NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! please help

[jallny]

Just found out we have a roo, NNNNNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

We are trying to get Henry (formerly Henrietta) to a new place. but we dont know if they will take him.

Soooo, i have a few questions, in case we are forced to keep him. Fertile eggs, how do we know if they're fertile? How many eggs will be fertile? can we eat fertile eggs?

If there is anyone in MA that will take him, i would appreciate it!

thanks in advance

 

[Aschenfire]

You can eat fertile eggs! Or you can hatch them...or let a broody hatch them...your choice. Eating them is perfectly fine and you'll not notice any difference.

To check for fertility, you can crack a couple eggs and see if there is a little white *bullseye* in the yolk. Infertile eggs all have a small white dot, but if they are fertilized, that dot will change to a donut or bullseye.

No idea how many will be fertile. Maybe some, maybe all.

 

[jallny]

ok thanks sooooooooooo im feeling better about Henry being here, but he is very abusive to our girls, sometimes i pry him of of there necks. should i be worried

 

[sumi]

Sounds like he's trying to mate with them. I know it looks terrible, especially when it's a young, inexperienced roo.

 

[jallny]

ok, thanks they are 3 months old. he will grab there necks in his beak and wont let go. i hope you are right about that being mating, because i love them and i dont want them to get hurt

 

[sumi]

The roosters grab the back of the hens' necks to hold on to when they mount them. It looks awful and popular hens will end up with bald spots, but it's perfectly normal, don't worry.

 

[jallny]

thanks

 

[jak2002003]

No problem eating fertile eggs. The embryo wont even start growing unless the egg is in an incubator or is under a broody hen......and then it will be invisable unless its been over a week.

Your rooster is just trying to get the hang of mating with the hens. As he matures he will get his manners and treat the ladies well. Also at the moment the girls are not interested in him, or mating. When they are all older, and he is more handsome, things will be better!

Its good to have a roo as they are beautiful and interesting to watch. You can also have some baby chicks from your own flock for Free and without the risk of introducing diseases and cut out all the pecking order problems.

 

[jallny]

im afraid we do not want more, but we know some one who has roosters that regularly beat up the hens and i am worried Henry will be like that

 

[jak2002003]

im afraid we do not want more, but we know some one who has roosters that regularly beat up the hens and i am worried Henry will be like that

Why are you worried about something that is not happening?

If, for some obscure reason, the rooster does become a problem, then worry about it then.

Just relax and enjoy your chickens!

Who knows what will happen in the future. Perhaps some of your chickens will get eaten by a predator, then you will be happy to have more.

Sounds like you just don't want the rooster at all. If that is the case just re home or eat him.