katherine1
Hatching
- Nov 27, 2015
- 6
- 0
- 9
We have been causal keepers of 7 pet hensfor years. About 5 months ago we decided to kick it up a notch and ordered 30 new hens, variety of breeds. Recently, one suspect hen has begun crowing! We will happily keep the rooster on board but I'm hoping someone can clarify what this means for egg production. Questions I have include when can the rooster fertilize eggs? Do they just do that? ... As in if we do not intervene are we likely to end up with fertile eggs or do they require encouragement to breed? He is an Americauna... Are my other hens (barred rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, etc) able to be bred by this rooster, or do they stick to their own? If an egg should become fertile, do the hens "know"? Does it affect eatability? If we do nothing will we wake up to chicks one day or would we need to bring the eggs in and incubate them to see them through? Sorry for the tremendous amount of ignorant questions- just swimming with uncertainties and want to be as prepared as possible to be a rooster momma as he starts to come into his own. Appreciate any assistance or advice