Rooster and Breeding Question

[KDailey]

This may be a strange question but I need to know:

How long does the actual "act" take? I've seen my roosters jumpin one of my hens but not for very long at a time. Now I don't know what chicken mating is supposed to look like or how long it's supposed to take so I'm not sure if the eggs she's layin are actually fertile.

How long does it take?
Is there a way to tell if the eggs are fertile without stickin them in the incubator and seein what happens?

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Our rooster would chicken surf first thing in the morning to about 3 and then he would be good for the rest of the day. lol But in the evening, it was different. They would lay down and you could see that he was really working to get 'down' to that area and she was helping in that department too. Still, it was just seconds, like cats I guess maybe 15 seconds? We've gotten a couple of fertile eggs, so I know he knew what he was doing.

 

[KDailey]

Hmm. My hen doesn't cooperate and will try to run so the rooster's not up there very long. I was just curious because I'm hoping that they're gettin the job done and I'll have fertile eggs.

I've got one in the incubator just to see if it will actually start developing anything.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

How old are your girls? Before my girls were about 22 weeks, they would resist his advances. Beyond that they seemed very willing.

 

[KDailey]

I'm actually not sure how old she is. I just got her less than a week ago along with the roosters and several other hens.

She looks really mature though and is laying an egg every other evening regularly. She doesn't fight the roosters advances but just doesn't sit still either.

What are the chances that the eggs are fertile even when she doesn't hold still?

 

[ctbagley]

Based on my serama roosters, it takes less than 5 seconds! And his ladies have been laying lots of fertile eggs. Also, some roosters are gentlemen and ply their ladies with tasty treats and protection, while others seem to be interested in only "one thing" if you know what I mean. My rooster is much loved by his hens. He stands and protects the hens that are incubating at night. Sweet!

 

[KDailey]

I sure hope it only takes a few seconds because that's about all she'll allow before she runs away.

Here she is:

 

[OtterCreekRanch]

If you want to know if your eggs are fertile you can crack one open. If it has a little dot on the surface of the yolk it is not fertile, but if it has a little dot with a distinctive circle (think bullseye) around it then it is fertile.