Separating hens and roosters - WNY

[cassie0980]

How long after hens are separated from a rooster will they lay fertile eggs? Should we wait a week, or is that too long?

 

[rigagirl]

thats hard to say. you don't want fertile eggs? or maybe i should ask why don't you want fertile eggs?

 

[cassie0980]

Oh, I want the fertile eggs! My friend just bought some laying americauna hens from another person that had an americauna rooster. They want the infertile eggs, I want the fertile ones to put in the incubator. We were wondering how long before they are laying infertile eggs. I know little to nothing about breeding chickens.

 

[rigagirl]

i am not sure , but the only way to know if they are or aren't is by cracking them open...then they are no good for incubation just for eating. if they don't want fertile because they think they can't eat them tell them they aren't fertile..they don't taste any different than fertile ones.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Eggs layed for up to two weeks after they were with a cockeral will be fertile. 2-3 weeks is iffy but still very possible. You shouldn't have any fertile left after the 3rd week. So I've been told, anyway

HTH.

 

[rigagirl]

cassie where in wny are you? i am near Rochester.

 

[cassie0980]

That's so funny!

We live just west of Batavia.

 

[rigagirl]

so why does your friend want eggs that are not fertile?
I am very close to bergen.

 

[cassie0980]

My friend doesn't care about the fertile eggs, she just wants the hens and eggs for food. We decided though, if the hen is still laying fertile eggs, we may as well try to hatch them. Then we'll keep what we want and sell the rest.

 

[mangus580]

If you care... I am on the East side of Rochester