So what is this I'm reading about "broody" hens? Is it that they "want" to be mothers and want their eggs to be fertile and are acting as if the eggs would hatch?

Correct

If there is a rooster in a flock, does that mean that the hens would mate constantly and all the eggs would be fertile?

Depends. Most full sized roosters can keep 10 to 12 hens fertile, bantams can usually keep 12 to 15 hens fertile. It also depends on age. Once he gets over 3, most roosters slow down a bit. The older they get, the more they slow down. After mating, it usually takes 2 days for the eggs to be fertile. The eggs will normally stay fertile for 2 weeks after mating. A rooster does not usually mate with every hen every day unless there are very few hens. You will notice that I am using a lot of weasel words like most, usually, and normally. It varies with individual chickens but these are the usual results. For example, sometimes a hen will stay fertile for three weeks after mating, but two is normal.


If not what causes some eggs to be fertile and others not?

There are several things that can cause unfertile eggs, such as bad nutrition or old age. Some breeds, such as Orpington and Cochin have so many feathers that some breeding attempts are unsuccessful. Serious breeders actually trim vent feathers on these breeds. Not all attempts are unsuccessful but fertility can be reduced. An older hen may not let a young rooster not confident enough in his roosterhood to mate with her. Sometimes he has to dominate her.

Hope this helps.