Really stupid question about egg fertilization

It's not a stupid question; I don't know either. Hope someone does!

 

no they do not have to mate every day to get a fertilized egg every day. i don't know exactly how long the hen stays fertile but i have read on here some where that they stay fertile anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks. and there is no such thing as a stupid question.

 

Well... I know that if you lose your rooster for some reason, the eggs are fertile for between 10 days and four weeks afterward. So theoretically, you could get a clutch of fertile eggs from a single mating. But I would think that if you wanted high fertility rates, you'd probably want to let the rooster keep mating throughout the laying phase.

Now, I suppose you could "stud" a rooster (and he's have to be a real stud, too, for anyone to want to do this) out by loaning him to someone with a broody hen for a week or two. That person could let him do his business with the girls, and then put their eggs under the broody. They would have to not have their own rooster for that to work, though, and you might run into problems with introducing the new bird (the rooster), though you might not have a problem since roosterless hens are likely to really want a rooster around.

Interesting question...

 

When a rooster mates a hen, she can store that sperm for 2-4 weeks. HTH

 

I'm with Monita, no stupid questions, only unasked ones.

I am not sure, but search the index for fertilization periods

 

Here is the place to add a classic farm story:

A new chicken owner called his local Extension Office and asks:
"How long does my rooster have to be with my hens to have fertile eggs?"
The Extension Agent, intending to look the answer up in his books, says "just a minute."
The caller says "Thank you" and hangs up.


<groan>

 

Instead of getting a stud rooster, it's MUCH easier to wait for your...virgin hen...to go broody, then just put fertilized eggs under her. That way you can hatch any breed you like!