Roosters and Hens

[tigmata]

I'm sorry if this has been asked a zillion times before, but... how long does a rooster need to be with the hens in order to have fertile eggs?

I have five Buff Op ladies who are pining for their hansome gent who was banished to Goatie Oatie Acres (across the fence) for behavior unbecoming a gentleman and an officer.

Would like to have one or more of the hens go broody once the weather stays warm. It's been colder than a well diggers toes here in Central Texas.

Any advise would be appreciated by all concerned parties.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It takes about 25 hours for an egg to go through a hen's internal egg laying factory. That egg can only be fertilized in the first 15 minutes of that journey.

Assume a hen and rooster mated on a Monday. Monday's egg will not be fertile. It started its journey Sunday, before the mating.

Tuesday's egg might or might not be fertile, depending on when they mated and when it started its journey.

Wednesday's egg will almost certainly be fertile. Note that this is after a mating. A rooster does not always mate with every hen in his flock every day.


Now the other side. How long after a mating do they remain fertile? It varies. Usually around two weeks. It can be less or it can be more, but two weeks is not a bad guess. There are times when she is no longer laying fertile eggs after 9 days after a mating. Some have remained fertile for just over three weeks.

 

[tigmata]

Thank you Ridgerunner!! Lots of very helpful information in your reply.