Stupid question? Can females still mate when laying?

[Mimi13]

When a pullet/hen lays an egg, that egg contains her DNA. Everyone who eats an egg, whether purchased from the grocery store or gathered from the back yard, ingests the DNA from the female. No harm, no foul, we know no difference.

When a pullet/hen has been mated by a cockerel/rooster, some of the eggs she lays will be fertilized. A “fertilized” egg is an egg that contains both the DNA of the female AND the DNA of the male. Once again, no harm, no foul, we know no difference.

Before there is any chance of a fertilized egg making any change toward producing a chicken, it must be kept under perfect conditions of temperature and humidity. A fertilized egg will make no change sitting in a basket on your kitchen counter or in your refrigerator.

Eat all the eggs you collect from your birds with no fear or reservation. They are an excellent food source and are much better for you than any store bought egg ever.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the others. Here are a couple of pictures of a fertile and infertile eggs.
First image is a fertile egg and the second image is an infertile egg. Both are fine to eat and I'd be very surprised if you can tell the difference when eating them.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Yes, it's a continuous cycle while they are laying assuming there is a rooster, or cockerel.
Often, the pair mate straight after the hen has laid the last egg. This is the way the pair try to ensure that their genes get passed on.
However, when a hen sits on a clutch with a view to hatching her eggs she will usually not let her rooster mate with her.
Most roosters know not to mate with a sitting hen.
A little elaboration as to why.
Once a hen decides to sit on her clutch, usually within 2 to 3 days her egg laying cycle switches off. She won't lay eggs while sitting. Sometimes a hens laying cycle gets delayed in switching off and she may lay one or two eggs and sit.
The roosters seem to know that it is pointless mating a hen that isn't laying. Young cockerels can be an exception to this but the majority of hens will ruffle up and even fight a rooster off.

Agreed

 

[sourland]

Worried about what?

?

 

[Skipper81]

I think he’s referring to ducks

 

[Skipper81]

The first time I saw my ducks mate it scared me lol