one hit wonder?

[chic_a_lay]

i was wanting to set some eggs, so, to increase my fertility odds, i put my rooster in a pen with the hens (3) whose eggs i want to use. they've been together for a week now, so, i'm assuming they are good to go.
my questions are...
1. is he a one hit wonder? meaning does he have to "do his job" each time for each egg laid to be fertile?
2. can i hold the eggs in the nest for 4 days till i get a dozen and then put the broody hen on them in a nesting pen?
thanks for any advice.
love,
d

 

[FireTigeris]

1) no the female can store some sperm to fertilize the next egg as it develops

2) Yes, kind of, you can store the eggs up to about ten days w/o much loss of hatchablity- after that it drops quickly.

Store them in a cool dry place around 50-70*F

Will your broody do a good job? Do you have a backup incubator?

 

[Den in Penn]

One week should be enough time for him to do his job and the girls theirs. From each time the job is done many fertile eggs can be laid, the hen stores the sperm. You can either let them in the nest or take them. I'd take them and store them since you are moving them any way. You worded it like you already have a hen going broody. Do you?