Rooster problems

[Pork Pie]

Hi! I found out that i have a rooster! They said they were pullets! There were 3 Pullets. I have 17 hens and a rooster! The rooster is almost 3 months old! i guess my question is if i get the eggs quick enough before they become a chick there be fine to eat? i sell my eggs so i don't want a half formed chick when they open up the egg! He's a Easter Egger.

Your cockerel is unlikely to be mating successfully (if at all yet) to give you fertile eggs. Once a fertile egg is laid, it will not begin developing into a chick until it is incubated (either by we humans or a broody hen) - it will remain in its dormant state indefinitely. No problems exist in terms of speed of collection and consumption of such eggs.

Before you set eggs under a broody hen, you firstly need to make sure that the eggs are indeed fertile./ These links should help -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures
http://horseshoe.two61.com/files/2013/04/fertile-eggs21.jpg

Once you are sure that the eggs are fertile, you should collect them (store them pointed end down) in an egg box. Raise the end of the egg box, and alternate which end of the box is raised twice daily. Depending on the size of the hen (i.e. how many eggs she can cover), you can collect sufficient eggs to put under her.

 

[Hybridchucks]

CTKen great post!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I recommend that you turn your eggs an odd number of times each day so that you never return the eggs to the same position that they were in earlier in the day. When a hen returns to her clutch to lay again she spends a long time moving, shuffling, and turning each egg. Furthermore a bowl shaped nest will ensure that each and every egg is incubated pointed end down.

 

[WesleyBeal]

Your cockerel is unlikely to be mating successfully (if at all yet) to give you fertile eggs. Once a fertile egg is laid, it will not begin developing into a chick until it is incubated (either by we humans or a broody hen) - it will remain in its dormant state indefinitely. No problems exist in terms of speed of collection and consumption of such eggs.

Before you set eggs under a broody hen, you firstly need to make sure that the eggs are indeed fertile./ These links should help -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures
http://horseshoe.two61.com/files/2013/04/fertile-eggs21.jpg

Once you are sure that the eggs are fertile, you should collect them (store them pointed end down) in an egg box. Raise the end of the egg box, and alternate which end of the box is raised twice daily. Depending on the size of the hen (i.e. how many eggs she can cover), you can collect sufficient eggs to put under her.

Thanks for the links, @CTKen ; Just one question though:

After checking to see if my eggs are fertile, how do I get them back into the shells?

 

[Hybridchucks]

lol

 

[rdcowman]

Was that what you were asking? did i answer your question....

yep it was! i just wanted to know when a egg starts developing, and you answered it!

 

[rdcowman]

Your cockerel is unlikely to be mating successfully (if at all yet) to give you fertile eggs. Once a fertile egg is laid, it will not begin developing into a chick until it is incubated (either by we humans or a broody hen) - it will remain in its dormant state indefinitely. No problems exist in terms of speed of collection and consumption of such eggs.

Before you set eggs under a broody hen, you firstly need to make sure that the eggs are indeed fertile./ These links should help -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures
http://horseshoe.two61.com/files/2013/04/fertile-eggs21.jpg

Once you are sure that the eggs are fertile, you should collect them (store them pointed end down) in an egg box. Raise the end of the egg box, and alternate which end of the box is raised twice daily. Depending on the size of the hen (i.e. how many eggs she can cover), you can collect sufficient eggs to put under her.

Thanks so much for the information! So my sister is all worried and thinks it's gross to eat a fertile egg! Why is it unlikely for him to mate?

 

[Pork Pie]

Thanks so much for the information! So my sister is all worried and thinks it's gross to eat a fertile egg! Why is it unlikely for him to mate?

He's too young - mature hens will not accept the advances of such a young cock bird.

 

[rdcowman]

He's too young - mature hens will not accept the advances of such a young cock bird.

Ok! i first thought that he was a rooster because around 1 month he was the first to grow his tail feathers and i could tell they were rounded at the bottom of his tail feathers! i put the three EE (1 rooster) in with 4 2 1/2 yrs old EE! i haven't see my 4 go broody! The other chicks Barred rock, speckled sussex, and black australops are 3 1/2 weeks old!
Can you help me understand so when the eggs get laid and there fertile i 1 can put them in a incubater or 2 put them under a broody hen! so let's say a hen is broody, do i put the eggs under her when she's in a nesting box? I'm still trying to figure this out!

 

[Pork Pie]

If a hen goes broody I usually wait until she sits on the nest for 48 hours before settling eggs underneath her. Some breeds go broody, others don't (in general). If you want to plan your hatches, then an incubator is a better bet.

I would not expect fertile eggs for at least another two to three months, but I'm sure you will observe if his advances are being accepted.

Maybe put a photo of your suspect cockerel on the gender / breed forum for confirmation